SURPRISE SURPRISE

Schweitzer Not Running for Senate

Could open the seat up for Republicans.

It’s a whole new ballgame in Montana. Former Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer announced Saturday that he would not seek the state’s open Senate seat—throwing the race back into play for Republicans once again. Veteran Democrat Max Baucus announced in April that he would be retiring, and many had favored Schweitzer for the seat—especially since the state is vulnerable for Democrats. Schweitzer has been courted by Democratic leaders, but they apparently soured on him in recent weeks after doing research into Schweitzer’s past. But Republicans need just six seats to overtake the Senate, and Baucus’s retirement coupled with that of two other Democrats in red states—West Virginia and South Dakota—could throw the Senate into a GOP majority.