BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – Gov. Doug Burgum will speak on behalf of former President Donald Trump during the NDGOP presidential caucus on Monday.
Bob Harms, caucus chair for the NDGOP, said four candidates, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, David Stuckenberg and Ryan Binkley, will appear on the presidential caucus ballot.
“North Dakota is sixth in the order of states, so we’re going to be in front of Super Tuesday,” Harms said. “If something unusual happens in North Dakota, it could influence the entire country.”
Burgum, a former presidential candidate, endorsed Trump before the Iowa caucuses in January, citing the former president’s leadership on energy production and national security as reasons for his support.
Republican presidential candidate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during her primary election night gathering at The Charleston Place on Feb. 24, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Trump also teased the possibility that Burgum could join his administration, if he is reelected in November during a speech in Iowa after his caucus win. Trump called Burgum a “most solid guy” and “one of the best governors in our country.”
On caucus night, Burgum will speak on Trump’s behalf at 5:45 p.m. David Stuckenberg will speak at 6 p.m. Nikki Haley will speak at 6:15 p.m.
“I’ve alerted all of them that this is a rigid schedule and they are going to start at their specific time allotted and end at the specific time allotted,” Harms said. “I don’t want to shut off anybody’s microphone, but that’s what’s going to happen, if they go over their time limit.”
He added the candidate speeches will each be 15 minutes and conducted via live Zoom call throughout the caucus sites.
On Feb. 27, Binkley announced the suspension of his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump for the GOP nomination. Binkley will still appear on the North Dakota caucus ballot since they were printed weeks ago, Harms said.
The NDGOP will hold in-person caucuses at 12 sites across the state in Williston, Minot, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson, Cavalier, Valley City, Wahpeton and Carrington.
“The major cities are planning pretty significant events with food and beverage, so they are planning for a good turnout,” Harms said.
He added caucus-goers should be sure to bring a valid North Dakota ID and they are welcome to cast their ballot and leave, or stay for the candidate speeches and political socials. All 12 NDGOP sites will conduct voting from 5-8 p.m. Central time.
The Democratic-NPL party will conduct a mail-in ballot presidential primary. The party also has scheduled in-person voting for March 23 at the Eagle Heart Community Cultural Center and March 24 at the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort in St. Michael. In-person voting will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
About 850 ballots have been requested for the party’s presidential primary so far and the first ballots are being sent out to voters on Thursday, said spokeswoman Laura Dronen. All Dem-NPL ballots must be returned by March 30. Dem-NPL voters can request a ballot at https://mrgballot.com/.
Democratic voters will be able to cast ballots for eight candidates. They are: Joe Biden, Eban Cambridge, Stephen Lyons, Jason Palmer, Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato, Dean Phillips, Cenk Uygur and Marianne Williamson.
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