Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Montana), who served as Interior Secretary during the first Trump administration, announced Monday that he plans to retire from Congress after four terms in the House.
In a letter to constituents, Zinke explained that he made the decision after recognizing that injuries sustained during his 22-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL — while “not immediately life threatening” — are making it more difficult to serve.
“My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes,” Zinke writes. “I do not take this decision lightly and have informed President Trump, the Governor, and senior leadership of this difficult but necessary decision.”
Zinke’s retirement could put Montana’s at-large congressional district in play. President Donald Trump won the district in 2024 by roughly 12 points, while Zinke underperformed his margin, winning it by eight points in 2024.
House Democrats were already eyeing the seat as one they could possibly flip. House Republicans, however, believe the district will remain squarely in their turf. Zinke helped recruit Aaron Flint, a military veteran and conservative talk show host well-known in Montana, to run in his place ahead of Wednesday’s filing deadline. Flint announced his candidacy shortly after Zinke announced his decision, and Flint immediately received an endorsement from Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Montana).
“Now I’m running for Congress because the oath that I took to defend the Constitution never expires. Donald Trump is doing a great job,” Flint said in his announcement video. He added that “radical politicians” such Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) “have taken over Washington” and are “coming for Montana next.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democratic campaign arm, has targeted the Montana seat as one of the 44 districts they are trying to flip this cycle, some of which were handily won by Trump in 2024. Democrats’ confidence has been bolstered by Democratic candidates flipping dozens of seats in state special elections since Trump was inaugurated and the president’s favorability among voters continuing to lag.
Four Democratic candidates have jumped into the Montana congressional race, all of whom have what Democrats say are the pragmatic and working-class backgrounds of candidates the party has tried to recruit this year.
Sam Forstag, a smoke jumper and union leader, said “Zinke quit because he saw what was coming: all of us … who are hungry for real representation and a new generation of leadership.” Matt Rains, a rancher and Blackhawk pilot, said Montana now “deserves someone who will stand up for us, end the forever wars, and fight for the safety of our troops.”
Zinke first entered politics after retiring from the Navy in 2008, winning a state Senate seat that year. He then came to Washington after the 2014 midterm elections, helping keep a GOP-held House seat represented by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana).
Trump then tapped Zinke to serve as his Interior Secretary in 2017, and his roughly two years atop the department were plagued by scandals. A Interior Department inspector general found that he broke ethics rules by representing his family’s foundation in real-estate negotiations, among other improper dealings. He resigned from the job in late 2018.
Four years later, Zinke ran for Montana’s at-large district during the 2022 midterm elections.
Republican strategists argue they can keep the seat because Zinke continued to win reelection despite voters knowing about his ethics troubles.
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