HELENA – Vincent Melkus, a 27-year-old former U.S. Marine from Hardin, filed for the U.S. House Tuesday as a Republican.

“I’m just an average citizen,” Melkus said. “I’m a real conservative. We need a choice, especially when it comes to conservatism.”

He is the third Republican to file for the seat being vacated by six-term U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican who is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester this year. Seven Democrats also are running for the House seat.

“I’m just not happy with the current candidates,” Melkus said.

He is a full-time student at Colorado Mesa University, where he said he will complete his bachelor’s degree in finance this spring. Melkus said he returns to Montana frequently to visit his family in Hardin and Billings and will return here after college ends.

“I was waiting for someone else to get in the race,” he said in a phone interview. “When no one else did, I felt I better step in.”

Melkus said as a U.S. Marine, he took an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.