Because Walsh withdrew, a nominating convention was held to pick a new nominee prior to August 20. The state party called a convention for August 16, and voting delegates were members of the State Central Committee, specifically: "one chair and one vice chair from each existing county central committee; one state committeeman and one state committeewoman from each county central committee; all voting members of the State Party Executive Board; the president of each chartered organization of the Montana Democratic Party; Montana State House leadership, and Montana State Senate leaders, and all Democrats currently holding statewide or federal office."
Candidates Momentary buzz was created by a movement to draft actor
Jeff Bridges for the nomination, with over 1,000 people signing a petition on
Change.org and a
Twitter account, DudeSenator, being created online. Bridges, who lives part-time and owns property in the
Paradise Valley south of
Livingston, Montana, declined the offer on the
Howard Stern show, noting the disapproval of his wife. Other news outlets noted that he also was not registered to vote in Montana.
Potential • Dirk Adams, rancher, businessman and former business law professor •
Amanda Curtis, state representative •
Linda McCulloch,
secretary of state of Montana • Anna Whiting Sorrell, former director of the state Department of Health and Human Services and former state director of the Indian Health Services
Withdrew •
Franke Wilmer, state representative •
David Wanzenried, state senator •
Denise Juneau,
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction •
Monica Lindeen, Montana
State Auditor • Stephanie Schriock, president of
Emily's List and former chief of staff to Senator
Jon Tester •
Brian Schweitzer, former
governor of Montana •
Carol Williams, former Majority Leader of the
Montana Senate and nominee for
Lieutenant Governor of Montana in
2000 Endorsements Results == Republican primary ==