The Real Politicians of Gallatin County: Voter Guide 
Governor
Gianforte has promised his wealthy donors that he’d cut their taxes by 30%. That means 30% less money for health care, education, infrastructure, mental health, and so many more areas. We’ve also recently learned what we’ve long suspected, that Gianforte supports “right-to-work” (a.k.a. “right-to-be-paid-less”) laws. Cooney, however, has worked to expand Medicaid and keep dark money out of politics. Take that, Citizens United!
Secretary of State
A study in opposites! Bryce Bennett was Executive Director of Montana Public Interest Research Group and wants to protect voter rights and public lands, whereas Christi Jacobsen is seeking voter IDs and opposes automatic registration while also supporting the development of public lands.
Attorney General
You have two choices for state AG: Raph Graybill, who’s currently defending Montana’s mail election in federal court, or Austin Knudsen, who apparently thinks regulating appropriate skirt lengths for female legislators is more important. Oh, Knudsen also supports a lawsuit filed against the Affordable Care Act and has blocked access to a veterans’ park.
Auditor
100,000 Montanans (about 10% of the state) have Shane Morigeau, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, to thank for their healthcare, as he played a key role in expanding Medicaid in the State Legislature. He’d be able to deepen and expand upon this focus as State Auditor, who oversees Montana’s insurance industry and serves on the Land Board. Your other option is Troy Downing, who has been cited multiple times this year for campaign-finance violations.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Does it seem strange to you that Montana’s current Superintendent of PUBLIC Instruction Elise Arntzen supports school privatization? Challenger Melissa Romano, on the other hand, has been endorsed by the Montana Federation of Public Employees and was Montana’s 2018 Teacher of the Year.
Public Service Commissioner District 3
Tom Woods wants to “put the ‘public’ back in ‘Public Service Commission,'” and it’s easy to see why! The current Commission is essentially a rubber stamp for Northwestern Energy, which receives millions of dollars of subsidies from Montanan taxpayers each year, but Woods wants to bring Green new jobs to Montana while keeping electric rates down, preparing the state for a more sustainable future.
State Senator (District 31)
In their respective time in the Montana State House, Rick Vaught has voted against LGBTQ rights while Chris Pope has voted to protect workers’ rights and expand healthcare.
State Representative (District 65)
“Jolene, I’m begging of you please don’t take my healthcare.” Okay, those aren’t the lyrics, but Dolly would surely prefer Kelly Kortum, who wants to raise the minimum wage, create more housing, and provide healthcare for all.
State Representative (District 67)
Support MSU workers by voting for Colette Campbell, a labor organizer and President of the FOCUS-MFPE union for classified staff at the University. *Note* This district is in Belgrade.
State Representative (District 68)
Both Brosten and Hinkle are new to politics, so we don’t have legislative records to go on, but there is a pretty clear distinction between Hinkle’s campaign—pro-life/Second Amendment/austerity—and Brosten’s—conservation/housing/agriculture.
County Commissioner District 1
If you, like many, have been outraged by the rise in police violence of late, check out Zach Brown’s campaign. He’s worked to reform criminal justice in the State Legislature and the County Commission holds the purse strings.
Initiatives 118 and 190
\Montana has the 11th highest consumption rate of marijuana among US states. Rather than circulating through the black market, the Governor’s Office of Budget and Program Planning estimates that legalization would generate $38.5 million a year in tax revenue by 2025, money earmarked for nature conservation, veteran services, substance misuse treatment, health care, local governments, and the state’s general fund.
Referendum 130
Between 2014 and 2018, approximately 200 Montanans died by guns each year, the 6th highest rate per capita in the US. LR-130 would rob local governments of their ability to regulate firearms, meaning weapons could be brought into parks and schools across the state. The Referendum would also make it easier for felons and minors to acquire guns.
The Real Politicians of Gallatin County Voter Guide
Bozeman DSA 