Montana Democratic Party

The party typically meets in Butte.{{cite web | url=https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-democratic-party-adds-explicit-support-for-abortion-to-party-platform | title=Montana Democratic Party adds explicit support for abortion to party platform | date=3 August 2022 }}

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.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/montana-special-election.html | title=Liberals Wanted a Fight in Montana. Democratic Leaders Saw a Lost Cause | newspaper=The New York Times | date=26 May 2017 | last1=Martin | first1=Jonathan | last2=Burns | first2=Alexander }}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2020/01/01/luckey-named-new-head-montana-democratic-party/2792647001/ | title=Luckey named new head of state Democratic Party }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/the-press-pool/montana-democrats-roll-out-framework-for-permanent-native-leadership-within-montana-democratic-party-announce-platform-convention-speakers | title=Montana Democrats roll out framework for permanent Native leadership within Montana Democratic Party, announce platform convention speakers }} 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. 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.{{cite web | url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/jun/08/montana-democrats-expand-native-american-voice-par/ | title=Montana Democrats expand Native American voice in party | date=8 June 2021 }}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/politics/jon-tester-axe-files/index.html | title=Montana senator criticizes fellow Democrats for not appealing to rural Americans more | CNN Politics | website=CNN | date=10 February 2022 }}

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/06/1103372557/montana-democrats-hustle-for-a-spot-in-the-u-s-house | title=Montana Democrats hustle for a spot in the U.S. House | website=NPR.org }} 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.{{cite web | url=https://montanafreepress.org/2022/08/01/montana-democrats-adopt-new-party-platform-ahead-november/ | title=Montana Democrats approve 2022 platform | date=August 2022 }}

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.

• None

• Missoula: Andrea Davis
• Helena: Wilmot Collins

• Political party strength in Montana
• Montana Libertarian Party
• Montana Republican Party

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.montanademocrats.org Montana Democratic Party]

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{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties}}

Category:Democratic Party (United States) by state

Democratic Party