Montana
Welcome to the Montana state page! Here, Montana organizers can access and document ongoing projects, current leadership positions, upcoming races, and other important information. This list is non-exhaustive, and state teams are encouraged to expand and adapt these pages to their organizing needs.
Political Landscape of Montana
Partisan Composition of Montana
Overall, Montana is considered a red state, with a Cook PVI of R+11 as of 2022, regularly voting 55-60% Republican in statewide races. Montana's US Senate delegation is split, with one Democrat and one Republican. Their US House delegation and governorship are Republican. Republicans also have slight supermajorities in the state house (68-32) and state senate (34-16), giving Republicans a state trifecta (as of 1/29/24).
Progressive Outlook for Montana
The overall progressive strategy for Montana is surprisingly-hopeful. Montana allows for ballot initiatives, and it isn't as red as most of the midwest, so it's possible to obtain certain priorities through pure democracy. Priorities should include keeping Democrat-held seats, flipping state swing districts in the legislature to erode the Republican supermajority, and potentially primarying uncooperative Democrats in safely-blue districts while federal legislation passes. As Montana is an open primary state, you may vote in whatever political party's primary you wish (though probably Republican to both moderate red seats and spoil blue seats like Tester's by voting for an unelectable Republican against him).
Get Involved
Register to Vote in Montana
Progressive Organizations in Montana
Below is a list of progressive organizations in Montana. If you see a state organization that isn't on this list, please add it.
- Montana Democrats: As Montana is a slightly red state putting up a strong resistance in two double digit Trump districts, they are likely to be the best avenue for progressive/liberal organizing in the state.
Notable Campaigns in 2024
Below is a list of progressive candidates or ballot measures in the 2024 election cycle for Montana. Non-progressive candidates may also be placed here if they are substantially to the left of their district's partisan lean and worth campaigning for. If you see a candidate or ballot measure that should be on this list, please add them.
November 5th General Election
- Jon Tester for US Senate - While almost assuredly going to be the most conservative Democrat of the 2025-2027 senate session if he wins, he did not raise any substantial issues during the first two years of Biden's presidency in the way that Manchin and Sinema did. This is easily one of the most hotly-contested seats of 2024 and he's substantially to the left of what someone holding a statewide seat in Montana should be. As such, he is easily progressive priority number 1 for Montana.
- Monica Tranel for MT-1 - Another Blue Dog Democrat attempting to steal a light red seat from the GOP in 2024. She almost won in 2022 and is the strongest candidate who can flip the US House back from Republicans in Montana. Canvassing in MT-1 to bring up turnout for both Tester and Tranel is a good use of your time!
Run for Local Office
An underrated way to impact change is to run for a local position! Please feel free to add information on doing so below.