Mid Term Election - Zinke vs D TBD

[Nameless Range]

Any theories as to why Zinke, who had to be the presumptive favorite, would bow out? Is it just because the prospect of being in the minority post-26 sounds like no fun?

I don't know if it has to be any deeper than his press release, which is medical stuff. I also couldn't imagine being in my mid 60s, and wanting to spend a large amount of time in Washington DC, or even working for that matter. Though I have plenty of dispute with a lot of what he has done over the years, he's certainly put in his time.

That said, I wouldn't be shocked if two years from now he was on some board somewhere doing pretty well for himself.

 

[Nameless Range]

As an aside, I'd have much rather had Christi Jacobsen hold on and run for Governor against who likely be Knudsen, which is something she'd alluded to in the past. Over time, I've come to care far more about the State Elected positions than the DC ones. The State ones have way more acute influence on my hunting and fishing, and thus my life.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I don't know if it has to be any deeper than his press release, which is medical stuff. I also couldn't imagine being in my mid 60s, and wanting to spend a large amount of time in Washington DC, or even working for that matter. Though I have plenty of dispute with a lot of what he has done over the years, he's certainly put in his time.

That said, I wouldn't be shocked if two years from now he was on some board somewhere doing pretty well for himself.

Good points. I suspect Zinke has gotten over his wanting to be a big shot politically and spending all that time in DC and in the middle of contentious controversy. You may recall that at first of Trump's campaigns he was searching for the VP candidate and the freshman Congressman Zinke, said "Pick me!" My impression is that Zinke has always been a power "climber". Perhaps the physical, emotional, and hyper political aspects have weakened that drive.

 

[Irrelevant]

As an aside, I'd have much rather had Christi Jacobsen hold on and run for Governor against who likely be Knudsen, which is something she'd alluded to in the past. Over time, I've come to care far more about the State Elected positions than the DC ones. The State ones have way more acute influence on my hunting and fishing, and thus my life.

Depending on how the Fed level shifts I would agree. But right now MT Rs are the back stop preventing the wholesale of our public lands