Rep. Ryan Zinke to retire at end of current term

Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced Monday that he will retire at the end of his current term in Congress and will not seek re-election.

“I have made the decision to leave office at the end of my fourth term and not seek re-election,” Zinke said in his announcement.  “I do not take this decision lightly and have informed President Trump, the Governor, and senior leadership of this difficult but necessary decision.”

The Republican said that he believes in term limits for elected office, but that was only “a consideration” of his retirement, and the decision was based on health concerns.

“I have quietly undergone multiple surgeries since I returned to Congress and unfortunately face several more immediately after leaving office,” Zinke wrote. “The injuries sustained from a career in Special Operations are not immediately life threatening, but the repair cannot be deferred any longer and recovery will require considerable time with my wife Lola and my family. My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes.”

Zinke, a Navy Seal and former Interior Secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term, was elected to Congress four times, twice as the at-large representative for Montana, and twice representing the state’s Western district.

The filing deadline for candidates in Montana is March 4, and Zinke had not yet filed paperwork during the first 10 days filing was open. Four Democrats have filed paperwork to run for the western congressional seat.

“It has been my highest honor to serve America and the Great State of Montana as a U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, State Senator, Congressman, and the 52nd Secretary of the Interior,” Zinke wrote in a letter to Montanans. “It has been my privilege to fight on the front lines defending freedom, faith, family, and the values that make America and Montana strong. Battles are not fought alone, and with your support we have unleashed America’s energy potential, removed excessive regulation, lowered taxes, passed the Great American Outdoors Act to repair and preserve our National Parks and Forests, and saved our treasured public lands from being sold to the highest bidder.”

New candidates move fast

Contenders have just 48 hours to jump into the Republican primary race for the MT-01 seat.

Flathead County Republican Central Committee chair Al Olszewski confirmed to the Daily Montanan that he is joining the race, and was set to file at 3:00 p.m. Monday regardless, having heard a rumor that Zinke might retire and given the incumbent had yet to file.

Olszewski ran against Zinke in the 2022 primary for the newly created Western District, and garnered 39.8% of the vote to finish a close second to Zinke’s 41.7%. Fewer than 2,000 votes separated the primary candidates.

“We have good name recognition, we have good support,” Olszewski said in a phone interview on Monday. “I’ve kept myself busy in the background, making sure I’ve developed some gravity or some clout, moving forward.”

He said his team that helped him run in 2022 is together, and he anticipates primary competition against Aaron Flint, host of the Montana Talks radio show who recently moved to the Flathead Valley. 

Olszewski said his priority is “making sure we can get an endorsement from the president before Aaron Flint does.” 

Flint released a campaign video Monday afternoon announcing he was jumping into the race.

Flint served in the U.S. Army National Guard and has been a prominent conservative voice in the state for years and was in Washington D.C. last week reporting from the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union address.

“The gun grabbing socialists are on the march in Western Montana. They’ll tax your social security and put their hand right back in your tip jar. We will stop them,” Flint said in a post on social media.

Thankful messages pour in from elected officials

U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, a fellow Republican who is a first-term congressman representing eastern Montana, said in a statement that he wishes the best for Zinke’s next chapter.

“For over 30 years, Commander Zinke has served his country with integrity, responsibility, and honor,” Downing said. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside Ryan while fighting for Montanans in Washington — from protecting our public lands to supporting our farmers and ranchers. Time and again, he has gone to bat for the Treasure State, always putting Montana first.

“As he and Lola begin their next chapter, Heather and I wish them nothing but the very best. Our state is stronger because of his leadership and service. Montanans will miss having such a steadfast warrior on their team. Thank you for your service, Commander.”

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte released a statement thanking Zinke for his service to Montana.

“Ryan Zinke has been a champion for Montana and the United States throughout his career of dedicated service as a U.S. Navy SEAL, a Montana state senator, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior,” Gianforte said. “He’s been an outspoken advocate for Montanans and our values from protecting public lands to restoring accountability in the federal government. Thank you, Ryan and Lola, for your many years of public service to the State of Montana.”

Montana’s senior Sen. Steve Daines, who preceded Zinke in the U.S. House, said the Congressman served the state and country with “honor and distinction.”

“From 23 years as a Navy SEAL, where he earned the Bronze Star, to his time in the Montana Senate, as Secretary of Interior in the first Trump administration and in the U.S. House, Ryan Zinke fought for Montana values and worked every day to ensure Montana will always be the ‘last best place,'” Daines said. “I have known Ryan since we were in high school. We attended Montana Boys State in Dillon together in 1979.  He was a Whitefish Bulldog and I was a Bozeman Hawk.  His desire to serve his country was evident back then.  Cindy and I thank both he and Lola for their service to our state and our nation and wish him all the best in his retirement.”