Montana Republican Rep. Rosendale seeks reelection after dropping US Senate bid

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale announced Wednesday that he will seek reelection to his U.S. House seat representing eastern Montana, after he abandoned a short-lived Senate campaign under pressure from party leaders.

Rosendale, a hardline conservative, bucked Republican Senate leaders earlier this month by briefly seeking the GOP nomination to run for the Senate seat held by three-term incumbent Democrat Jon Tester. He withdrew his candidacy just six days after entering the race, citing former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican Tim Sheehy and the difficulties in raising enough money to run a Senate campaign.

A crowded field of Republicans previously filed or announced plans to seek Rosendale’s House seat, including Denny Rehberg of Billings, a former congressman and the state’s former lieutenant governor.

Rosendale said in a social media post that family members, friends, constituents and Trump urged him to seek reelection.

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“I have been humbled by the outpouring of