Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum in Exeter: 'Mental health is health'

EXETER — A Phillips Exeter Academy student questioned North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum Friday about the intersection of opioid abuse and mental health challenges in America.

The issue is near and dear to the Republican presidential candidate's heart, as his wife, Kathryn, has been in recovery for over 20 years.

“I want to say that absolutely, the co-occurrence that we see with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse disorder is almost 100% ... The thing that we need to do is we have to actually treat mental health like it’s health,” Burgum said Friday.

Back in his home state, Burgum is advocating for the construction of a new women’s correctional facility that would help those incarcerated to better address their struggles with addiction.

The software executive-turned-politician pivoted from usual policy points to reflect on America's struggle with the two issues during his town hall forum in Exeter, one in a series presented by Seacoastonline and USA TODAY.

Between May 2022 and May 2023 there were 106,539 reported drug overdose deaths in America, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This is not a Republican problem, it’s not a Democrat problem, it’s not an independent problem,” Burgum said. “Addiction doesn't discriminate.”

Burgum has ground to make up in New Hampshire

The governor’s usual drumbeat of energy policy, innovation and technology was on full display Friday. He also took questions from crowd members about federal funding for breast cancer research, unions in America, addressing youth concerns over the environment and gun violence, and what his leadership style would look like in the White House.

Having filed for the New Hampshire Republican primary on Thursday, Burgum has ground to make up in the Granite State.

Burgum’s polling average was 1.8% in the Granite State between Sept. 14 and Oct. 2, according to RealClear Politics. He stood seventh among the GOP presidential candidates. Former President Donald Trump led the pack at 45%.

Nikki Haley in Exeter: Republican makes pitch to NH voters with call for unity

Asa Hutchinson faces voters in Exeter: Here's how they reacted to his message

NH voters weigh in on Burgum

Jo-Ann Jacob has lived in Exeter since 1979. On Friday, the undecided voter said Burgum is her preferred candidate so far.

“I like this kind of setting. You come and listen to everybody,” she said.

Independent voter Cheryl Eberhardt of Rye, a former U.S. Department of Defense employee, was curious to hear about Burgum’s support for Israel, his stance on abortion, and if he’d support states taking over certain federal programs.

“He needs to have something that makes him different,” she said.

Rye resident Peter Angerhofer has been interested in Burgum’s candidacy since watching two televised Republican presidential debates, despite the governor’s relative lack of air time.

“I was impressed by his answers in the debates. I thought they were the most substantive and consistent,” he said. “They felt the most genuine and least scripted.”

“John McCain won the primary by doing these kinds of town halls over and over and over,” Angerhofer added. “That’s why you keep doing these. That’s key for all the candidates. If you get in front of people and you’re genuine and you have a good message, you’ll do well.”

Burgum makes case he stands out from GOP field

Burgum is the former owner of Great Plains Software, which was bought by Microsoft for $1.1 billion. The governor touted his record of job creation, commitment to securing the southern border and advocating for energy policy.

“Your participation matters,” he told Friday’s crowd. “You're the tip of the spear of America in actually making a decision about who is the person for this moment, this moment of great uncertainty.”

Burgum has served as North Dakota’s governor since 2016, when he won the gubernatorial election by 20%, a huge turnaround after trailing by as much as 49% in polls before the race’s Republican primary.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Doug Burgum talks opioid abuse, mental health in Exeter town hall