2026: Aaron Flint Launched His Campaign Less Than An Hour After Rep. Zinke Announced His Retirement, And Aaron Flint Quickly Announced Endorsements From The Republican Political Establishment

March 2026: Flint Launched His Congressional Campaign Less Than An Hour After Rep. Zinke Announced His Retirement, Two Days Before The Montana Filing Deadline

March 2, 2026: Rep. Ryan Zinke Announced He Would Retire At The End Of His Term. “It has been my highest honor to serve America and the Great State of Montana. We have secured critical funding for Montana bridges, roads, sewer systems, water infrastructure, public access points, conservation projects, and helped thousands of Montanans successfully navigate through the federal bureaucracy to solve real problems that matter to the people that I am honored to represent. Service is a duty that I will always hold sacred, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. As for my service and duty going forward, I have made the decision to leave office at the end of my fourth term and not seek re-election. Full statement below.” [Rep. Ryan Zinke, Facebook, 3/2/26]

Image: see original report, p. 32

[Rep. Ryan Zinke, Facebook, 3/2/26]

• Zinke Made His Announcement At 3:05 PM. [Rep. Ryan Zinke, Facebook, 3/2/26]

Image: see original report, p. 33

[Rep. Ryan Zinke, Facebook, 3/2/26]

March 2, 2026, 3:54 PM: Flint Announced His Campaign For Congress. “ The gun grabbing socialists are on the march in Western Montana. They’ll tax your social security and put their hand right back in your tip jar. We will stop them. (Inquiries- info@flintformontana.com).” [Aaron Flint, Twitter, 3/2/26]

Image: see original report, p. 33

[Aaron Flint, Twitter, 3/2/26]

March 4, 2026: The Montana Secretary Of State Had A Deadline For Candidates To File. [Montana Secretary of State, 20026 Primary and General Election Calendar, October 2025]

Image: see original report, p. 34

[Montana Secretary of State, 20026 Primary and General Election Calendar, October 2025]

Politico: Flint Announced His Campaign For Congress Hours After Rep. Ryan Zinke Announced His Retirement. “Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke announced on Monday he will not run for reelection, the latest House Republican to retire ahead of the midterms. […] Hours after Zinke’s announcement, Montana talk radio host Aaron Flint announced his campaign for Congress in a social media post. Flint immediately earned the endorsement of Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mon.), who called him ‘a strong voice for Montana Values across our airwaves.’ Zinke later joined Sheehy in endorsing Flint.” [Politico, 3/2/26]

Shortly After Zinke’s Retirement Announcement, Flint Posted A Campaign Launch Video And Revealed Endorsements From Rep. Zinke, Gov. Gianforte, And Sen. Sheehy

Montana Free Press: Shortly After Zinke Announced His Retirement, Flint Posted His Campaign Launch Video. “Shortly after Zinke announced his retirement, talk radio personality Aaron Flint posted a dramatic campaign video on X, highlighting his role as a radio personality, family man and veteran, while invoking Donald Trump. He also issued a press release stating that he had been endorsed by Zinke, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Senator Tim Sheehy and other Republican officials. The listed contact for Flint’s campaign was Zinke’s chief of staff, Heather Swift.” [Montana Free Press, 3/2/26]

• Along With His Announcement, Flint Issued A Press Release With Endorsements From Rep. Ryan Zinke, Gov. Greg Gianforte, And Sen. Tim Sheehy. “Shortly after Zinke announced his retirement, talk radio personality Aaron Flint posted a dramatic campaign video on X, highlighting his role as a radio personality, family man and veteran, while invoking Donald Trump. He also issued a press release stating that he had been endorsed by Zinke, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Senator Tim Sheehy and other Republican officials. The listed contact for Flint’s campaign was Zinke’s chief of staff, Heather Swift.” [Montana Free Press, 3/2/26]
• Flint’s Campaign Contact Was Zinke’s Chief Of Staff. “Shortly after Zinke announced his retirement, talk radio personality Aaron Flint posted a dramatic campaign video on X, highlighting his role as a radio personality, family man and veteran, while invoking Donald Trump. He also issued a press release stating that he had been endorsed by Zinke, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Senator Tim Sheehy and other Republican officials. The listed contact for Flint’s campaign was Zinke’s chief of staff, Heather Swift.” [Montana Free Press, 3/2/26]

Zinke Recruited Flint To Run For His Seat

The Washington Times Reported Zinke Recruited Flint To Run For His Seat. “Mr. Zinke recruited Aaron Flint, a military veteran and conservative talk-show host, to run for his seat.” [Washington Times, 3/4/26]

A Republican Candidate Criticized Flint For The “Deceptive Maneuver” To Get On The Ballot

Republican Candidate Al Olszewski Said Zinke Dropping Out So Close To The Filing Deadline Suggested It Was Done In Coordination With Another Candidate. “Minutes after Zinke's announcement, Al Olszewski, chair of the Flathead County Republican Central Committee, told the Montana State News Bureau he plans to run for the seat. […] Olszewski theorized that Zinke dropping out so close to the filing deadline suggests it was done in coordination with another candidate, saying if they're bowing out ‘this late they're trying to get someone else in.’” [Missoulian, 3/3/26]

Olszewski: “Steve Daines Just Betrayed The Trust Of All Montanans. This Deceptive Maneuver Is No Different Than What Zinke And Aaron Flint Pulled On Monday.” ‘Steve Daines just betrayed the trust of all Montanans. This deceptive maneuver is no different than what Zinke and Aaron Flint pulled on Monday,’ Al Olszweski, the first Republican candidate to file for the western congressional district after Zinke announced his retirement, said in a social media post. ‘We have been betrayed by our federal senator and representative. This practice cannot be accepted by the people of Montana.’” [Montana State University Exponent, 3/9/26]

• Sen. Steve Daines Announced He Was Withdrawing From Running For Another Term And U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme Would Run In His Place. “On Monday, Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke unexpectedly backed out of running for a fifth term citing ongoing but non-life threatening health issues, which spurred three formidable candidates to run in his place. Zinke gave his immediate endorsement to conservative radio host Aaron Flint. While that seemed like a last minute and tectonic shift in the state’s politics, it would eventually be one-upped when minutes before Wednesday’s deadline, Montana’s senior Sen. Steve Daines announced that he was withdrawing from running for another term, and that the U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme would run in his place, leaving no time for others to throw their hat in the ring.” [Montana State University Exponent, 3/9/26]