Montana State Auditor Matt Rosendale announced today, July 31, that he will be running for Jon Tester’s U.S. Senate seat in 2018. When speaking about the U.S. Senate, Rosendale was quick to discuss Tester, saying that the current Senator has done a “miserable job” on the Veteran’s Affairs committee.

"We look at the veteran's Administration and the position that Jon was in to help us do something good about that, I think most of the people around our state find it unacceptable. We have facilities that are built and structures that are standing, but yet we don't direct the funds to make sure that we have physicians there to take care of our veterans."

Rosendale says his role as the state’s Insurance Commissioner has given him more insight into the costs of the current health insurance system. Rosendale says he wants to see a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and, once again, laid the system’s current problems at the feet of Jon Tester.

"He spent the last 60 days complaining about the inability of the Republican Party to do anything about healthcare, but yet he ignores the fact that he was the deciding vote to pass Obamacare and force it upon the people of our state," Rosendale said. "It's like the arsonist complaining that the fire department isn't doing an adequate job."

Rosendale says he should be an easy pick in the primary because of his history as a rancher, a businessman, a legislator, and state auditor. At least three others have announced they will run on the Republican ticket, but Rosendale has the highest office of any candidates running so far.

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