Democrats

Democrats lost their last statewide elected official last year, when U.S. Sen. Jon Tester was defeated by Republican Tim Sheehy. Tester is the only Democrat who’s won statewide in Montana since 2016.

David Daniels writes, "I also have a personal story to share about Pat. Not so much tribute, it’s more admonishment for Democratic leaders during these dark times."

Rep. Katie Sullivan writes, "Faster than any session before, we passed legislation to renew our Medicaid program, and protect healthcare for tens of thousands of Montanans."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats will stand in the way of efforts to pass a Republican-led budget patch that passed the House earlier this week with almost no bipartisan support.

Although Democrats made gains in the legislature, Republicans earned wins in every statewide office this year.

Ed Steinberg writes, "I’m sure many Democrats in this state feel hopeless. That is how Republican operatives, and those who corrupt our government want you to feel."

Jim Elliott writes, "In its passion to put together a coalition of virtually every ethnic and social minority in America, the Democratic Party had ignored the very people who had made it great—working people."

William Riley writes, "We need to recalibrate our messaging and start listening to those who are getting left behind by far-right policies and develop meaningful action-forward plans to address them."

Democrats in the Montana Legislature say Republicans squandered a $2 billion surplus last session, and Democrats plan to spend the 2025 session focusing on making life more affordable for Montanans.

Swapping Kamala Harris for Joe Biden could enable the Democratic Party to keep control of the White House this fall, many Democrats believe — but it might also be the very thing that costs them the U.S. Senate.