Montana’s East District House Race Progresses

April 12, 2024

Article Summary –

Ed Walker, a former state lawmaker, announced the suspension of his campaign for the Eastern District U.S. House race in Montana, reducing the number of Republican candidates to eight. Walker, who had around $74,000 in his campaign treasury by the end of 2023, encouraged other candidates to drop out and unite under a single conservative candidate. Another candidate, Joel Krautter, received an endorsement from the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the largest union in the state.

Republican Primary Race for Montana’s Eastern District House Seat

The Republican primary battle for the soon-to-be vacant position of retiring Congressman Matt Rosendale in Montana’s Eastern District House race is shifting gears.

Former state legislator Ed Walker recently suspended his campaign, leaving only eight Republicans in the race. “It has been challenging for a grassroots conservative candidate like myself to get any traction in this race due to Congressman Rosendale’s indecision about his own campaign and the overcrowded primary field,” Walker announced in a statement.

Rosendale, a prominent member of the Freedom Caucus, originally planned to run for the Senate but abandoned the idea after a mere six days. His withdrawal from the House race followed soon after, with threats against his family and “false and defamatory rumors” about his personal life quoted as reasons.

More on Rosendale’s decision here.

Walker finished 2023 with approximately $74,000 in his campaign fund. Data for Q1 2024 fundraising is not yet available from the Federal Election Commission.

Walker, who served in the state senate in 2011 and 2013, is currently the state chairman of an organization promoting federal term limits. He urged other candidates to drop out of the race and rally behind a single conservative candidate to ensure Montana’s eastern district is not represented by a “Bush-era retread or a California phony.”

Elsewhere in the race, former state legislator Joel Krautter received support from the Montana Federation of Public Employees, Montana’s largest union. “MFPE members expect efficient, effective government. We need stability in Washington, D.C. to serve Montana communities and keep them safe, educated, supported, and healthy,” MFPE President Amanda Curtis said.

The deeply Republican-leaning eastern district makes it challenging for Democrats to win, implying the GOP primary victor will likely secure the seat. “I’m honored to have the support of thousands of public employees across Eastern Montana. Their support in the June 4th Republican Primary will assist me in representing eastern and central Montana in Congress and working to address the chaos affecting our nation and state,” Krautter stated.

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