Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale dropped out of Montana's hotly contested U.S. Senate primary race Thursday, less than a week after he announced his bid, blaming the decision on Donald Trump's endorsement of his opponent.Â
Hours after Rosendale announced his official candidacy, Trump endorsed his GOP primary opponent Tim Sheehy, a Belgrade-based businessman and first-time political candidate.Â
"We weren't expecting that decision to come out Friday," said Aashka Varma, spokesperson for the congressman.Â
When asked if the decision to suspend his Senate campaign was connected to Trump's move, Varma said "It has everything to do with that. There's no path to victory."Â
Sheehy is also backed by Republicans Gov. Greg Gianforte, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a key body tasked with gaining Republican control in the U.S. Senate.
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"Matt, Montana is grateful for your service and for showing Washington, D.C. what it means to hold the line on reckless spending," Sheehy said in a tweet following the announcement. "I know working together we’ll win this race and defeat Jon Tester."
Sheehy faces incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in the general election. Republican Brad Johnson, former chair of the Public Service Commission and past Secretary of State, is also running though considered a long shot.
This switch-up comes after Rosendale, the congressman representing eastern Montana, had been teasing a Senate bid for months.Â
Following his decision to suspend his campaign, which was first reported by POLITICO, Rosendale issued a lengthy statement:Â
Instead of one of those phony statements from politicians, here’s my statement on why I’m withdrawing my candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
As everyone knows, I have planned to run for the U.S. Senate and to win both the primary and the general election. However, the day I announced, President Trump then announced that he was endorsing a different candidate.
I have long been a supporter of the President, and remain so. But I have been forced to calculate what my chances of success would be with Trump supporting my opponent. This race was already going to be tough, as I was fighting against Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican establishment in Washington. 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, by my calculations, with Trump endorsing my opponent and the lack of resources, the hill was just too steep. I spoke with Sen. Daines earlier this week and we both agree that this is the best path forward for Republicans to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate.
Over the next few days I will be back home in Montana with my family and will prayerfully consider what is next.
It remains unclear if Rosendale will re-file for U.S. House. The deadline to do so is March 11.
Rosendale ran for Senate against Tester in 2018 for the U.S. Senate seat and lost. But in Rosendale's other elections in the state, he has cruised to victory, sometimes garnering more votes than any other Republican on the ticket.Â
"I think it's sad for the people in the state," Varma said. "We just don't have the money to run this thing."Â