EMILY’s List president open to run for Senate

Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, left the door open to a potential run for Senate in Montana, acknowledging that she’s been contacted by supporters urging her to run.

“I have been overwhelmed by the interest in this Senate race,” she said on Wednesday.

{mosads}”I will say this: Montana has a great history of electing women. EMILY’s List has been involved a long time in Montana. And I think like you, I am waiting to see how this all plays out.”

Speaking to reporters after a press conference held by her group on its new initiative to elect a female president, Schriock said she had been contacted by multiple people about running, but she’s “taking it slow and seeing where everything lands.”

“My inclination is to just stay right here. And I feel like today, the possibility of electing a woman president is pretty incredible. But I love Montana, it is my home. And I love the people of Montana. So I’m just going to see how it plays out,” she said.

Schriock has been floated by some Montana Democrats as a potential contender for retiring Sen. Max Baucus’s (D) seat.

Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) would likely be the strongest candidate for Democrats, and has indicated he’s interested in a bid.

He led all potential Republican contenders in a recent poll of the state, which also revealed Schriock is known by only 14 percent of voters.

Schriock touted state superintendent Denise Juneau and state auditor Monica Lindeen as potential female candidates for the seat. But she admitted that Montanans are waiting to see what Schweitzer does.

“And then of course everyone’s waiting, Brian Schweitzer’s the big guy, and we’re waiting,” she said.

She demurred when asked whether her decision would depend on Schweitzer’s, however.

“I’m just waiting for it all to play out,” she said.