Tom Campbell (North Dakota politician)

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]

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)

Career

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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

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North Dakota Senate

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.