Tom Campbell | |
---|---|
Member of the North Dakota Senate from the 19th district | |
In office December 1, 2012 – December 1, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Gerald Uglem |
Succeeded by | Robert Fors |
Personal details | |
Born | Thomas Scott Campbell February 14, 1959 Grafton, North Dakota, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Lori Campbell |
Children | 2 |
Education | North 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]
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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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 |
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 |
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 |