White nationalist considering House run in Montana

The white nationalist who has gained notoriety for leading a chant of “Hail Trump” at a rally in Washington last month is considering a run for Congress.

“I’m taking it very seriously,” Richard Spencer told The Huffington Post. “It’s an exciting prospect.”

Spencer is eyeing Montana’s at-large House seat, which would be vacated by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R) if he is confirmed as secretary of Interior for the incoming Trump administration.

Spencer said he splits his time between Whitefish, Mont., and Arlington, Va., but is a resident of Montana.

{mosads}Spencer, who founded the National Policy Institute, is said to have coined the term “alt-right,” the label for a once-fringe conservative movement that champions racist ideologies such as white nationalism.

He told Huffington that “a lot of people were calling me and saying, ‘Oh, you should do it, just do it, this is the moment.’ I’m obviously flattered.”

“If I did this, it would not be some eccentric campaign that no one talks about and is a footnote to history,” Spencer said. “It would become a major conversation around the country … just because of my profile in the alt-right. Again, I would only do it to win it.”