Cooney names Schreiner as lieutenant governor running mate

HELENA, Mont. (AP) —

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Cooney announced Casey Schreiner of Great Falls as his running mate on Friday.

Schreiner, the House Minority Leader during the 2019 Legislature, dropped out of the governor's race earlier this month, saying he lacked the resources to continue his campaign.

Cooney said he and Schreiner will fight for jobs that pay well, lower healthcare costs, increased investments in public education and to protect public lands.

“Montana families deserve folks fighting for them in Helena who know first-hand the challenges they face,” Schreiner said. "Elected officials who understand living paycheck to paycheck, the impacts of student loans on a family, and what it is like to deal with astronomical medical costs and the real life impacts they have on families.”

Lt. Gov. Cooney called Schreiner a leader of the next generation of Montana Democrats.

Fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidate Whitney Williams said she will name her running mate on Monday in Helena.

U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said he would announce his running mate on Sunday. Attorney General Tim Fox has chosen former Bozeman lawmaker and businessman Jon Knokey as his running mate while state Sen. Al Olszewski named state Sen. Kenneth Bogner of Miles City has his running mate.

Libertarian candidate Lyman Bishop of Kalispell has John Nesper as his running mate, according to state candidate filing records.