Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announces campaign for governor

Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller launched a campaign for North Dakota governor early Thursday, touting herself as a business outsider like Doug Burgum and Donald Trump.

The announcement sets up a challenge between Republicans Miller and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who also is running for governor.

But Miller will not be at the Republican state convention in April.

Kelly Armstrong to run for governor of North Dakota

“I am going to skip the convention and go right to the primary and allow every voter in North Dakota to have a voice in choosing the next governor,” Miller told the North Dakota Monitor. 

Miller, a first-time political candidate, said in a news release she wants to continue the work of Gov. Burgum’s administration. 

“I will focus on growing the economy and also finish the job that Gov. Burgum started with individual income tax,” Miller said. “We do need to eliminate individual income tax in the state of North Dakota. It will help with recruiting and it will help with additional growth in our state.” 

The news release and campaign ads released Thursday highlight Miller’s background as CEO of Border States, an electrical distribution company based in Fargo. 

“As a business leader, I created jobs and made every dollar count,” Miller said in the release. 

Burgum appointed Miller lieutenant governor in January 2023 after the resignation of Brent Sanford. She served as chief operating officer in Burgum’s office from April 2020 through December 2022.

Miller is from the small North Dakota town of Brocket. An ad says she grew up cleaning toilets and stocking shelves in her family’s lumber store and once used a shotgun to protect it from thieves until the sheriff arrived. She began her career as certified public accountant and worked her way up to CEO of Border States.

Miller was encouraged to run for U.S. Senate in 2018, but she did not enter the race, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported at the time.

Burgum announced on Jan. 22 that he was not planning to seek a third term as governor. The news came on the heels of Burgum, a former presidential candidate, endorsing Trump and receiving praise from the former president.  

That same day, Miller issued a press release endorsing Trump for president. Her campaign ads released Thursday praise Trump and criticize President Joe Biden. Her ads do not mention Armstrong, her political opponent.

In his first run for governor in 2016, Burgum also focused on the primary, defeating the Republican endorsed candidate, Wayne Stenehjem.

As lieutenant governor, Miller presided over the Senate during the 2023 legislative sessions. She also serves as chair of several boards and commissions, including the State Investment Board, the Capitol Grounds Planning Commission and the North Dakota Trade Office.

Armstrong had indicated plans to seek another term in the U.S. House but announced on Jan. 23 his plans to run for governor. Armstrong, a native of Dickinson, served in the state Senate from 2012 to 2018 and chaired the North Dakota Republican Party from 2015 to 2018. He is an attorney and was vice president of his family’s Armstrong Corporation, which is involved with oil and gas exploration, agriculture and other business ventures. 

Armstrong has been speaking at Republican district endorsing conventions around the state and plans to seek the endorsement at the state convention in Fargo on April 5-6.

When Armstrong launched his campaign, there was speculation that Miller and potentially other Republicans would enter the race.

 “I think competitive races are better for the state,” Armstrong said at the time. “I think they’re better for the eventual winner.”

Miller was spending her first day campaigning by doing media interviews and did not have a campaign rally planned. 

When asked why she waited three weeks after Burgum’s announcement to declare herself a candidate, Miller said, “This is a big decision so it does take some time to process with the family and once we made the decision, we hit the ground running.”

Former Republican Gov. Ed Schafer said the delay raises questions to him about whether she has the passion to run for governor. By skipping the convention, voters won’t get the same opportunities to learn where Miller stands on issues, Schafer said.

“I feel bad about that because I want to be able to evaluate that in a way that’s meaningful and I can’t now that she won’t put herself up in front of Republicans and say, ‘this is who I am and this is why I’m taking your nomination,’” he said.

Armstrong also aligns himself with Trump. Schafer said he wants to hear more from Armstrong about issues like tax policy, education and human services but praised him for getting out to district conventions. 

Senate Majority Leader David Hogue of Minot has met regularly with Burgum and Miller on policy issues. 

Hogue said Miller provided “exceptional” insight when the Legislature decided to close the state’s public employee pension fund to new members and opt for a 401(k)-style fund. 

“She brought her business background to bear on that and that’s one area where she led,” Hogue said. 

He said he thinks both Miller and Armstrong would make excellent governors. 

“I’m excited there’s robust competition for the governor’s office and I think that’s a good thing,” Hogue said.

Democrat Travis Hipsher and independent candidate Michael Coachman also are running for governor.