Brent Sanford was born and raised in Watford City, North Dakota. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1994. He is a certified public accountant. He worked as an auditor and consultant for Eide Bailly LLP from 1994 through 2002, and then became the chief financial officer of Transwest Trucks in Denver, Colorado.
Brent moved back home to Watford City in 2004, purchasing and operating his third-generation, family-run car dealership. He increased sales each of the first 10 years in business with unique approaches based on the rural economic conditions. He was elected to the Watford City Council in 2006 and became mayor in 2010. Watford City became the fastest growing community in America from 2010-2020. Most of the growth occurred during the incredible early days of the Bakken oil boom from 2010-2014. With Brent’s leadership, the community focused on infrastructure investment and community development activity to address the rapid growth including: investing in the historic Main Street area, new retail, new and affordable housing, new schools, new community center, new healthcare, new daycare and new airport investments.
Doug Burgum chose Brent as his running mate in the 2016 gubernatorial election. The ticket won the general election. They won a second term in the 2020 election. The pair entered office with a state budget crisis and the DAPL pipeline protests, weathered the storm of COVID-19 and throughout focused on infrastructure and economic opportunities for the state.
In addition to presiding over the State Senate, Brent chaired the State Investment Board, State Water Commission, ND Trade Office, Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site Board, the Higher Ed Challenge Grant Board and numerous other statutory state boards as lieutenant governor. Brent’s accounting and entrepreneurial background, as well as his years spent in business and local community leadership, served him well in the statewide elected leadership position.
On Dec. 20, 2022, Sanford announced his resignation as lieutenant governor, effective Jan. 2, 2023, in order to return to the private sector and spend more time with his family. Brent has continued in his passion for progress in North Dakota through his newest venture, Sanford Consulting LLC, assisting various organizations with innovative workforce and energy solutions.
In January 2025, Sanford was named the interim president of Bismarck State College and on April 30, 2025, Sanford was named the interim chancellor of the ND University System.
Brent and his wife Sandi have three children and reside in Bismarck.
STAFF
- Bethany Kadrmas, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, 701-328-2963