HELENA – A former Montana House speaker says he’s running for the open attorney general seat next year.
Republican Austin Knudsen of Culbertson wrote in a Facebook post Monday that he and his wife decided after much consideration that they couldn’t sit on the sidelines.
Knudsen was elected to four sessions in the state House, and was speaker for the 2015 and 2017 sessions. He is now Roosevelt County attorney.
Knudsen’s entry means there will be competition for the Republican nomination to succeed Attorney General Tim Fox.
Fox’s chief deputy, Jon Bennion, previously announced his candidacy.
Two Democrats so far also are running for the seat. Kim Dudik is a state representative from Missoula and Raph (RAFE) Graybill is Gov. Steve Bullock’s chief legal counsel.
Fox, who is termed out, is running for governor next year.