The race for Montana’s eastern congressional district was in limbo for months as GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale teased another challenge to Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, whose reelection campaign may determine control of the Senate next year.
Rosendale finally got in the Senate race in April only to drop out a week later, after former President Donald Trump demolished his path to the GOP nomination by endorsing wealthy businessman Tim Sheehy. He then announced he’d run for reelection instead — only to change his mind again, a week later.
In the meantime, a crowded primary field formed to replace Rosendale, including the state’s former congressman, Denny Rehberg. Republican voters will determine Rosendale’s successor in the June 4 primary, which has largely flown under the radar as the Senate race sucks up all the state’s political oxygen.
MT-01: Ryan Zinke (R) - West: Missoula, Bozeman, KalispellLikely Republican. Zinke’s return to Congress in 2022 was fraught with obstacles. After representing Montana’s at-large district for a single term from 2015-2017, Trump picked him to lead the Interior Department. During his two-year tenure as
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