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Knudsen’s primary opponent in Attorney General race doesn’t meet qualification requirements • Daily Montanan [1]

['Nicole Girten', 'Blair Miller', 'Jennifer Shutt', 'Ariana Figueroa', 'More From Author', '- May']

Date: 2024-05 

Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s opponent in the Republican primary race, Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson, appears to be unqualified to run as he has not been practicing law in Montana for five years, as is required by law.

A spokesperson for the Secretary of State confirmed Olson filed a form candidates are required to sign affirming he is qualified to run.

Knudsen’s primary against Olson is under scrutiny after the Daily Montanan reported he told a crowd during the weekend he recruited Olson to run against him in order to raise more money, and referred to campaign laws as “ridiculous.”

The office of the Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus said it could be a violation of Montana law for one person to recruit another to run for office for the purpose of raising more campaign funding.

Olson graduated from the University of Montana Law School in May of 2020, according to his LinkedIn page; a spokesperson for the school confirmed Tuesday someone with his name graduated that year. The Montana State Bar member directory shows he’s been an active attorney since September 2020.

To qualify to run, attorneys have to be in good standing, admitted to practice law in Montana and have actively practiced for five years before election. Olson would be about nine months shy of qualifying if he were to assume office. Candidates also must be at least 25 years-old, a U.S. citizen and Montana resident for at least two years.

Montana candidates also sign an oath of candidacy affirming they “possess, or will possess within constitutional and statutory deadlines, the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Montana.”

Engaging in deceptive election practices by affirming an oath the signer knows to be false is illegal in Montana and can result in a fine of up to $500, or up to six months in a county jail, or both.

Neither Olson nor his campaign treasurer responded to a request for comment in time for publication.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a confirmation from the Secretary of State’s Office Olson filled out the candidate oath.

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[1] Url: https://dailymontanan.com/briefs/knudsens-primary-opponent-in-attorney-general-race-doesnt-meet-qualification-requirements/

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