Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) is considering a 2020 run for governor, according to MTN News.
Gianforte would be the fourth Republican entrant into the Montana race and would leave an opening for the state’s only congressional seat. Gov. Steve Bullock (D), a presidential candidate who beat Gianforte in 2016, is barred from running for reelection due to term limits.
{mosads}A spokesperson for Gianforte told MTN News Tuesday that Gianforte has received “a lot of encouragement” from constituents and plans to make an announcement in coming weeks.
“Greg’s considering how best he can use his executive experience and background in creating high-wage Montana jobs to best serve Montana,” the spokesman said.
Gianforte, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, reportedly plans to spend several million dollars of his own money on a gubernatorial campaign. He would join Attorney General Tim Fox, state Sen. Al Olszewski and Secretary of State Corey Stapleton in the Republican field.
Jack Cutter, a spokesman for Fox’s campaign, criticized Gianforte for considering a run less than a year after being elected to a full term in 2018. “Greg has made his priorities clear; his ambition is more important than his commitments to Montanans,” Cutter said, according to the news outlet.
Gianforte was elected to replace then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in a special election in 2017. The day before the attack he body-slammed Guardian political reporter Ben Jacobs, breaking his glasses. Gianforte initially blamed Jacobs for the incident but later apologized to Jacobs and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.