Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) announced he would run for another term in the House just two weeks after the Montana Republican dropped his Senate bid in the Treasure state.
Rosendale launched his reelection campaign on Wednesday, noting he had received an “outpouring of support” to run for a third term representing Montana in the House. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about what Rosendale’s plans might be after abruptly dropping his Senate bid earlier this month.
“I have always said I will serve where the people of Montana feel I can be most effective, and serving Montana in Congress has truly been the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Rosendale said in a statement. “At the urging of my family, friends, constituents, and President Trump, I announce my intention to seek reelection.”
Rosendale initially announced his intent to run for Senate in early February, pitting himself against Republican candidate Tim Sheehy, who had already received the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and other high-profile party members. However, it wasn’t until former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy over Rosendale that his Senate bid began to unravel, prompting him to suspend his campaign just one week later.
“I was not able to secure President Trump’s support for that race nor the financial resources, and there was simply no viable path forward,” Rosendale said in his reelection announcement.
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Instead, Rosendale expressed his support for Sheehy’s campaign, vowing to “rally together to defeat Jon Tester and take back the U.S. Senate.”
Several Republicans have already launched their bids hoping to replace Rosendale after he announced he would run for Senate, but the incumbent Republican has the upper hand thanks to his name recognition and endorsement from Trump.
