Graybill ruled eligible to run for attorney general

Raph Graybill was ruled fully eligible to run for the Democratic nomination for Montana attorney general on Friday, after a complaint filed in early February questioned whether Graybill met the qualifications to run for the office.

In his declaratory ruling, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan said “there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Mr. Graybill purposefully or knowingly submitted a false declaration of nomination to the Secretary of State in violation of Montana’s deceptive election practices.”

Graybill currently serves as the chief legal counsel to Gov. Steve Bullock.

The complaint in question, filed by former legislator David Wanzenried on Feb. 2, alleged Graybill is ineligible to run for attorney general because he has not practiced law in the state for a sufficient amount of time leading up to the election.

Montana law requires candidates for attorney general to have actively practiced law in Montana for at least five years prior to the election. Wanzenried claimed Graybill failed to meet these requirements for both the primary and general election.

But Mangan’s ruling finds Graybill meets all the constitutional eligibility requirements.

“It appears to the Commissioner that Mr. Graybill thought carefully about whether or not he would meet the minimum eligibility requirements and reasonably concluded he could,” Mangan wrote.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Graybill said, “I’m grateful to the Commissioner for quickly dismissing this complaint and allowing Montanans to get back to the issues that matter.”

Wanzenried is a supporter of Graybill’s opponent, Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula. He hosted a fundraiser for Dudik’s campaign in Billings on Sept. 9, 2019, and donated $100 to the campaign in the last quarter of 2019.

Montana’s primary election takes place on June 2.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com