A spokeswoman for Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau says the Democrat is considering challenging U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke for Montana's U.S. House seat next year.

Spokeswoman Emilie Ritter Saunders says Juneau sees an opportunity to bring a Montana work ethic and her record of getting things done to the House.

Saunders says it is a big decision for Juneau and she has set no deadlines for making it.

Zinke is a first-term Republican from Whitefish. Nobody has yet filed as a candidate against him.

The 48-year-old Juneau has been the state's public schools superintendent since 2009. She is the first female Native American elected to statewide office in Montana.

Term limits prevent her from running again for superintendent.

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