Edward Buttrey

Buttrey served as Majority Whip in the Senate during the 2015-2016 session.{{Cite web|url=http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/64th/leaders.asp|title=Montana Legislature: 64th Session|website=leg.mt.gov|access-date=2016-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830111154/http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/64th/leaders.asp|archive-date=2016-08-30|url-status=dead}}

Buttrey has garnered a mixed reputation in regards to policy during his tenure in both Montana legislative bodies. Though Buttrey was lauded by centrist Republicans and Democrats alike for working on Medicaid expansion in Montana, he was criticized by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities for his legislation which the Center said "would likely cause coverage losses similar to or even higher than those of Arkansas, the first state with a Medicaid work requirement. That state ended coverage for more than 18,000 people.”{{cite web|url=https://www.cbpp.org/blog/revisions-cant-fix-montana-medicaid-proposal-still-takes-coverage-from-thousands|title=Revisions Can't Fix Montana Medicaid Proposal — Still Takes Coverage From Thousands|publisher=Center on Budget and Policy Priorities|date=March 7, 2019|last1=Katch|first1=Hannah|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

In 2013, Buttrey voted for SB 405 which repealed same-day voter registration. Then-AARP President Jeannine English described the bill and other measures like it as "...a form of voter suppression."{{cite web|url=https://www.mtpr.org/post/aarp-joins-fight-preserve-same-day-voter-registration-montana|title=AARP Joins Fight To Preserve Same-Day Voter Registration In Montana|publisher=Montana Public Radio|date=September 9, 2014|last1=Yamanaka|first1=Jackie|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

In 2019, Buttrey voted against Montana HB 547 which prohibits employers from stopping employees from discussing wages.

On December 18, 2016, Buttrey announced his candidacy for the special election to fill Montana's at-large U.S. House seat vacated by United States Secretary of the Interior appointee Ryan Zinke.{{cite news |author=Troy Carter |date=December 18, 2016 |title=Ed Buttrey becomes first candidate to announce for replacing Zinke |url=http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/ed-buttrey-becomes-first-candidate-to-announce-for-replacing-zinke/article_1b37cd40-565e-58fc-b340-1f553c7aff4e.html |newspaper=Bozeman Daily Chronicle |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504070805/http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/ed-buttrey-becomes-first-candidate-to-announce-for-replacing-zinke/article_1b37cd40-565e-58fc-b340-1f553c7aff4e.html |url-status=dead }}

At the Republican party convention on March 3, 2017, Buttrey and multiple other GOP candidates were eliminated in favor of businessman Greg Gianforte who would go on to win the general election as well.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/montana/gianforte-wins-republican-nomination-for-montanas-us-house-election/379897527 |title=Gianforte wins Republican nomination for Montana's US House election |agency=Associated Press |publisher=NBC Montana |date=March 3, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307061624/http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/montana/gianforte-wins-republican-nomination-for-montanas-us-house-election/379897527 |archive-date=March 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Buttrey first ran for the Montana legislature in 2010. For Senate District 13 he defeated Kathleen Galvin-Halcro with 58% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=SENATE&map=DIST&eid=2 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} A complaint was lodged against Buttrey for illegally coordinating with a dark money group during the campaign.{{cite web |title=Dark-money complaint against Great Falls GOP senator dismissed |url=https://ravallirepublic.com/article_be3713fe-da8e-5b8a-9cfd-569caad16923.html |website=Ravalli Republic |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=April 22, 2014}} The charges against Buttrey were dismissed, though nine others were found culpable. During the legislative session Buttrey was appointed Chair of both the Local Government and Legislative Administration committees.{{cite web |title=Buttrey to run for re-election |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2014/02/18/buttrey-to-run-for-re-election/5593933/ |publisher=Great Falls Tribune |access-date=4 March 2025}}

Due to redistricting following the US census Buttrey ran for Senate District 13 in the 2014 elections.{{cite web |title=Home page |url=https://mtredistricting.gov/ |publisher=Montana Districting and Appointment Commission |access-date=3 March 2025}} The new district still covered Cascade County. His opponent was Democrat Vonnie Brown. Buttrey received 3,494 votes compared to 2,988 for Brown.{{cite web |title=2014 Legislative General Election Canvas |url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/2014-General-Official-Legislative-Canvass.pdf |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} He was appointed Chair of the Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs committee. Because of Montana term limits, he was unable to seek re-election.

In 2018 he ran for Montana House District 21. He won a three-way primary with 75% of the vote. In the general election he defeated Democrat Leesha Ford with 54% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2018 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=17 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} For the 2020 election he won against Sally Tucker in the primary. He then defeated opponent Jaime Horn with 66% of the vote to retain his House seat.{{cite web |title=2020 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=19 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} During the campaign Horn submitted a picture to MTN News showing Buttrey in a room with a swastika. It was quickly shown to be a captured flag hanging at the VFW.{{cite web |title=Buttrey debunks opponent's attempt at "Nazi" smear |url=https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-politics/buttrey-debunks-opponents-attempt-at-nazi-smear |publisher=KRTV |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=August 26, 2020}}

Buttrey ran for re-election in 2022. He faced no challengers in the primaries. He contested the general election against Lela Graham, Executive Director of Independence Rock Coalition and Army Veteran.{{cite web |title=Lela Graham |date=13 December 2012 |url=https://independencerockcoalition.org/staff/lela-graham/ |publisher=Independence Rock Coalition |access-date=4 March 2025}} Buttrey received 65% of the vote securing his seat for another term.{{cite web |title=2022 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=22 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} For the 2023 session he was appointed Chair of the Business and Labor committee. In 2024 Graham ran again. Buttrey won with 67% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=4 March 2025}} He was again assigned as Chair to the Business and Labor committee.{{cite web |title=Rep. Ed Buttrey |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/Ed-Buttrey/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=4 March 2025}}

Buttrey received a degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University. He owns several business in Great Falls.{{cite web |last1=McGonigal |first1=Tim |title=HD 21 Candidate Profiles: Ed Buttrey and Lela Graham |url=https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-politics/hd-21-candidate-profiles-ed-buttrey-and-lela-graham |publisher=KRTV |access-date=4 March 2025 |date=October 3, 2024}} He is a volunteer firefighter and volunteer football coach.{{cite web|author=Montana GOP|title=SD13 Ed Buttrey|url=http://mtgop.org/page14373339.aspx|access-date=3 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822165043/http://mtgop.org/page14373339.aspx|archive-date=22 August 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.legmt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/6899 Buttrey on legmt.gov]
• [https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Buttrey Buttrey on Ballotpedia]
• [https://www.krtv.com/news/election-2020/house-district-21-ed-buttrey-and-jaime-horn#google_vignette 2020 interview with KRTV]

{{Montana House of Representatives}}

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Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party Montana state senators

Category:Montana State University alumni

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Great Falls, Montana

Category:Politicians from Helena, Montana

Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature