How Burgum Attacks DeSantis

Fighting the Culture War

 Burgum took a shot at DeSantis over culture war issues saying in his soft campaign
announcement, “I grew up in a tiny town in North Dakota, woke was what you did at 5
a.m. to start the day.”

CBS News 6/6/23

YouTube 6/5/23

o The 3 1/2-minute video … doesn’t specifically mention the presidential race. But it’s
titled “Announcement Preview: Change.” It promotes Burgum as “a new leader for a
changing economy.” Without naming any other candidates, it also touches subtly on
the culture war issues that DeSantis has highlighted and the increasing rancor of
American politics, suggesting a contrast with Trump.

“I grew up in a tiny town in North Dakota," Burgum said. "Woke was what you did at
5 a.m. to start the day.”

Amid the bitter war of words between Trump and DeSantis, Burgum suggested in
the video that he offers an alternative to tumult.

“Anger, yelling, infighting, that's not going to cut it anymore. Let's get things done,”
he said. “In North Dakota, we listen with respect, and we talk things out. That's how
we can get America back on track.”

Book Ban Hoax

 Burgum took a stance against DeSantis for prohibiting inappropriate books in school
libraries and downplayed the issue of explicit sexual books in schools

Washington Times 7/9/23

o Culture war issues like education, the LGBTQ community and corporate activism that
conservatives say is biased toward liberals have dominated GOP politics.

Mr. Burgum took a shot across the bow at Mr. DeSantis, who trails former President
Donald Trump, by saying he opposes the Florida governor’s book-banning
movement.
 “We need a president that’s focused on the challenges that we’re being faced as a
nation, not a president that’s going to decide whether a book is in the right section
or not in a library in a small town somewhere in America. That’s part of what is going
wrong now,” Mr. Burgum said. “The reason why we’ve got issues with our economy,
with our energy policy, with national security that are just raff, it is because we are
somehow, through culturally, media, whatever, trapping the presidency or expecting
them to weigh in on every single thing.”

Disney

 Took a subtle shot towards GRD for his battle with Disney over woke influence. On
Disney, Burgum claims GRD is, “trying to chase them out,” and that he would “welcome
them.”

Washington Examiner 8/15/23

o "The cultural issues, they matter. They're important. For some people, they're the
most important issue," he noted, adding that Republican leaders can handle them at
local levels of government.

Burgum, a former tech entrepreneur, questioned the wisdom of the fight between
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and the Walt Disney Company. When asked about the
dispute, he said, "It's just interesting because I'd say, at least in my experience, most
governors are competing hard to get companies, as opposed to trying to chase them
out.

"We're not about picking fights and trying to drive jobs and investment out of our
state. We're trying to attract investment to our state," he said. "As long as they're
following laws, we welcome them."

Party Infighting

 Criticized GRD and Trump for infighting, “anger, yelling, infighting, that's not going to cut
it anymore.”

CBS News 6/6/23

YouTube 6/5/23
o "Anger, yelling, infighting, that's not going to cut it anymore. Let's get things done,"
he said. "In North Dakota, we listen with respect, and we talk things out. That's how
we can get America back on track."