Zinke campaign linked to Whitefish billionaire
Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, has raised nearly $448,000 from individuals and political action committees through Dec. 31 — more than any other U.S. House candidate in Montana.
More than a quarter of those contributions have come from executives and employees of Florida-based Fidelity National Financial Inc., a business created by billionaire William B. Foley II, along with its affiliated businesses and their political action committees.
Foley is board chairman of Fidelity National Insurance and serves on the boards of other affiliated companies.
He has a home at the north end of Whitefish Lake and is a majority owner of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Foley also owns the Glacier Jet Center at Glacier Park International Airport and the Glacier Restaurant Group, which includes the Craggy Range, Ciao Mambo, Mackenzie River Pizza and Latitude 48 restaurants in Whitefish.
Zinke, a former Republican state senator and retired Navy SEAL, reportedly called Foley a friend and a “very, very bright guy” who believes in American exceptionalism.
Foley is a graduate of the United States Military Academy of West Point and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Zinke has the lowest percentage of campaign contributions from in-state residents among candidates in the race.
He has raised nearly $115,000 in donations from Florida, about $80,000 from California, about $49,700 from Texas donors and more than $46,000 from donors in New York.
Zinke described the first phase of his fundraising as from bigger events.
“I think what we’ll see in the next fundraising report was the Montana support will be more balanced, as it should be,” he said.
About 18 percent of Zinke’s total came from Montanans in itemized donations of $200 or more. Whitefish residents have contributed $36,550 to the campaign.
U.S. House candidate Matt Rosendale, R-Glendive, leads in total money raised. He loaned his campaign $500,000. Rosendale, Republican former state Sen. Corey Stapleton and Democrat John Lewis all reported raising about 45 percent of their donations from Montanans.