Over the last two weeks, Montana Public Radio aired interviews with candidates running to represent Montana’s western district in the U.S. House.
MTPR asked forinterviews from all candidates actively campaigning. Our deadline was May 13, the same day primary ballots were mailed to voters.
MTPR reached out to the Zinke campaign multiple times over several months. His campaign responded once saying they would get back to MTPR when Zinke was available for an interview. They did not respond to follow up emails.
Zinke represented Montana previously in the U.S. House before he was appointed Secretary of the Interior by former President Donald Trump. Trump has endorsed Zinke in the primary race.
Zinke left his post as Secretary of the Interior after two years amid investigations into ethics complaints against him. The agency found earlier this year that he did not comply with ethics obligations. Zinke has called the report a “political hit job.”
Zinke was a U.S. Navy Seal and served in the state Legislature.
Zinke leads all primary candidates in fundraising with$2.5 million in the bank. The primary election is June 7.