25 February 2016

Monica Lindeen files for Secretary of State

Montana State Auditor Monica Lindeen today filed for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. Her Republican opponent likely will be former State Senator Corey Stapleton.

Current secretary of state Linda McCulloch, completing her second term in the job, is retiring, forced out by term limits. She previously served eight years as Montana’s superintendent of public instruction.

Former legislator Jesse Laslovich is running for the Democratic nomination for auditor. He’ll likely face either Champ Edmunds or Matt Rosendale, currently the majority leader in Montana’s state senate. Rosendale, who announced for auditor earlier this month, still has not filed for the position, and is thought by some to be a potential candidate for lieutenant governor on Greg Gianforte’s gubernatorial ticket.

Lindeen was one of Montana’s first internet service providers. She served four terms in Montana’s house of representatives. In 2006, she unsuccessfully challenged incumbent U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg. Two years later, she leveraged what she learned during that campaign into a successful run for auditor, beating Duane Grimes by 32,000 votes. In 2012, she won re-election with a 33,000-vote victory over Derek Skees.

Montana’s secretary of state is the state’s chief elections officer, keeper of the Great Seal of Montana, and steward of various records.