Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen joins crowded Republican congressional primary

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen filed to run for U.S. Congress Tuesday at the state Capitol, joining a crowded Republican primary that has shaped up in the hours since U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced his retirement.

Zinke unexpectedly announced on Monday that he would not seek a fifth term, but he plans to finish the remainder of his current one. He cited upcoming — but “not life threatening” — surgeries as the reason he bowed out.

Zinke, a retired Navy SEAL, said that he has recently undergone surgeries, and faces “several” more once his term is up in 2027. He said that the need for the procedures are the result of his career in special operations.

Jacobsen said on Tuesday that she only found out about Zinke's move to bow out of the race on the day he announced his decision, but she quickly released a highly produced campaign ad that includes footage that appears to be from the summer months in Montana.

Jacobsen declined to take additional questions at her candidate filing but a press release on her candidacy, she said that her campaign will focus on lowering the cost of living, completing "mass deportations and securing our borders" and "unleashing American energy to grow our economy."

Jacobsen is a resident of Helena, which is not part of the western congressional district, though she said on Tuesday that she spends time at a family cabin in Granite County. A candidate does not legally have to live in the congressional district to run for the seat, and Democratic candidate Matt Rains also lives outside the bounds.

The deadline to file to run for office in Montana is Wednesday, which has set up a last-minute candidate shuffle.

Dr. Al Olszewski, chair of the Flathead County Republican Central Committee, and Aaron Flint, a conservative talk radio host, announced their bids in the hours following Zinke’s announcement. Flint has already secured endorsements from Zinke, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, Gov. Greg Gianforte, and other top Montana Republicans. Senior Sen. Steve Daines has not yet endorsed in the race.

At a press conference in Missoula on Tuesday, Gianforte appeared to indicate that Jacobsen asked for his endorsement, saying he had a chance to speak with her on Monday, but said he "had already endorsed Aaron Flint at that point."

Asked to clarify, he said they spoke often as top state officials.

As secretary of state, Jacobsen is Montana’s top elections official. She cruised to victory in her past two elections for the job despite doing less campaigning compared to other candidates. Before assuming the role in 2021, she served as deputy secretary to her predecessor.

Secretary of state is a role that often flies under the radar compared to other elected officials, but Jacobsen has been making headlines in the past few months as she touts her office’s efforts to keep noncitizens from voting in the state, something that is already illegal.

Jacobsen announced that her office was partnering with the Trump Administration in the effort. Her office then sent out postcards on this issue which featured a photo of Jacobsen with Trump. Those postcards led to bipartisan outcry over concerns that the secretary had been unclear about the funding source of those mailers, while Democrats said she appeared to be campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime.

The 466,638 mailers cost $196,829, and Jacobsen has yet to reveal how her office plans to pay for the postcards.

The Democratic primary is also crowded. So far, four candidates have filed to run and many of them have been talking about how they are the one to beat Zinke.

Montana’s western congressional district was newly created following the 2020 census and has never been held by a Democrat. But the candidates in the field often point to the 2024 election, when former Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester won the western district in his statewide race for Senate.

Helena Independent Record editor Thom Bridge and Montana State News Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson contributed to this report. 

Editor's note: This story will be updated.