The special election to fill Montana’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will be held May 25.
Governor Steve Bullock made that announcement this morning just minutes after Ryan Zinke resigned the seat. Zinke's resignation came soon after the U.S. Senate confirmed him to be secretary of the Interior department.
Here's Governor Bullock this morning:
"Discussions are being had each and every day in Washington, D.C. that could certainly impact Montanans. We have to do everything we can to make sure that a Montana voice is at that table while those discussions are there. So, given the latitude that I had, I’m calling the election as soon as we possibly can."
The U.S. Constitution says that House seats must remain vacant until an election can be held. State law says the governor must call an election within 85 to one hundred days of a seat becoming vacant. May 25 is the earliest day the election could be scheduled.
Montana's political parties are scheduling conventions to nominate candidates to run for the seat. The Democrats have scheduled theirs for Sunday, March 5 in Helena. The Republican convention is scheduled for Monday, March 6 in Helena.
Montana's Libertarian and Green parties are planning nominating conventions as well.
Eight Democrats and eight Republicans have announced as candidates for their parties' nominations.
You can find a complete list of those candidates here.
We'll have more on this story during All Things Considered tonight from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
