Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced Monday that he will try to unseat first-term Republican Sen. Steve Daines, giving Democrats a boost in their effort to take control of the Senate in November.
What We Know:
- Bullock’s decision to run is an abrupt about-face made at the last minute for the two-term governor, who entered the presidential race last spring then exited his campaign in December. Initially, he had repeatedly insisted having zero interest in running for the Senate.
- “Let’s make Washington work more like Montana,” the ex-2020 contender tweeted Monday along with a campaign ad touting his work on health care and other issues as governor.
I've always fought for the people of Montana. Together, we expanded health care, protected public lands, banned dark money in politics & more. Now I'm taking that fight to the US Senate. Let’s make Washington work more like Montana. Join us: https://t.co/vyPPioB0tJ #MTSen #MTpol pic.twitter.com/6VuCKsNTeW
— Steve Bullock (@stevebullockmt) March 9, 2020
- The campaign ad that Bullock posted to Twitter on Monday bragged about the state’s low unemployment and expanding economy during his tenure as governor, along with highlighting legislative achievements. Some of those included Medicaid expansion and revising the state’s campaign finance laws to increase reporting requirements by political committees.
- The governor had come under increasing pressure, including meeting with former President Barack Obama in Washington and with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer had recently traveled to Montana to meet with Bullock. Bullock reportedly weighed the matter with his family over the weekend before making his decision.
Democrats must win four seats that are now held by Republicans, without losing any that they are defending, to ultimately win control of the Senate. If President Donald Trump does end up getting defeated, the Democrats would need a net gain of three seats and the vice-president’s tie-breaking vote for control.
