Gary Buchanan has chosen to file as an
Independent in his bid for Congress.
It may have been something of a surprise for many to see Gary Buchanan file as an Independent to challenge Republican Matt Rosendale for his Congressional seat. While he had been mulling the idea over since December, Buchanan said that he didn’t make the decision until just days before filing deadline.
Buchanan is a noted Billings businessman, having been engaged as a financial advisor for over 40 years and owning his own business, Buchanan Capital, for the last 20 years. He has always been interested in politics and has been politically active over the years in many respects, but never before has he run for political office. While he considered himself a Democrat, he frequently worked with both political parties in various capacities.
He filed as an Independent, he told Yellowstone County News, because “I have been discouraged by the parties. I don’t like party politics, and I think Montanans are tired of it.”
“Both parties have gone too far to the extreme fringe,” he said. As a consequence, he believes, both Republican and Democrat parties are losing membership.
He first thought about running for political office, at the urging of friends, in December, but he really didn’t make the decision until a few days before filing deadline. As an Independent, Buchanan has no primary challenger, but he does have to get 8,722 signatures from voters supporting his candidacy by May 31.
Other Republican candidates who have filed for the office, include incumbent Matt Rosendale, and James Boyette, Bozeman; Charles Walkingchild, Helena; and Kyle Austin, Billings. (Austin is owner of Pharma 406 in Billings.)
Democrats filing are Sky Williams, Penny Ronning (former Billings City Councilwoman) and Sen. Mark Sweeney, Philipsburg. read more
