Democratic U.S. House candidate Rob Quist paid a visit to the Flathead Valley to stump about public lands and health care, making appearances on March 25 and 27 at Kalispell’s Depot Park and the Hilton Garden Inn to kick off a four-city tour.
Quist, a musician and political newcomer, captured the Democratic nomination for the May 25 special election to fill the state’s only congressional seat.
Montana is without a representative in the U.S. House until a successor is elected for former Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who resigned his seat earlier this month after being confirmed to lead the U.S. Interior Department.
Quist squares off against Republican candidate and wealthy high-tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte, who had no political experience prior to his unsuccessful run for governor in November.
While Quist has earned the high-ticket endorsement of former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, trouble emerged last week when Republicans revealed that the state had filed tax liens against Quist and his wife to collect back taxes.
Quist, who supports a single-payer health care system, blamed the debt on a bout of health issues he suffered, saying it could have happened to anyone living under an inadequate system.