Doug Burgum wins GOP primary for North Dakota governor

In his victory speech, he said that he is proud to be the party's candidate and ready to unify Republicans.

Fargo businessman Doug Burgum has pulled off a major upset in North Dakota politics.

Stenehjem, who was first elected attorney general in 2000 and served in the Legislature for 24 years before that, addressed supporters at about 9:25 p.m. after speaking by phone with Burgum. At right is Stenehjem's w... FILE - In this May 10, 2016, file photo, North Dakota Republican gubernatorial hopeful Doug Burgum speaks during an editorial board meeting in Bismarck. "That game is over and a new game starts today and that game is about serving the people of North Dakota".

The GOP battle between Burgum and his longtime friend, state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, featured a spirited and expensive debate about which candidate was better suited to revive a state economy that is slumping due to depressed oil and crop prices. Govs. Rick Snyder of MI and Bruce Rauner of IL took similar paths to office in recent years. "They want to have business leaders that are from outside of the political system. That's to me how I read it. That's part of a national trend, and it's a trend that wasn't immune here in North Dakota".

Burgum now emerges as the favorite in November in a state where Republicans hold every statewide elected office and voters haven't picked a Democrat for governor since 1988.

Burgum noted the latest figures show oil production in April dropped by about 75,000 barrels, underscoring the budget challenges facing the state.

"We were on different teams", he said. "But our potential is unlimited".

Burgum is known in North Dakota as the godfather of software for building Fargo's Great Plains Software into a billion-dollar business, which he later sold to Microsoft. Burgum now develops downtown Fargo real estate and invests in startup companies. The 59-year-old native of Arthur also has been critical of the GOP-led Legislature's stance on social issues, including its failure to pass a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Stenehjem struck a more positive and establishment-friendly tone in his ads, saying state leaders had wisely invested in one-time spending on infrastructure and put money away to weather economic downturns, prompting criticism from Burgum that he wasn't addressing the state's problems.

Stenehjem said, drawing loud cheers from supporters who like him have complained about Burgum's negative campaign.

"We respect the legislative process", Burgum said.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson of Fargo and his Republican Senate counterpart, Rich Wardner of Dickinson, said lawmakers have some tough spending choices when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Republican Sen. Terry Wanzek, who farms near Jamestown, and Sen.

Although Burgum expects to collaborate with Dalrymple in crafting the budget proposal for the next biennium, he said he understands that Dalrymple is the governor.