Walsh, 52, is the former commander of the Montana National Guard. Walsh files for Senate in Montana

Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh announced his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, giving Democrats hope of holding the seat of retiring Sen. Max Baucus.

Walsh, 52, is the former commander of the Montana National Guard. He had never sought elected office until the state’s Democratic attorney general, Steve Bullock, picked him as his running mate last year. They prevailed by less than 2 percentage points, or fewer than 8,000 votes.


Republicans expect freshman Rep. Steve Daines, the state’s sole House member, to jump into the race. He would be the front-runner.

National Democrats are high on Walsh’s candidacy, believing he can run as an outsider and tie Daines to the dysfunction in D.C.

A two-minute announcement video features photos of Walsh trading salutes and walking with former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, widely seen as the party’s best bet until he took a pass on running this summer.

Walsh, who is still active in the Guard, notes he led over 700 soldiers into combat in Iraq and leans heavily on his military service in the campaign roll out.

“I’m sure I’ll be accused of being naive, that a boy-turned-soldier, not really a politician, could make a difference back there,” he said. “It’s idealistic, but we all know its going to take people with a sense of duty to stand up for what’s right: the idea of selfless service to put our country on the right path again and the courage to tackle the national debt and defend those who don’t have a voice: our seniors, our veterans, our children.”

“Too many in both parties are concerned about their appearance: their reelection, preserving their privileges,” he added. “They put their party and politics ahead of the people they are supposed to be representing. I know we can do better.”

Montana is one of seven states carried by Mitt Romney where Democrats must defend Senate seats in 2014. Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, surprised many when he announced in April that he would not run for a seventh term.

Republicans see the state as one of their likeliest pickup opportunities, one of six seats they would need to win control of the Senate.

Walsh notes that he’s a fourth-generation Montanan and a grandfather.

“It’s not going to be easy,” he said in his video. “I’m sure the special interests are on their way to Montana to tear us down.”