Montana Congressional Candidates Make Large Contributions to Their Own Campaigns

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The latest Federal Election Commission fundraising reports show two Republican candidates for the U.S. House seat have made large personal loans to their campaign coffers.

State Sen. Matt Rosendale of Glendive has made a $500,000 loan to his campaign, bringing his personal campaign loan total to $1 million, while former state Sen. Corey Stapleton of Billings loaned $200,000 to his campaign. It is his first campaign loan.

Both candidates made the loans between April 1 and May 14.

State Sen. Ryan Zinke of Whitefish still leads the Republicans candidates in campaign fundraising with a total of $1.2 million. He has not made loans to his campaign.

Rosendale, Stapleton, Zinke, Sen. Elsie Arntzen of Billings and Drew Turiano of Helena are seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Steve Daines.