Schweitzer said Quist is a non-politician who knows the state, much like the former governor who had never held public office before running unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2000.

Quist said he’s admired Schweitzer since meeting him at a Billings restaurant back in 2004. Schweitzer was running for governor, and Quist offered to perform at fundraising events for the campaign.

Quist received the Schweitzer bump in January when the former governor endorsed Quist’s campaign on Facebook. He also received a little advice from Schweitzer, who told Quist to hit the road and visit every county precinct committee the musician could. Not only did Quist visit the committees, he convinced rural Democrats in seven counties without party leaders to organize. As a result, he showed up at the nominating convention with 28 votes that didn’t exist before Quist hit the road.

At the convention, Quist, rarely seen in Democratic Party politics, won the nomination in four rounds of voting, defeating finalist Amanda Curtis 90-69.