Schreiner ends gubernatorial campaign, Fox files

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Casey Schreiner of Great Falls, the state House minority leader, announced this morning he is suspending his campaign.

Schreiner said he has taken his message across the state and will continue to fight for his values in the race, but he does not have the resources to continue his campaign.

“It’s time for us all to get behind the candidate that has the best chance of winning and promoting our shared values come November,” Schreiner said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

His announcement comes on the tail of another candidate filing in the race, with Montana Attorney General Tim Fox, who cannot run for that office due to term limits, filing Friday.

Fox announced last Wednesday that former Republican Bozeman state Rep. Jon Knokey is his running mate.

Fox is the second gubernatorial candidate to have filed.

Sen. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, filed for the office Jan. 21, with state Rep. Ken Bogner, R-Miles City, as his lieutenant governor.

U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., has also declared, but had not filed for office as of print deadline this morning.

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock cannot run for re-election due to term limits, leaving the seat of Montana governor open for the election in 2020. Since last year, several people have declared for Montana governor. 

The other Democratic declared candidates, Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, and Missoula charitable businesswoman Whitney Williams, daughter of retired long-time U.S. Rep. Pat Williams, had not filed by this morning.

Libertarian Ron Vandevender has also declared as a gubernatorial candidate but had not filed as of this morning.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen, R-Billings, filed for re-election Tuesday, facing Democrat Melissa Romano of Helena, who lost to Arntzen in the 2016 election.

No new candidates have filed for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House or legislative seats as of print deadline this morning.

In local county races, most of the candidates to file so far are incumbents.

In Chouteau County, Rick Darlington and Beau Pegar, both Republicans from Big Sandy, have also filed for Chouteau County Commissioner, challenging Republican incumbent Daren J. Schuster of Big Sandy, who had previously filed for re-election.

No additional candidates in Liberty, Chouteau or Hill counties have filed for office since the last reporting on the candidates.