Montana Republican Party

Montana Republican Party
Chairperson Jeff Essman
Senate leader Debby Barrett
House leader Austin Knudsen
Headquarters 1005 Partridge, Ste #4
Helena, MT 59602
Ideology Conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Social conservatism
National affiliation Republican Party
Colors Red
Seats in the Upper House
29 / 50
Seats in the Lower House
59 / 100
Website
http://mtgop.org/

The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Montana. The state party is led by Chairman, Representative Jeff Essman (Billings) and Vice Chair, Senator Jennifer Fielder (Thompson Falls). The National Committeeman is Errol Galt (Martinsdale) and the National Committeewoman is Betti Hill (Helena).[1] The headquarters of the Montana GOP is located in Helena, Montana. The party is a private corporation organized of political organizations including political action, advocacy, and interest groups.

Bowen Greenwood was hired as Executive Director in 2010.[2] He was replaced by Chris Shipp in December 2014.[3]

Current party officers

Office Name County
Chair Jeff Essman Yellowstone
Vice Chair Jennifer Fielder Sanders
Secretary Cynthia Johnson Pondera
Treasurer Mike Hopkins Missoula
Assistant Treasurer Gilda Clancy Lewis & Clark
National Committeeman Errol Galt Meagher
National Committeewoman Betti Hill Lewis & Clark

Current elected officials

The Montana Republican party controls one of the six statewide offices and holds majorities in the Montana House of Representatives and Senate. It also holds one U.S. Senate seat and the state's at-large congressional district.

Member of Congress

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

Statewide offices

Legislative leaders

Members of the Montana Senate

District Senator Residence
1 Chas Vincent Libby
2 Jon Sonju Kalispel
3 Bruce Tutvedt Kalispell
4 Dee Brown Columbia Falls
5 Verdell Jackson Kalispell
6 Janna Taylor Polson
7 Jennifer Fielder Thompson Falls
9 Rick Ripley Wolf Creek
14 Jerry Black Shelby
15 Jim Peterson Buffalo
18 John Brenden Scobey
19 Donald Steinbeisser Sidney
20 Keith Bales Otter
22 Taylor Brown Huntley
23 Kelly Gephardt Roundup
25 Roy Brown Billings
28 Jeff Essmann Billings
29 Daniel McGee Laurel
30 Robert Story, Jr. Park City
31 John Esp Big Timber
34 Vacated [4] Bozeman
35 Gary Perry Manhattan
36 Debby Barrett Dillon
39 Terry Murphy Cardwell
42 Dave Lewis Helena
44 Rick Laible Victor
45 Jim Shockley Victor

Members of the Montana House of Representatives

District Representative Residence
1 Gerald Bennett Libby
2 Chas Vincent Libby
3 Dee Brown Hungry Horse
5 Keith Regier Kalispell
6 Bill Beck Whitefish
7 Jon Sonju Kalispell
9 Scott Reichner Bigfork
10 Mark Blasdel Somers
11 Janna Taylor Dayton
13 Pat Ingraham Thompson Falls
14 Gordon Hendrick Superior
17 Russell Bean Augusta
18 Jesse O'Hara Great Falls
19 Mike Milburn Cascade
24 Brian Hoven Great Falls
27 Llew Jones Conrad
28 Roy Hollandsworth Brady
29 Edward Butcher Winifred
30 Dave Kasten Brockway
34 Wendy Warburton Havre
35 Wayne Stahl Saco
37 Walter McNutt Sidney
39 Lee Randall Broadus
43 Duane Ankney Colstrip
44 William Glaser Huntley
45 Tom Berry Roundup
46 Ken Peterson Billings
47 Dennis Himmelberger Billings
50 Tom McGillvray Billings
53 Elsie Arntzen Billings
55 Cary Smith Billings
56 Don Roberts Billings
57 Penny Morgan Billings
58 Krayton Kerns Laurel
60 David Howard Park City
61 Joel Boniek Livingston
67 Gordon Vance Bozeman
68 Scott Sales Bozeman
69 Ted Washburn Bozeman
70 Michael More Gallatin Gateway
71 Bob Wagner Harrison
72 Jeffrey Welborn Dillon
77 Scott Mendenhall Clancy
83 Harry Klock Harlowton
84 Mike Miller Helmville
87 Ron Stoker Darby
88 Bob Lake Hamilton
89 Gary MacLaren Victor
90 Ray Hawk Florence
100 Bill Nooney Missoula

Platform

The Montana Republican Party Platform was adopted June 16, 2012 and can be viewed in its entirety on the Montana Republican Party website.[5]

Conventions

According to Party Bylaws, conventions that are held within the state. The State Platform convention, which meets once every even-numbered year between the primary and general elections, the purpose of this convention, is to adopt a state platform. There is a State Delegate Convention, which meets every presidential year prior to the Republican National Committee; during this convention they elect the delegates and alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention. Then there is the State Officer's Convention, which meets in June each odd-numbered year, this is when the state chairman and state vice chairman are elected. These conventions are given notice by convention calls and they give notice to all meetings or conventions. There is a quorum for any business actions and are entitled to vote thereat, in person, or by proxy, and weighted votes are not considered. Proxies are allowed except when selecting delegates for the national convention. Voting is an individual basis and are only for people entitled to vote at the conventions. The Parliamentary practice is Roberts' Rules of Order, it governs all conventions and meetings and allows the State Chairman to appoint a parliamentarian for any State Central Committee meeting or convention.[6]

Committees

State Central Committee is made up by the County Chairman, State committeemen and committee women, and Finance Chairman for each county. This committee is the governing body the Montana GOP and makes up all the rules and policies for the state party. State Executive Committee is made up of many members such as State Chairman, Vice Chairman, National committeeman and committeewoman, statewide elected federal and state officeholders, elected Republican Public Service Commissioners, the highest ranking Republican leader from state Senate and House of Representatives, and many other Republican groups or Clubs within Montana. The main purpose of this committee is to execute policies and programs of the Montana GOP between the State Central Committees. The terms of these members last as long as the Chairman's term and can also end by resignation or removal. County Central Committee is found in each county in Montana and only consists of elected or appointed committeemen and committeewomen from each precinct of the county and hold officer for two years. The committee elects County Chairman and Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, State and Congressional committeeman and committee woman, Finance Chairman, and anything else that seems important. It can adopt its own rules and come up with a County Executive Committee that executes the counties rules and policies. There are also other committees such as the Rules Committee. The members are appointed by the Chairman and they consider or recommend rules and rule changes. Any other special committee such as the Rules Committee can be appointed by the Chairman if needed.[7]

Elected officers

Chairman is the leader of the Party and is responsible of the hiring and firing of any employees. The Chairman can appoint all committees except the Executive Committee. The Chairman has the power of supervision and management. The Chairman also works with the Treasurer to make sure the right resources are provided. Vice Chairman performs all the duties assigned by the Chairman. Secretary keeps the minutes for all meetings and anything assigned by the Chairman. Treasurer controls the financial record keeping and practices of the party. Assistant Treasurer is there to become familiar with the responsibilities of the Treasurer and will perform any duties assigned by the Chairman and Treasurer.[7]

Appointed officers

Executive Director is appointed by the Chairman after approval from the Executive Committee. The main duty is to preserve all permanent records of the State Central Committee and any other duty assigned by the Chairman. Finance Chairman is appointed exactly like the Executive Director. The main duty of this officer is to raise funds for the Republican Party.

General Counsel is also appointed the same way as the first two officers. The main duty of the General Counsel is to advise the Chairman, State Central Committee, and all other officers and committees on all legal matters. The General Counsel is licensed to practice law within the state.

There can be other types of officers that are appointed by the Chairman. These types are only appointed if needed for a particular purpose.[7]

Nominations

The State Central Committee will appoint a nominee to fill a vacancy for a party candidate and the person who receives the most votes is the nominee. If one or two Congressional Districts for the state need to be filled, a committee appointed by the County Central Committee will make the appointment and the person with the most votes wins the nomination. The votes entitled to the certain members shall be weighted by comparing the Republican primary vote in each county and the Republican primary vote for the office being voted for. For each two percent or less of the total vote, there are four votes awarded to the county. Anything higher than two percent will be awarded an extra vote. The delegates at the meetings will divide the votes to each county and then the delegates will individually cast their votes.[7]

Voting trends

Montana is considered to be a moderately Republican state.[8] There is a small percentage of Hispanic and African American votes. There is a significant amount of votes from the Native American population as well.[9] In the last ten presidential elections Montana has voted Republican, except in 1992.[10] Republican Presidential candidate John McCain won Montana in 2008 with 49.43% of the total statewide vote over Democrat Barack Obama who received 47.17%, a 2.4-percent margin of victory.

As of 2015/2016 the Montana Senate has a Republican majority with twenty-nine of the fifty seats and a majority in the Montana House of Representatives with fifty-nine of the one hundred seats.[11]

Historical figures

Benjamin Potts

Benjamin F Potts

Potts was a Republican Governor of Montana Territory who worked with Democrat political and business leaders to sustain a successful program of financial responsibility and economy of government during a boom period in Montana's territorial era. He was the longest serving territorial governor in U.S. history.[12]

Wilbur F. Sanders

Sanders was a lawyer, Civil War veteran that was considered to be known as the essence of Montana Republicanism.[13]

Jeannette Rankin

RankinJ

Rankin was a Republican from Montana and was also an important figure with the women's suffrage movement . Her efforts were rewarded when Montana gave women the right to vote in 1914. In 1916 she was the first woman to be elected to Congress. During her term in Congress she voted against U.S. entry in World War I. She left Congress in 1919 but was reelected in 1940. Once again she voted for peace and opposed U.S. entry in World War II.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Executive Committee". Montana Republican Party. Montana Republican Party. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Bowen Greenwood takes helm at Montana Republican Party". Missoulian.
  3. ↑ "State Republican Party appoints new director". Great Falls Tribune. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Balyeat resigns from state senate". Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
  5. ↑ , Montana Republican Party Platform.
  6. ↑ "Bylaws of the Montana Republican Party".
  7. 1 2 3 4 , Montana Republican Party Bylaws.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "64th Legislature Demographics, 2015-2016". Montana Legislature. State of Montana. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Spence, Clark C. (1975). Territorial politics and government in Montana, 1864-89. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. pp. 74–149. ISBN 0252004604.
  13. ↑ Spence, Clark C. (1975). Territorial politics and government in Montana, 1864-89. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 22. ISBN 0252004604.
  14. ↑ Hirshcmann, Kris. "Montana: The Treasure State". Milwaukee: World Almanac Library, 2003.Print.

External links

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