Montana State Senator Files For Federal Office To Be Named Later

Is "whatever Steve Daines isn't running for" a federal elected office?

In the latest twist in the Montana Senate race to replace outgoing Democrat Max Baucus, Republican state senator Matt Rosendale has filed to run for a federal office to be named later. In his submission to the FEC, Rosendale's campaign said "we will not be designating which office is being sought until Representative Steve Daines announces whether he is seeking re-election for the U.S. House of Representatives or running for the U.S. Senate."

Rosendale's uncertainty about what he's running for is par for the course in a race that seems to be more notable for who isn't running rather than who is. After former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who was long considered a favorite, bowed out of running in June, a number of other prominent Democrats have ruled themselves out as well, including Emily's List President Stephanie Schriock and State Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau.

But the Republican field hasn't been much more settled either as Daines has publicly agonized over whether he will run for re-election for his at-large House district or seek to move up to the Senate. As a result of his agonizing, other ambitious Montana Republicans, like Rosendale, are chomping at the bit. They're ready to start running but they just need Daines to tell them what office they should campaign for.