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North Dakotans watching the Republican presidential primary debate will see familiar face Gov. Doug Burgum on stage. Burgum is one of the 10 candidates who have qualified for the Milwaukee debate, which will be aired on Fox News. The debate will be moderated by Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier.

Former President Donald Trump, the clear frontrunner for the GOP nomination, qualified for the debate but has chosen not to participate. Instead, he plans to do a counterprogramming interview with Tucker Carlson. Trump’s presence at the debate could have given legitimacy to other primary candidates, so his absence may shift attention away from the event.

The late decision by Trump to not participate left candidates and moderators uncertain of what to expect. However, they have adjusted the questions and are prepared for either scenario.

Leading up to the debate, there has been a series of indictments involving Trump. This is the fourth time he has been indicted for alleged election interference issues. Coverage of these indictments has overshadowed Burgum’s messaging, as he has chosen not to comment on the matter and has redirected reporters to other topics.

Despite Trump’s absence, Burgum will still be competing for attention among a crowded field that includes five other current or former governors. Name recognition will be a major challenge for Burgum, but Republican strategists believe the debate presents an opportunity for him to pitch himself to voters.

Burgum’s main goal is to increase his national profile and overcome the “Doug who?” problem. He wants voters to know his three priorities of fixing the economy, boosting domestic energy production, and strengthening the military.

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