GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale drops re-election bid in Montana
Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale won't run for re-election to the House after ending his bid for Montana Senate, citing rumors and a death threat.
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., announced Friday that he will not seek a third term, citing unspecified “false and defamatory rumors” about him and his family, as well as a death threat.
“The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you,” Rosendale said in a statement posted to X. “So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office.”
It’s the second surprise announcement from Rosendale in three weeks. Last month, he ended his campaign for a Senate seat less than a week after launching it. Rosendale faced a potentially brutal Republican primary in that race against aerospace entrepreneur Tim Sheehy, who is backed by former President Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Trump advisers and allies had been frustrated with Rosendale, who they believed had not been sufficiently loyal, and made that clear before he entered the contest.
“This race was already going to be tough, as I was fighting against [Senate GOP Leader] Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican establishment in Washington,” Rosendale said when he dropped out of the Senate race Feb. 15. “But I felt like I could beat them, as the voters do not agree with them choosing who would be the next U.S. Senator from Montana.”
“However,” Rosendale added, “by my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep.”
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