Dem legislator drops bid for Walsh’s seat

Montana state Rep. Franke Wilmer (D) has decided not to run for Sen. John Walsh’s (D-Mont.) seat after all.

{mosads}Wilmer, a failed 2012 House candidate and a favorite of many Montana liberal activists, had indicated that she would run shortly after Walsh announced he was ending his campaign last week.

But she’s reconsidered, announcing on Facebook that she was taking her “hat out of the ring” and will remain a state Senate candidate instead.

Democrats will pick their nominee at a convention next Saturday in Helena. Whoever is chosen will likely start out as a big underdog against Rep. Steve Daines (R), who had been comfortably leading Walsh in the polls and has a lot of money in the bank.

Other potential candidates include former Montana Lt. Gov. John Bohliner (D) and rancher Dirk Adams (D), both of whom ran against Walsh in the primary, and state Sen. Dave Wanzenried (D).

Walsh announced he would not seek reelection last week after allegations that he plagiarized in his master’s thesis.