Politics
Congressman Matt Rosendale Stuns Supporters With Surprise Announcement
In an unexpected turn, Congressman Matt Rosendale (R-MT) delivered a shock to his supporters on Friday, announcing his withdrawal from his House race, and a decision not to seek office in the future. Given Rosendale’s active involvement in politics over the last 14 years, and his recent bid for the U.S. Senate, the announcement comes as a surprise to many.
Rosendale stated in a message on social media, “When I took on the task of running for Congress, I knew, as many of you do, that the system is severely broken and badly in need of reforms. Unfortunately, there is immense pressure from those who benefit from the current structure to keep things as they are.”
“And the limited few of us who are willing to try and force true reforms are subject to severe retribution,” he wrote on X.
— Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana) March 8, 2024
WATCH:
“At the onset of this election season, at the urging of many, I announced my candidacy for the U.S. Senate. It became very obvious soon after that announcement that the national support and resources necessary to win that seat were not going to be available to me. I withdrew as soon as possible so as not to jeopardize the opportunity for Republicans to secure that seat and, with it, the majority in the U.S. Senate, which is critical for our country,” Rosendale revealed.
“Since that announcement, I have been forced to have law enforcement visit my children because of a death threat against me and false and defamatory rumors against me and my family. This has taken a serious toll on me, and my family. Additionally, it has caused a serious disruption to the election of the next representative for MT-02,” he disclosed.
Rosendale refrained from providing details on the accusations or threats directed at him. However, his statement was made shortly after ex-Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) suggested in a podcast interview that the Montana Republican withdrew from his Senate campaign due to unsubstantiated rumors of him fathering a child with a 20-year-old staff member.
The team representing Rosendale has refuted Heitkamp’s allegations and indicated they would consider taking legal action against the former senator. Ron Kovach, a spokesperson for Rosendale, stated in late February, “This is 100% false and defamatory and former Senator Heitkamp will be hearing from our lawyers soon,” in a formal communication.
The Daily Montanan, along with numerous other news organizations, received rumors suggesting that Rosendale withdrew from the U.S. Senate race due to issues in his personal life. It’s important to note that up to the moment of publication, there is no evidence to substantiate these rumors.
“To me, public service has truly always been about serving, not titles or positions of power. The current attacks have made it impossible for me to focus on my work to serve you. So, in the best interest of my family and the community, I am withdrawing from the House race and will not be seeking office,” Rosendale stated.
“It has been my honor to serve you and may God bless each and every one of you,” he concluded.
