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Montana Democratic Party

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Montana Democratic Party
ChairpersonRobyn Driscoll
Senate Minority LeaderJill Cohenour
House Minority LeaderKim Abbott
HeadquartersHelena, Montana
IdeologyModern liberalism
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Seats in the U.S. Senate
1 / 2
Seats in the U.S. House
0 / 2
Seats in the Montana Senate
16 / 50
Seats in the Montana House
32 / 100
Statewide Executive Offices
0 / 6
Website
www.montanademocrats.org

Montana Democratic Party (MDP) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Montana and one of the two major political parties in the state. The party as of 2024 is chaired by Robyn Driscoll.[1] The National Committeeman is Jorge Quintana, and the National Committeewoman is Jean Lemire Dahlman.

History

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The party typically meets in Butte.[2]

Recent years

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In 2017 during a special election for a Congressional seat, state party officials "grew frustrated" according to The New York Times when national Democratic Party leaders were implored by Democratic Senator Jon Tester to spend national party money on their candidate Rob Quist, but declined. Quist ultimately lost the seat to Republican Greg Gianforte.[3]

In January 2020, Sandi Luckey, previously the state party treasurer for the Democratic party, was elected executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. Robyn Driscoll was party chair at that time.[4] The state party announced in May 2020 that it was creating a Steering Committee for the Blue Bench Program, and that it would have three of those positions dedicated permanently for Native American leaders. The Blue Bench Program recruited and developed local candidates to run for office.[5] At that time, the state party's voting delegates largely consisted of legislative leadership, Democrats in statewide elected office, and leaders in Democratic Central Committees for state countries. The party had no delegate votes assigned specifically for Native Americans, and three voting delegates at state conventions who were Native Americans.[6] The Associated Press reported in June 2020 that the state party voted to establish tribal committees to represent the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, Rocky Boy's, Blackfeet and Flathead reservations and the Little Shell-Chippewa tribes, and the committees would operate "like county central committees, whose delegates vote on the party's platform, rules and officers and nominate candidates for special elections." Luckey, still the state party executive director, said the move made the Montana Democratic Party the first US state country to formally create a formal role based on population for Native Americans.[6]

In February 2022, Democratic senator Jon Tester criticized the larger state party for not doing more to appeal to and engage with "Middle America," clarifying he meant the area between the Appalachians the Rocky Mountains.[7]

In June 2022 NPR reported that Montana had two U.S. House districts for the first time since 1992, and while the Montana Democratic Party had three candidates in that month's primary, it hadn't had representation in the U.S. House since 1994.[8] In August 2022, Montana Democrats meeting in Butte announced a new platform, largely statements of principal, such as supporting abortion rights and declaring a "state of climate emergency." New policy objectives included restoring the Judicial Nominating Commission, recently eliminated by Republicans, and establishing a panel to examine atrocities at the state's former boarding schools for Native Americans. The state party's executive director remained Sheila Hogan, at the only Democrat in statewide or federal office at the time was Senator Jon Tester.[9]

Elected officers

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Office Officeholder in 2022
Chair Robyn Driscoll[10]
Vice Chair Pat Noonan[10]
Secretary Jacquie Helt[10]
Treasurer Lance Four Star[10]
National Committeeman Donavon Hawk[10]
National Committeewoman Mary Sheehy Moe[10]

Current elected officials

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The Montana Democratic Party currently hold none of the six statewide offices and a minority of the seats in both the Montana Senate and Montana House of Representatives. They hold one of the state's U.S. Senate seats.

Member of Congress

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U.S. Senate

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Statewide offices

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  • None

Legislative leaders

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Office Representative
Senate Minority Leader Jill Cohenour
Senate Minority Whips Pat Flowers
Jennifer Pomnichowski
Margaret MacDonald
House Minority Leader Kim Abbott
House Minority Whips Tyson Runningwolf
Laurie Bishop
Derek Harvey

16 Members of the Montana Senate

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District Senator Residence
8 Susan Webber Browning
11 Tom Jacobson Great Falls
12 Carlie Boland Great Falls
16 Mike Fox Hays
24 Mary McNally Billings
25 Jen Gross Billings
31 Christopher Pope Bozeman
32 Pat Flowers Belgrade
33 Jennifer Pomnichowski Bozeman
37 Ryan Lynch Butte
38 Edith McClafferty Butte
39 Mark Sweeney Helena
41 Janet Ellis Helena
42 Jill Cohenour East Helena
45 Ellie Boldman Missoula
46 Shannon O'Brien Helena
48 Nate McConnell Missoula
49 Diane Sands Missoula
50 Bryce Bennett Missoula

32 Members of the Montana House of Representatives

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District Representative Residence
5 Dave Fern Whitefish
15 Marvin Weatherwax Jr. Browning
16 Tyson Runningwolf Browning
31 Frank Smith Poplar
32 Jonathan Windy Boy Box Elder
41 Rynalea Whiteman Pena Lame Deer
42 Sharon Stewart-Peregoy Crow Agency
47 Denise Baum Billings
48 Jessica Karjala Billings
49 Emma Kerr-Carpenter Billings
60 Laurie Bishop Livingston
61 Jim Hamilton Bozeman
62 Ed Stafman Bozeman
63 Alice Buckley Bozeman
65 Kelly Kortum Bozeman
66 Denise Hayman Bozeman
73 Jim Keane Butte
74 Derek Harvey Butte
76 Donavon Hawk Butte
77 Sara Novak Helana
79 Robert Farris-Olsen Helena
81 Mary Caferro Helena
82 Moffie Funk Helena
83 Kim Abbott Helena
84 Mary Ann Dunwell Helena
89 Katie Sullivan Missoula
90 Marilyn Marler Missoula
91 Connie Keogh Missoula
94 Tom France Missoula
95 Danny Tenenbaum Missoula
98 Willis Curdy Missoula
99 Mark Thane Missoula
100 Zooey Zephyr Missoula

Mayors

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Election results

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Presidential

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Montana Democratic Party presidential election results
Election Presidential Ticket Votes Vote % Electoral votes Result
1892 Grover Cleveland/Adlai E. Stevenson 17,690 39.79%
0 / 3
Won
1896 William Jennings Bryan/Arthur Sewall 42,628 79.93%
3 / 3
Lost
1900 William Jennings Bryan/Adlai E. Stevenson 37,311 58.43%
3 / 3
Lost
1904 Alton B. Parker/Henry G. Davis 21,773 33.79%
0 / 3
Lost
1908 William Jennings Bryan/John W. Kern 29,326 42.61%
0 / 3
Lost
1912 Woodrow Wilson/Thomas R. Marshall 27,941 35.00%
4 / 4
Won
1916 Woodrow Wilson/Thomas R. Marshall 101,063 56.88%
4 / 4
Won
1920 James M. Cox/Franklin D. Roosevelt 57,372 32.05%
0 / 4
Lost
1924 John W. Davis/Charles W. Bryan 33,805 19.38%
0 / 4
Lost
1928 Al Smith/Joseph T. Robinson 78,578 40.48%
0 / 4
Lost
1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt/John N. Garner 127,286 58.80%
4 / 4
Won
1936 Franklin D. Roosevelt/John N. Garner 159,690 69.28%
4 / 4
Won
1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt/Henry A. Wallace 145,698 58.78%
4 / 4
Won
1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt/Harry S. Truman 112,556 54.28%
4 / 4
Won
1948 Harry S. Truman/Alben W. Barkley 119,071 53.09%
4 / 4
Won
1952 Adlai Stevenson/John Sparkman 106,213 40.07%
0 / 4
Lost
1956 Adlai Stevenson/Estes Kefauver 116,238 42.87%
0 / 4
Lost
1960 John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson 134,891 48.60%
0 / 4
Won
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson/Hubert Humphrey 164,246 58.95%
4 / 4
Won
1968 Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie 114,117 41.59%
0 / 4
Lost
1972 George McGovern/Sargent Shriver 120,197 37.85%
0 / 4
Lost
1976 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 149,259 45.40%
0 / 4
Won
1980 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 118,032 32.43%
0 / 4
Lost
1984 Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro 146,742 38.18%
0 / 4
Lost
1988 Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen 168,936 46.20%
0 / 4
Lost
1992 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 154,507 37.63%
3 / 3
Won
1996 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 167,922 41.23%
0 / 3
Won
2000 Al Gore/Joe Lieberman 137,126 33.4%
0 / 3
Lost
2004 John Kerry/John Edwards 173,710 38.56%
0 / 3
Lost
2008 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 232,159 47.11%
0 / 3
Won
2012 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 201,839 41.70%
0 / 3
Won
2016 Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 177,709 35.75%
0 / 3
Lost
2020 Joe Biden/Kamala Harris 244,786 40.55%
0 / 3
Won

Gubernatorial

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Montana Democratic Party gubernatorial election results
Election Gubernatorial candidate Votes Vote % Result
1889 Joseph Toole 19,735 50.96% Won Green tickY
1892 Timothy E. Collins 17,650 39.96% Lost Red XN
1896 Robert Burns Smith 36,688 70.99% Won Green tickY
1900 Joseph Toole 31,419 49.24% Won Green tickY
1904 Joseph Toole 35,377 53.79% Won Green tickY
1908 Edwin L. Norris 32,282 47.34% Won Green tickY
1912 Sam V. Stewart 25,381 31.81% Won Green tickY
1916 Sam V. Stewart 85,683 49.36% Won Green tickY
1920 Burton K. Wheeler 74,875 40.26% Lost Red XN
1924 John E. Erickson 88,801 51.02% Won Green tickY
1928 John E. Erickson 113,635 58.52% Won Green tickY
1932 John E. Erickson 104,949 48.50% Won Green tickY
1936 Roy E. Ayers 115,310 50.94% Won Green tickY
1940 Roy E. Ayers 119,453 48.64% Lost Red XN
1944 Leif Erickson 89,224 43.18% Lost Red XN
1948 John W. Bonner 124,267 55.73% Won Green tickY
1952 John W. Bonner 129,369 49.04% Lost Red XN
1956 Arnold Olsen 131,488 48.63% Lost Red XN
1960 Paul Cannon 125,651 44.89% Lost Red XN
1964 Roland Renne 136,862 48.71% Lost Red XN
1968 Forrest H. Anderson 150,481 54.11% Won Green tickY
1972 Thomas Lee Judge 172,523 54.12% Won Green tickY
1976 Thomas Lee Judge 195,420 61.70% Won Green tickY
1980 Ted Schwinden 199,574 55.37% Won Green tickY
1984 Ted Schwinden 266,578 70.34% Won Green tickY
1988 Thomas Lee Judge 169,313 46.13% Lost Red XN
1992 Dorothy Bradley 198,421 48.65% Lost Red XN
1996 Judy Jacobson 84,407 20.83% Lost Red XN
2000 Mark O'Keefe 193,131 47.08% Lost Red XN
2004 Brian Schweitzer 225,016 50.44% Won Green tickY
2008 Brian Schweitzer 318,670 65.47% Won Green tickY
2012 Steve Bullock 236,450 48.90% Won Green tickY
2016 Steve Bullock 255,933 50.25% Won Green tickY
2020 Mike Cooney 250,860 41.56% Lost Red XN

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Party Officers". The Montana Democratic Party. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "Montana Democratic Party adds explicit support for abortion to party platform". 3 August 2022.
  3. ^ Martin, Jonathan; Burns, Alexander (26 May 2017). "Liberals Wanted a Fight in Montana. Democratic Leaders Saw a Lost Cause". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Luckey named new head of state Democratic Party".
  5. ^ "Montana Democrats roll out framework for permanent Native leadership within Montana Democratic Party, announce platform convention speakers".
  6. ^ a b "Montana Democrats expand Native American voice in party". 8 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Montana senator criticizes fellow Democrats for not appealing to rural Americans more | CNN Politics". CNN. 10 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Montana Democrats hustle for a spot in the U.S. House". NPR.org.
  9. ^ "Montana Democrats approve 2022 platform". August 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Party Officers".
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