Trump ally Zinke fights claim he’s too liberal for Montana

By MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — When Republican Ryan Zinke first ran for Congress, the former Navy SEAL faced false accusations his military career had ended in disgrace. After winning and later serving as then-President Donald Trump’s interior secretary, Zinke is seeking a return to Congress and facing a near-identical smear campaign — this time from the right wing of his own party. The political dynamics in the race for a newly created Montana U.S. House district reflect the sharp right turn the GOP has taken since Trump barnstormed across the state’s electoral scene with repeated visits during the 2018 election.