Tom Campbell (North Dakota politician)

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Tom Campbell
Member of the North Dakota Senate
from the 19th district
In office
December 1, 2012 – December 1, 2018
Preceded byGerald Uglem
Succeeded byRobert Fors
Personal details
Born
Thomas Scott Campbell

(1959-02-14) February 14, 1959 (age 65)
Grafton, North Dakota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLori Campbell
Children2
EducationNorth Dakota State University (BS)

Thomas Scott Campbell (born February 14, 1959) is an American politician, farmer, and entrepreneur. He served as a Republican member of the North Dakota Senate from 2012 to 2018.[1]

Career[edit]

Campbell co-founded Campbell Farms in Grafton, North Dakota with his brothers in 1978, and the company has since expanded to multiple locations.[2]

In 2022, Campbell Farms sold an abundance of land to groups associated with Bill Gates for millions of dollars.[3] However, according to Campbell himself, they lease it back and allows them to continue farming.[4]

Politics[edit]

North Dakota Senate[edit]

He was first elected in 2012 to the North Dakota Senate after defeating incumbent Gerald Uglem in the primaries, followed by the general election against Dem-NPL candidate Julius Wangler.[5] Campbell would be reelected in 2014.

During the 2013 session, Campbell was a member of the Finance and Taxation, and Transportation committees before the 2015 and 2017 sessions in which he became the vice chairman for the Industry, Business, and Labor committee.[6]

After his term, the Democratic-NPL Party began criticising him over “not accomplishing anything” and his failed runs for national office.[7]

2018 United States Senate election[edit]

Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota

In August 2017, Campbell announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate seat then held by Democrat Heidi Heitkamp.[8][9] Campbell withdrew from the race following the entry of fellow Republican Kevin Cramer into the race, endorsing his campaign.

2018 congressional election[edit]

Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota

In February 2018, Campbell declared his candidacy for the congressional seat to be vacated by Cramer as he ran for the senate.[10]

Campbell did not receive the endorsement of the North Dakota Republican Party at the state party convention in April 2018, losing to fellow state Senator, Kelly Armstrong.[11] Following his defeat at the convention, Campbell announced his intention to continue his campaign to the primary election in June 2018.[12] On April 11, 2018, Campbell withdrew his candidacy from the primary race.[13]

2024 congressional election[edit]

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota

In June 2023, the Inforum reported Campbell as a possible contender to run for Governor in the event of incumbent Doug Burgum not running for re-election on account of his presidential campaign in 2024.[14]

In January 2024, Campbell stated he had an interest in running for Governor and outlined key issues he would run off, which included mental health, homelessness, and property taxes.[15] Later, in an interview he stated if he were to run he would also focus on and address workforce shortages in Education, Law, and Medicine.[4]

On January 22, Campbell declared his candidacy, with an announcement coming "within two weeks."[16] However, on January 29, Campbell announced his candidacy in the 2024 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota.[17] Bypassing a second fight with Kelly Armstrong once he announced his run for the governorship.[18]

Campbell later announced he would tour and speak with voters in towns with more than 100 people.[19]

Campbell faced considerable attack and opposition from other candidates in the race, former state representative Rick Becker, public service commissioner Julie Fedorchak, and farmer Alex Balazs.[20] On March 13, Campbell announced he would not attend the NDGOP endorsement convention in April, instead choosing to go to the primary.[21]

On March 27, Campbell announced he was suspending his campaign. Citing not wanting to run a “negative campaign.”[22]

Personal life[edit]

Campbell is married to his wife, Lori, and has 2 children.

Campbell attended the Save America Rally in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. He reportedly left around 3 hours before the beginning of the Capitol riot. He later recounted the story claiming he was the last to find out about the attack.[23]

Electoral history[edit]

2018 United States House of Representatives election Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kelly Armstrong 37,054 56.23
Republican Tom Campbell (withdrawn) 17,692 26.85
Republican Tiffany Abentroth 5,877 8.92
Republican Paul Schaffner 5,203 7.90
Republican Write-Ins 75 0.11
Total votes 65,901 100.00
2014 Election for North Dakota's 19th Senate District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Campbell (Incumbent) 3,109 64.81
Democratic Robert "Tork" Kilichowski 1,679 35.00
Write-In Others 9 0.19
Total votes 4,797 100
2012 Election for North Dakota's 19th Senate District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Campbell 3,490 60.04
Democratic Julius M. Wangler 2,313 39.79
Write-In Others 10 0.17
Total votes 5,813 100

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Senator Tom Campbell". North Dakota Legislative Branch. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Campbell Farms Official Website | ND & MN Grown Potatoes". Campbell Farms.
  3. ^ "Entity linked to billionaire Bill Gates pays $13.5 million for Campbell Farms' North Dakota farmland". Agweek. June 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Plain Talk: 'I'm not here to bash Doug'". InForum. January 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "North Dakota State Senate elections, 2012". Ballotpedia.
  6. ^ "Tom Campbell (North Dakota)". Ballotpedia.
  7. ^ "State Sen. Tom Campbell can't name a single accomplishment from six years in elected office - Dem-NPL Party Democrats". Dem-NPL Party. September 12, 2017.
  8. ^ "North Dakota Republican announces he's running for Heitkamp's..." Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  9. ^ "Home - Tom Campbell for North Dakota". Tomfornorthdakota.com. August 14, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Tom Campbell endorses Kevin Cramer | North Dakota News". bismarcktribune.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Many walk away without endorsements at GOP convention". WDAY. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "U.S. House candidate Campbell files for June primary in challenge..." Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Republican Campbell Drops Out of Race For Congress - KVRR Local News". KVRR Local News. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "Port: Who runs for governor if Doug Burgum doesn't seek a 3rd term?". InForum. June 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tom Campbell Poised to Enter Governor's Race Regardless of Doug Burgum's Decision on Reelection". WDAY Radio. January 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Former State Senator Tom Campbell to run for Governor". WDAY Radio. January 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Former state senator announces run for North Dakota's lone US House seat". AP News. January 29, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  18. ^ Gick, Justin (February 1, 2024). "Republican Tom Campbell discusses bid for North Dakota's US House seat". www.kfyrtv.com.
  19. ^ https://www.tomcampbellfornd.com/town-tour/
  20. ^ https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-house-candidate-tom-campbell-accuses-opponent-of-threats-and-planting-media-questions
  21. ^ https://kfgo.com/2024/03/15/978656/
  22. ^ https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/03/26/tom-campbell-drops-out-race-north-dakotas-us-house-seat/
  23. ^ "'I was the last one to find out:' Grafton's Tom Campbell left U.S. Capitol building hours before violence broke out". Grand Forks Herald. January 7, 2021.
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