Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign criticized Republican Sen. Steve Daines for appearing at a large campaign event Thursday in Hamilton, saying attendees appear to have flouted social distancing and masking guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Bullock, a Democrat, is challenging Daines for his Senate seat this election. Daines appeared at the campaign events with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and a photo posted on Twitter by Republican strategist Jeff Roe showed Cruz speaking before a largely maskless indoor audience in Hamilton. Roe indicated 500 or more people attended.

Cruz and Daines also spoke Thursday at a smaller campaign event in Billings. A photo in the Billings Gazette showed the two senators bumping elbows onstage while not wearing masks.

In a statement Friday, Sean Manning, a spokesman for Bullock's campaign, said the campaign "works with local public health officials ahead of each of our events to ensure that we are keeping attendees safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19."

"After Thursday's events in Hamilton and Billings, it's clear that Sen. Daines thinks the rules don't apply to him and that he can skirt the guidance of our health officials," Manning said. "Sen. Daines' decision to hold maskless events with little social distancing is reckless, and Montana deserves leaders who will lead by example."

Representatives of Daines' campaign and the Montana Republican Party did not respond to messages seeking comment Friday. Nor did Flathead County Interim Health Officer Tamalee Robinson.

The Billings and Hamilton events also promoted U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte's gubernatorial bid and Matt Rosendale's campaign for Gianforte's House seat. Those same three candidates will be promoted at an event featuring Donald Trump Jr. on Saturday evening at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. That event will be outdoors.

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4434 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com