Matt Rosendale, a Republican from Glendive, is running to be Montana's state auditor.
Rosendale, the state Senate majority leader, announced his campaign in a press release Friday.
“Party leaders have been encouraging me for the last two months to consider running and serving in this position. After careful consideration and much prayer, my wife and I agree -- Montana needs someone who will look out for the folks, I believe I am that guy,” Rosendale said.
On Thursday, Democrat Jesse Laslovich filed Thursday to run for the position.
Laslovich, of Helena, has worked for the past five years as chief counsel for current state Auditor Monica Lindeen, who is term-limited and can't run again.
Rosendale on Friday said he hasn’t been able to reach former Rep. Champ Edmunds, a fellow Republican who said last April he will run for auditor, to discuss the race.
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Rosendale said part of the reason he’s running is to bring more health insurance options to Montanans.
“It’s too limited,” he said. “We need to drive down the costs and increase the access. A lot of people having insurance doesn’t translate to good access. Just because you have a stamp saying you have insurance doesn’t mean you have health care.”
He criticized Laslovich’s support of Obamacare as one of the reasons he’s running
Rosendale also said he wants the auditor job because it is one of five voting members on the state Land Board.
“I’ve got extensive background in rural state management,” he said. “I feel that I would be a tremendous asset.”
Rosendale is a rancher and real estate developer from Glendive. He and his wife, Jean, have been married for 30 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. He ran for U.S. House in 2014, losing to Ryan Zinke in the primary.
The only other person who has announced plans to run for the job is Edmunds, of Missoula. Edmunds hasn't filed with the Secretary of State's office, but has filed campaign finance reports with the Commissioner of Political Practices that show he's raised very little money. Rosendale has not yet filed a finance report.
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Edmunds reported just one donation of $40. He spent $615.47, leaving $386.42 in the bank. He had $961.89 in his general election campaign fund at the start of that reporting period.
During the same period Laslovich raised $16,789.32. He spent $4,839.68 and left $12,3833.30 in the bank.
A message on Edmunds' business phone said he was on an extended leave and left a cellphone number to call. A message on that cellphone said it wasn't accepting calls.
The deadline for filing is March 14.
Chairman of the Montana Republican Party Jeff Essmann released the following statement on Rosendale’s announcement:
“I’m really excited and proud of Matt for deciding to run for State Auditor. He’s a trusted and true conservative and is a strong candidate for this office. While Jesse Laslovich has lobbied to impose Obamacare on Montana families, Matt can be counted on to put the interests of Montana families first and is committed to bettering their lives. Matt is someone Montanans can always count on to be on their side.”
Montana Democratic Party's Executive Director, Nancy Keenan, released the following statement:
"I’d put Jesse’s record of protecting Montanans up against anyone. Jesse’s Montana values were instilled in him growing up in Anaconda, and they will always trump Matt Rosendale’s Maryland values."
