One of the eight Republicans set to take the debate stage in Milwaukee has been hospitalized.
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota sustained an injury to his leg while playing a game of basketball. He was taken to the emergency room.
It is unclear if Burgum will be able to stand on the stage for the debate, which is scheduled to last two hours. His campaign said the candidate was discharged on Aug. 23.
“Burgum is a dark horse in the race, lacking the name recognition that other candidates enjoy. He qualified for the debate by earning 3% support in the Fox News Iowa poll but has otherwise remained a relatively obscure figure in national politics,” reports Fox News.
Burgum launched his presidential campaign on June 9. He said America needs “a leader who’s clearly focused on three things: economy, energy and national security.”
“Right now, the world, our economy are both changing rapidly and how we respond will define our future,” said Burgum in his announcement speech. “Technology’s changing every job, every company and every industry – and this change will become more rapid than ever before. We need new leadership for the changing economy.”
“We need a leader who understands the real work that Americans do every day,” the governor continued. “Someone who has worked alongside our farmers, our ranchers, and our small business owners. Someone who has held jobs where you shower at the end of the day – not at the beginning.”
Prior to his three gubernatorial terms, Burgum was a successful technology entrepreneur who founded Great Plain Software, which specialized in accounting software. He ultimately sold the company to Microsoft in 2001 for over $1 billion.
The 67-year-old has reportedly invested $10 million into his campaign, including $760,000 used to offer $20 gift cards to anyone who donated at least $1 to his campaign in order to meet the Republican National Committee’s fundraising requirements.
The RNC’s debate qualification requirement and its decisions to exclude radio host Larry Elder have become a point of contention in the lead-up to the debate.
In addition to Burgum, the RNC announced that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will all take part in the debate.
Elder has threatened to sue the RNC and file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission after the Republican organization refused to let him take part despite qualifying. The RNC has claimed the Rasmussen Poll that shows Elder polling at 1% – the required level to qualify – has ties to former President Donald Trump and therefore cannot be used.
