BOZEMAN — A state senator from Great Falls is telling Republican leaders that he wants to run for Montana’s U.S. House seat when Ryan Zinke becomes President-elect Donald Trump’s Interior secretary.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that Sen. Ed Buttrey wrote to GOP central committee members that he plans to seek the party’s nomination in a special election.
Buttrey is the first person to publicly state his or her intention of running to replace Zinke. Montana’s congressman last week accepted Trump’s offer of a cabinet post, but it is unclear when he will vacate his current office.
When he does, Gov. Steve Bullock has between 85 and 100 days to call a special election to fill Zinke’s unexpired term.
Zinke defeated Democrat Denise Juneau last month to win a second term.