BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke suggested in an interview with The Associated Press that he could run against Democrat Jon Tester in Montana's 2018 U.S. Senate race if the two-term incumbent does not work effectively with Republicans.
The Whitefish Republican stopped short in the weekend interview of declaring his candidacy, but made it clear he has decided Tester must show a willingness to work with President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.
"Senator Tester is wise enough to make sure his voice is heard in a positive manner to get things done. Just saying no is not going to work," Zinke told The AP.
Asked directly if he would run against Tester, considered a centrist Democrat, Zinke suggested he would if Tester tries to obstruct proposals for tighter border security and changes in federal forestry management.
"I haven't decided. But I'm putting pressure on (Tester) to make sure he runs more in the middle," Zinke said.
A Tester spokeswoman disputed the assertion that the Democrat must shift his policies to accommodate Republicans. Spokeswoman Marnee Banks said Tester has demonstrated he can reach across the aisle to protect access to public lands and take care of veterans.
"Jon has a strong record of working with Republicans, Democrats and Independents," Banks said.
Like Zinke, Tester has pushed for changes to federal forestry management but has been unable to advance legislation. He's criticized Zinke's forestry proposal as a "top-down" approach that doesn't adequately take Montana's needs into account.
Zinke on Nov. 8 overwhelmingly won a second term as Montana's sole representative in the U.S. House, defeating state schools superintendent Denise Juneau.
Anticipating a potential challenge, Tester said immediately after the election that he will seek a third six-year term. Prior to his narrow 2006 victory over incumbent Sen. Conrad Burns, the farmer from Big Sandy worked on a local school board and was president of the Montana Senate.
A Zinke-Tester race would be among the most competitive Senate matchups in the nation, Montana State University political analyst Dave Parker said. Tester would hold an initial advantage as the incumbent and because mid-term elections typically favor the party that's not in power, he said
Zinke made his comments about Tester as he prepared to release a book on Tuesday about his 23-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL.
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He co-wrote "American Commander" with Scott McEwen, the author of "American Sniper."
Zinke's book includes anecdotes from his childhood in Montana, including a fascination with demolition that began around the second grade.
"I was making Molotov cocktails long before I knew the name for them," Zinke wrote, referring to crude explosive devices he fashioned with jars bottles filled with flammable liquids.
Zinke said he started working on the book in 2013, prior to his first run for office, after a series of conversations with McEwen about America's role in the world. Hundreds of pages of the book were redacted by the U.S. Department of Defense because of concerns releasing that information could jeopardize U.S. security. Zinke said his overall message was unchanged.
"When you finish it, the reader should feel positive about the direction of the country, positive about its opportunity and be grateful to those magnificent men and women who keep us safe at night," Zinke said.
(11) comments
Yes, do it. Would like to see a real veteran in that office not just a fingerless wannabe.
kenn, does it bother you that we have draft dodger moving into the white house?
So, Ryan, what do want Jon to join you in doing? Gutting Social Security? Turning Medicare over to your Wall Street Cronies? Or, privatizing the VA so your big money backers can buy it up and run it into the ground?
We know these are Paul Ryan's plans!! And, you're at best a tag along.
This is an interesting idea. Rep. Zinke can increase his credibility for this race if he resigns his House seat. That way, he can focus on his fundraising and race rather than taking a taxpayer salary to run for office.
Of course, the GOP controlled Congress will work a few days in 2017, and will "work" even fewer days in 2018, as they fundraise and campaign for office in 2018.
The do-nothing Congress continues, whether controlled by the GOP or Democrats.
Yes, if he gets out of the house he could them disavow any involvement in the catastrophes that are likely to occur in Washington.
We should elect our best and brightest to these positions. Not YES men.
Elsewhere on the site you were encouraging Gov Bullock to run for President. Here you're saying that Zinke doesn't have the smarts to compete with the likes of Tester. You certainly are flailing your arms while running around with your hair on fire aren't you?
Zinke's such a lightweight.
That's Senator-Elect Zinke to you.
Anyone that's met Zinke knows how much of a simpleton he is. He used to support unpopular legislation. now he's more of a tea-party line type of guy. Wait for the coffers of dark money cash to state showing up for this race.
NO it's not. It's zinke...I'll believe YOU believe in decorum & respect when you call somebody out for calling the sitting president of the united state OBummer or anything else that you've read hear a 1000 times...otherwise Caribou, you're just tooting your own tiny horn for some attention.
Until then I'll call out Zinke for his abuse of his own special forces pac to enrich himself and his cronies, his climbing a country mile up the trump hind quarters and refusal to disavow himself of that nightmare, his outing of the seal team 6 within a day of the OBL raid and then quick referral to blame others for it...and then the real hypocrisy of his telling vets that he thinks there should be changes in the job requirements for disabled vets, and then complaining like a child when Denise Juneau called him out on it by saying vets didn't agree (he pretended she was attacking the vets not himself...lame).
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