There has been a significant shakeup Monday morning in Montana's U.S. Senate race, as Governor Steve Bullock announced in a press release that he would enter the contest.
Bullock becomes the highest-profile candidate to enter the Democratic primary and the likely candidate to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Daines in November.
It also catapults the race to one of the top Senate races in the country.
Bullock ended a seven-month presidential run last December and had rejected requests from national Democrats and others to enter the race, saying he wasn't interested.
But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and former President Barack Obama each met with Bullock personally in the last month.
Bullock will have challengers in the June primary. but the other Democrats who've filed are political newcomers who are mostly unknown to voters: Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins; Loma rancher and engineer John Mues; and health policy expert Cora Neumann of Bozeman.
Bullock, who is in his second term as Montana governor is term-limited out and cannot run for governor again.
Monday, March 9, is the final day for candidates to file to have their name on the 2020 ballot in Montana.
