Ballard, 56, said in a statement that he’s been diagnosed with a heart condition that is not life-threatening but that must be “carefully monitored and makes it medically imprudent to continue the campaign.”
He said he’s “incredibly proud of what we accomplished in a short period of time,” such as bringing into focus issues like the cost of health care, management of public lands and financial challenges facing college students and rural schools.
Ballard grew up near Whitehall and lives in Red Lodge. He’d never run for political office before. He first announced his candidacy in early August.