fbpx

Democrats Search for Replacement in U.S. Senate Race

Democrats have arranged for a nominating convention on Aug. 16

By Lisa Baumann & Matthew Brown, Associated Press

HELENA — Montana Democrats were casting about Friday for a last-minute U.S. Senate candidate to take on Republican Rep. Steve Daines, after their hopes to hold the seat in November suffered a huge blow with the withdrawal of incumbent Sen. John Walsh amid plagiarism allegations.

Those mentioned as potential stand-ins for Walsh include former state Reps. Franke Wilmer of Bozeman and Amanda Curtis of Butte, state Sen. Dave Wanzenried, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus and Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger.

But several top names have signaled they’re not interested. That underscores the daunting task faced by party leaders as they strive to keep a seat controlled by Democrats for more than a century. The post was held by Democrat Max Baucus for six terms before he stepped down this year to become U.S. Ambassador to China. Zeno Baucus is the ambassador’s son.

Among those who said they won’t run are former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams, former Gov. Brian Schweitzer, state Auditor Monica Lindeen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

Another name being floated by Democrats was former state legislator and abortion rights leader Nancy Keenan. But Williams said Keenen told him Friday “absolutely not.”

Despite the apparent long odds any candidate will face against Daines’ well-financed campaign, Williams said he’s hopeful that an unexpected candidate could emerge and stir up voters who might be otherwise disinterested.

“Democrats need to push the reset button, and if they do that properly, they can beat Steve Daines,” he said. “It might be a candidate that Democrats are talking about but is new to the public.”

He said either Wilmer or Curtis would fit that description. Both said Friday that they’re interested in running against Daines.

A spokeswoman for U.S. House candidate John Lewis said he’s been approached to enter the Senate contest but remains focused on the House.

A new candidate must be selected before Aug. 20. Democrats have arranged for a nominating convention on Aug. 16 at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena. It will include leaders from county party committees, along with federal and statewide elected officials, and the party’s executive board.

Walsh, a former lieutenant governor and decorated veteran who served in Iraq, was appointed to the Senate in February by Gov. Steve Bullock. He bowed out of the campaign Thursday after his campaign was derailed by a New York Times report that revealed the extensive use of unattributed material in a 2007 paper Walsh submitted to earn a master’s degree from the U.S. Army War College.

Walsh was in Montana Friday, but had no public events scheduled and was not available for interviews, according to his Senate and campaign offices. His office sent out a statement Friday afternoon urging a clear mission and end goal regarding U.S. airstrikes in Iraq.

Walsh’s first scheduled appearances will be Tuesday, when he plans a series of roundtable discussions about Social Security and Medicare in Missoula, Great Falls and Lewistown, said Walsh’s Senate spokeswoman, Andrea Helling.

The Senate is in recess until Sept 8.

“He will be traveling around Montana, meeting with Montanans about issues Montanans care about,” Helling said.

Two-term former Gov. Brian Schweitzer, once considered a shoo-in for the Senate seat but who has insisted he’s not interested in running, said Friday that the field of potential candidates is shifting rapidly. He indicated there was no clear favorite at this point.

“It’s too dynamic. There’s people every hour saying ‘I’m out,’ and every hour new names coming,” he said.

Schweitzer, who serves as chairman of Stillwater Mining Co., the state’s largest company by revenue, added that his decision to stay out was final, but he suggested he could have won if he entered.

“It was a final thing 14 months ago,” he said, referring to Baucus’ retirement announcement last year. “Fourteen months ago, had I run, Steve Daines would still be in the House, and I would be running against (former Republican state Sen.) Corey Stapleton, 20 points ahead.”