A return to Montana’s independent spirit
I get it. Montana is a hard state to get a foothold in if you're a Democrat and a woman. But when I moved here nearly 30 years ago, it was a Purple state. It took until Jan 2001 to elect Gov Judy Martz (R), the 1st and only female to hold the office. We've had 15 Democrat governors out of 24, with the last one being Gov Steve Bullock (D), 2013-2021. Which brings me to US Senators. Out of 23 US Senators since 1889, 15 were Democrats. The math is pretty simple. Montana isn't as much a Red state as it is Purple. But since around 2008, when Dark Money started showing up in Montana’s politics, the picture changed and so did the swing to the republican party. At that same time, the state legislature began its move towards conservatism and the reduction of our Rights. Seems to me that what Montanans used to look for in our leadership was fairness and watching out for each other. What changed the moral compass? The deception of Dark Money. Which brings me to the reason why I'm voting for Alani Bankhead (D) for US Senate. Her history of integrity, her honesty about her goals for the future Montana, her military service to our country and her determination NOT to be bought by Dark Money is why I feel she's the best candidate for US Senator. And she chose Montana to be her home which is pretty special in my book.
I get it. Montana is a hard state to get a foothold in if you're a Democrat and a woman. But when I moved here nearly 30 years ago, it was a Purple state. It took until Jan 2001 to elect Gov Judy Martz (R), the 1st and only female to hold the office. We've had 15 Democrat governors out of 24, with the last one being Gov Steve Bullock (D), 2013-2021. Which brings me to US Senators. Out of 23 US Senators since 1889, 15 were Democrats. The math is pretty simple. Montana isn't as much a Red state as it is Purple. But since around 2008, when Dark Money started showing up in Montana’s politics, the picture changed and so did the swing to the republican party. At that same time, the state legislature began its move towards conservatism and the reduction of our Rights. Seems to me that what Montanans used to look for in our leadership was fairness and watching out for each other. What changed the moral compass? The deception of Dark Money. Which brings me to the reason why I'm voting for Alani Bankhead (D) for US Senate. Her history of integrity, her honesty about her goals for the future Montana, her military service to our country and her determination NOT to be bought by Dark Money is why I feel she's the best candidate for US Senator. And she chose Montana to be her home which is pretty special in my book.
Sandra Martin-Funches
Billings