Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines says Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is effectively handling the state’s methamphetamine crisis, but that doesn’t mean Daines will be endorsing him in the 2020 governor’s race.
Daines invited regional law enforcement representatives to meet with him in Missoula Thursday to talk about how methamphetamine is impacting the state.
Police and prosecutors detailed skyrocketing rates of meth-related violent crime, child abuse and neglect and an overwhelmed justice system.
"General Fox has been doing a great job continuing to work on addressing the meth issue," Daines said. "We just have limited resources to deal with this crisis. There’s no one single answer to this complex issue. There’s not a silver bullet, but there’s silver buckshot. It’s multiple initiatives we need here to deal with both the education, to deal with law enforcement and to deal with treatment."
Edward O'Brien: Does that mean General Fox has won your endorsement for governor?’
"[laughter] I’m going to stay out of politics."
Fox announced back in January he’s running for the Republican nomination for governor next year. So are Secretary of State Corey Stapleton and State Sen. Al Olszewski.
Daines' colleague and friend, Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte, has said he’s seriously considering a gubernatorial run.