The following statement was made by Republican Congressman Steve Daines when he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Nov. 6 in Bozeman;

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As a fifth-generation Montanan, spending time in Washington, D.C. was never high on my list of things to do. But as the parents of four, my wife Cindy and I knew we had to do more than just talk about America being on the wrong track — we had to do something.

Today, after a year as your representative, my concern about the direction of our country has only deepened. It’s worse than I thought.

Folks in Washington are more interested in playing politics than finding solutions to big problems. Wasteful spending is mortgaging the future of the next generation. America’s natural resources are being squandered, leading to more dependence on foreign countries. ObamaCare is taking away your freedom to choose the health care that is best for you and your family, increasing costs and jeopardizing jobs

We must change direction, for the sake of our children and our country. We need to get back to the core principles that made America great — the values we’re raised with as Montanans.

The challenges are great, and I am committed to doing everything I can to help us overcome them. That’s why I am humbly asking for your support in our campaign for the United States Senate.

As a fifth-generation Montanan, a small businessman, a husband and a father, and the son of a U.S. marine, I promise to honor our Montana heritage, to always act as your voice and to fight everyday to make sure America’s best days are ahead.