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Tammy Miller (politician)

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Tammy Miller
39th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
GovernorDoug Burgum
Preceded byBrent Sanford
Personal details
Born (1960-02-08) February 8, 1960 (age 64)
Brocket, North Dakota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCraig Palmer
EducationMinnesota State University, Moorhead (BS, MBA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Tammy Miller (born February 8, 1960) is an American politician and corporate executive from North Dakota. Assuming office in 2023, she is the 39th lieutenant governor of North Dakota. Miller was appointed by Governor Doug Burgum, following Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford's resignation.

Miller was a candidate in the 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election.[1]

Early life and career

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Miller was born on February 8, 1960, and was raised in Brocket, North Dakota. She is the daughter of Ralph and Gen Miller. Growing up, Tammy worked in her family's lumber and hardware store, Miller's Shopping Center on the Prairie, cleaning toilets and stocking shelves. On multiple occasions, she had to use a shotgun to defend the store against thieves.[2]

Miller attended high school in Lakota, North Dakota. She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is a certified public accountant. Miller started her career in public accounting with Charles Bailly and Company (now Eide Bailly).[3]

In 1991 Miller joined employee-owned Border States as the accounting manager. She served in a variety of roles including corporate controller, vice president of finance, executive vice president, general manager for the southwest region and president. She was named chief executive officer and board chair in 2006. Under Miller's leadership, Border States grew from under $500 million in annual sales to nearly $2.5 billion and became the sixth-largest electrical distributor in North America.[4][5]

Political career

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Miller considered running in the 2018 U.S. Senate election against Heidi Heitkamp, but opted not to run.[6] She joined the office of the Governor of North Dakota in April 2020 as chief operating officer.[7]

Lieutenant governor

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On December 20, 2022, former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford announced his resignation as lieutenant governor of North Dakota, effective January 2, 2023. Governor Doug Burgum appointed Miller to succeed Sanford.[8] Miller is North Dakota's third female lieutenant governor.

Miller took over far more operations than previous lieutenant governors, as Governor Burgum for most of 2023 was running for president.[9] Miller ceremonially pardoned the turkey for the 2023 Thanksgiving day,[10] along with visiting the Grand Forks Air Force Base in October.[11]

On January 22, 2024, Miller endorsed former president Donald Trump for his re-election bid in 2024.[12]

2024 gubernatorial campaign

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On January 22, 2024, Burgum announced he would not seek reelection to a third term.[13] On February 15, 2024, Miller announced she would seek the governors office.[14][15] She faced U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong in the primary. From the beginning, Miller emphasized her business experience, conservative philosophy and position as a political outsider.[16]

Miller did not attend the North Dakota Republican Party's endorsement convention in April. She instead decided to compete in the primary election.[17] Since her campaign began, Miller has attended numerous campaign events and hosted several town halls to meet with and hear from North Dakota voters.[18]

On February 21, Burgum endorsed Miller to succeed him as governor.[19] The Miller campaign released an ad touting Burgum's endorsement. The ad featured Burgum praising Miller's successes as lieutenant governor and comparing her business experience and outsider status to President Donald Trump's.[20] On April 4, Miller announced her running-mate to be Josh Tiegen, the state Commerce Commissioner for Burgum.[21]

On April 23, Miller faced Armstrong in a debate hosted by Prairie Public Broadcasting, in which she called him a career politician in rebuttal to his claim that she did not have the relationships to efficiently lead.[22]

On May 15, Miller received criticism and negative reporting after releasing an attack ad discussing how Armstrong, as an attorney, defended a child rapist in 2007.[23]

During the June 11 primary, Miller lost the primary to Armstrong, receiving only 27% of the vote.[24] Miller conceded the race that night.[25]

Political positions

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Abortion

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Miller supports anti-abortion legislation, describing herself as pro-life. In an interview with WZFG, she said she supported "very narrow" exceptions for young girls who are victims of rape and incest.[26] She supports IVF treatments.[27]

Gun rights

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Miller is a supporter of the 2nd amendment.[28]

Immigration

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Miller is a staunch critic of President Biden's immigration policy. She said if elected governor, she would make sure North Dakota does not provide any benefits to illegal immigrants.[29]

Taxes

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Miller is opposed to removing property taxes in the state of North Dakota, stating that people need to come together and discuss this issue thoroughly.[30] However, Miller does support a full elimination of the state level income tax.[31]

Energy

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Miller has said that the Biden administration's “burdensome regulations” are hurting North Dakota's oil, energy, agriculture industries.[27]

Transgender issues

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Miller supports legislation that would prevent transwomen from competing in women's sports. She also supports banning gender-affirming care for minors.[27]

Personal life

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Miller's husband, Craig Palmer, was the president of Multiband.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Gick, Justin (February 15, 2024). "Lt. Governor Tammy Miller announces run for ND governor". www.kfyrtv.com.
  2. ^ "About Tammy". Tammy Miller for Governor. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "From CEO to state employee, 'next chapter' for Tammy Miller includes learning and laser focus". InForum. August 4, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Electric leader: Miller blazing her own path as female CEO". InForum. October 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Tammy Miller named Burgum's new lieutenant governor | KX NEWS". Kxnet.com. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "List of potential ND GOP Senate candidates narrows as CEO declines to run". InForum. December 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Outgoing Border States CEO Miller to join Burgum's office". InForum. June 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford resigning, effective Jan. 2". Kxnet.com. December 15, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lt. Governor Tammy Miller will likely take more visible role in state affairs as Burgum campaigns for president". June 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "North Dakota Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller pardons turkey in annual ceremony". InForum. November 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Lt. Gov. of North Dakota visits Grand Forks AFB". Grand Forks Air Force Base. October 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Staff, KFYR (January 22, 2024). "North Dakota Lt. Governor endorses Trump". www.kfyrtv.com.
  13. ^ Frazier, Kierra (January 22, 2024). "After dropping presidential bid, Burgum says he won't seek third term as governor". POLITICO.
  14. ^ "Port: Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announces campaign for governor". InForum. February 15, 2024.
  15. ^ FULTON, JACOB (February 15, 2024). "North Dakota Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announces gubernatorial bid; touts business acumen, praises Trump". The Bismarck Tribune.
  16. ^ "Plain Talk: In first her interview as candidate, Tammy Miller talks about who she is and why she's running". InForum. February 15, 2024.
  17. ^ https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-governor-tammy-miller-doug-burgum-ece8482e25c044a191265eb1999c6b7 [bare URL]
  18. ^ Monitor, Frank Stanko News (March 11, 2024). "ND gubernatorial candidate speaks locally". Daily News & News Monitor. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Gick, Justin; Hjelmstad, Gretchen (February 21, 2024). "Burgum endorses Tammy Miller for ND governor". Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  20. ^ Governor Doug Burgum Endorses Tammy Miller for Governor, February 22, 2024, retrieved March 12, 2024
  21. ^ FULTON, JACOB (April 4, 2024). "North Dakota governor candidate Tammy Miller names Commerce leader Josh Teigen as running mate". The Bismarck Tribune.
  22. ^ "Two North Dakota gubernatorial candidates speak in first debate". The Flag - AM 1100 and FM 92.3 WZFG. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  23. ^ "North Dakota sisters criticize Tammy Miller gubernatorial campaign over attack ad featuring molestation case". WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  24. ^ "North Dakota Governor Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 11, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Gick, Justin (June 12, 2024). "Armstrong wins North Dakota's Republican primary for governor, advances to November election". Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  26. ^ "Gubernatorial candidate Tammy Miller talks pro-life, says legislature "made good progress" on pro-life issues". AM 1100 The Flag WZFG. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c Achterling, Michael (March 11, 2024). "Miller lays out policy positions in race for North Dakota governor • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "North Dakota gubernatorial candidate Tammy Miller supports second amendment rights". AM 1100 The Flag WZFG. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Miller announces run for Governor, addresses illegals: "I would support deporting them"". AM 1100 The Flag WZFG. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "Miller: North Dakota needs to work collaboratively to find a way to reduce property taxes". AM 1100 The Flag WZFG. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "Tammy Miller aims to be North Dakota's first female governor". KX NEWS. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
2023–present 		Incumbent
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