Brian David Schweitzer (born September 4, 1955) is the current Vice President of the United States, jointly elected with President Andrew Cuomo. Schweitzer served from 2005 to 2013 as the Governor of Montana, during which he was also the head of the Socialist Governor's Association and the chair of the Western Governor's Association. A Socialist, Schweitzer gave the keynote address at the 2008 Socialist National Convention, vaulting him into the national consciousness as a potential "New Socialist," combining western economic populism and cultural attitudes. He unsuccessfully sought the 2012 nomination, placing second in delegate count to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Schweitzer was subsequently chosen as the Vice Presidential nominee to satisfy the party's Western wing and the Cuomo-Sch