HELENA — President Donald Trump tweeted an endorsement Wednesday for state Auditor Matt Rosendale, who is running in the Republican primary for Montana’s U.S. House seat.
Rosendale was elected to a four-year term as auditor in 2016. He ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2018, and is one of six candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the June 2 primary.
Montana’s current U.S. representative, Republican Greg Gianforte, is running for governor.
Trump called Rosendale a “Strong & Conservative fighter” who stands for veterans and supports gun ownership rights.
Trump came to Montana four times during the 2018 U.S. Senate race to campaign for Rosendale, who lost to incumbent Democrat Jon Tester. Vice President Mike Pence and Donald Trump Jr. also campaigned on Rosendale’s behalf in 2018.
Other Republicans vying for Montana’s U.S. House seat are Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, Lewis and Clark County Republican Chairman Joe Dooling, Corvallis superintendent Tim Johnson, former Montana Republican Party chairwoman Debra Lamm and John Evankovich of Butte.