Montana Democratic Party
Template:Short description Template:More sources Template:Infobox political party
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 Shannon O'Brien.<ref name="MTDP Officers">Template:Cite web</ref> The National Committeeman is Donavon Hawk, and the National Committeewoman is Mary Sheehy Moe.
History
Recent years
In August 2025, the Montana Democratic Party came under renewed scrutiny following reports that a party financial controller with close links to party leadership, Abbey Lee Cook, had been embezzling donations from Democratic candidates and affiliated organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cook, entered pleas of guilty to three federal charges of wire fraud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In November 2024, all Montana Democrats running in statewide or federal races lost to GOP candidates,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>https://www.npr.org/2024/11/09/nx-s1-5181908/with-democratic-senator-jon-testers-loss-in-montana-republicans-take-full-control</ref> continuing a trend of declining fortune for the Democratic Party in Montana. Before 2024, Montana's federal delegation continuously included at least one Democrat from 1911 until Sen. Jon Tester's 2024 loss to Republican Tim Sheehy, and as recently as 2013, Democrats held all statewide elected offices.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In state legislative races, Democrats overturned the GOP supermajority following beneficial redistricting<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> that reduced the total number of competitive districts favoring safer Democratic and Republican districts.
In November 2022, Montana Republicans secured a supermajority in both legislative houses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. Sheila Hogan remained the state party's executive director; the only Democrat in statewide or federal office at the time was Senator Jon Tester.<ref name="rtrved2022srcMTFREEdt2022">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcCNNdt2022">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcGREATFTdt2020">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcINDIANCTdt2020">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcDAILYILdt2021"/> 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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcDAILYILdt2021">Template:Cite web</ref>
During a special election for a Congressional seat in 2017, 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.<ref name="rtrved2022srcNYTdt2017">Template:Cite news</ref>
Elected officers
| Office | Officeholder in 2022 |
|---|---|
| Chair | Shannon O'Brien<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Vice Chair | Max Johansen<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022"/> |
| Secretary | Melody Cunningham<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022"/> |
| Treasurer | Lance Four Star<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022"/> |
| National Committeeman | Laurie Bishop<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022"/> |
| National Committeewoman | Donavon Hawk<ref name="rtrved2022srcMD.orgdt2022"/> |
Current elected officials
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.
Statewide offices
- None
Legislative leaders
| Office | Representative |
|---|---|
| Senate Minority Leader | Pat Flowers |
| Senate Minority Whips | Shane Morigeau |
| Laura Smith | |
| Susan Webber | |
| House Minority Leader | Katie Sullivan |
| House Minority Whips | Tyson Runningwolf |
| SJ Howell | |
| Melissa Romano |
18 Members of the Montana Senate
| District | Senator | Residence |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Carl Glimm | Kila |
| 8 | Susan Webber | Browning |
| 16 | Mike Fox | Hays |
| 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 |
42 Members of the Montana House of Representatives
Mayors
Election results
Presidential
Gubernatorial
See also
References
External links
Template:Authority control Template:U.S. Democratic Party state parties