A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
At 1637 MDT today, Bozeman businessman Greg Gianforte filed a C-1 Statement of Candidate (PDF) with Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices declaring his exploratory candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor. His treasurer is Lorna Kuney of Helena, and he’s banking at Helena’s Valley Bank.
His announced competitors for the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Public Service Commission member Brad Johnson, a former Montana Secretary of State, and not well known Helena resident Mark Perea. They probably will be joined by others.
Incumbent governor Steve Bullock is running for re-election. So far, there’s no indication he’ll face other than token opposition for the Democratic nomination.
Christopher Arthur Zarcone of Kalispell declared he was running for Governor as an independent. He filed his C-1 in January.
Filing a C-1 allows candidates to begin raising money. Not all who file C-1s actually file for office. Filing opens in January, 2016.
If Gianforte has a website, it’s well hidden. His email address is on his C-1.
Nancy Keenan, executive director of Montana’s Democratic Party, immediately released a statement attacking Gianforte as an out-of-state moneybags who’s trying to buy the election:
Today Greg Gianforte, a New Jersey billionaire who is best known for believing seniors have an “obligation to work,” supporting job-killing, pro-discrimination policies, and leading the charge on protecting dark money, filed to run for Governor. While Greg Gianforte may think the Governor’s office can be bought, his extreme record will be on full display this election, a record Montanans will soundly reject.
I wish Montana’s Democrats would knock off tarring Gianforte as a New Jersey billionaire. He chose to live in Montana, as have many, myself included. That speaks well of him as well as of our state. Contrary to what some believe, being born in Montana does not confer upon anyone special rights or a special understanding of the state.
Democrats fear Gianforte’s wealth. That’s a legitimate concern, but if I were managing Steve Bullock’s campaign, I would worry far more that a credible Libertarian might not be on the ballot to divert votes from the Republican nominee. Bullock won with a plurality in 2012. Running as an incumbent (and without John Walsh) should help him, as will running in a Presidential year, but Montana is sliding right, making it harder for Democrats to win majorities in statewide contests.
Bullock, incidentally, would be helped most by a Democratic national ticket of Bernie Sanders for President and Hillary Clinton for Vice President. The Republican ticket for Montana Governor would be helped most by a national Republican ticket of John Kaisch and Jeb Bush.