Well-known Montana musician and performer Rob Quist says he is a candidate to replace U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT).
Zinke has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
If Zinke is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, perhaps as soon as late January, he would resign his House seat.
Gov. Steve Bullock then would call a special election within 85-to-100 days, setting up an instant campaign, both for candidate nominations and the seat itself.
State political parties would hold special conventions to nominate their candidates a few weeks after Bullock sets the election. A dozen candidates – Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians – have said they’re either running or considering running for the nomination.
A dozen candidates – Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians – have said they’re either running or considering running for the nomination.
Two of those people are state senators: Republicans Scott Sales of Bozeman and Ed Buttrey of Great Falls. The other four are state representatives: Republican Zolnikov and Democrats Amanda Curtis of Butte, Kelly McCarthy of Billings and Casey Schreiner of Great Falls.
Quist is a well-known fixture in the Montana music landscape.
Part of the Mission Mountain Wood Band and a solo performer in his own right, the Cut Bank native has maintained an active career for decades. His family runs a horse ranch outside Kalispell.
Quist has never run for public office, but told the Daily Interlake he’s been getting a lot of support for the idea from family and friends.
He says he feels like he’s been "representing Montana for years" in different ways during his life.
Quist, running as a Democrat, has started a website for campaign.
- Reporters: Dennis Bragg and Mike Dennison
