Democratic Party of Montana

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Democratic Party of Montana
Basic facts
Location:	Helena, Mont.
Type:	Political party
Affiliation:	Democratic
Top official:	Shannon O'Brien, Chair
Website:	Official website

The Democratic Party of Montana is the Montana political party affiliate of the national Democratic Party. The group is headquartered in Helena, Montana.

The party is composed of a governing body and numerous committees.

Party chair

Shannon O'Brien was elected as chair on September 14, 2025.

Party leadership

As of September 2025, the interim executive director of the Montana Democratic Party was Justin Ailport.

The website for the Montana Democratic Party lists the following individuals as the party's state leadership as of September 2025:

• Shannon O'Brien, Chair
• Max Johansen, Vice chair
• Melody Cunningham, Secretary
• Lance Fourstar, Treasurer

For more information on the party's full leadership and staff, please click here.

Party platform

The party's stated platform was approved in 2022 and is composed of 18 main issues:

• Agriculture and rural development
  "Directly or indirectly, agriculture affects all economic activity in Montana. The family farm and ranch is the backbone of our small-town, rural way of life, and as our population ages, sustaining the family farm or ranch becomes more challenging. We regard family farming and ranching as a cornerstone of our heritage and economy that must be preserved."
• American Indians
  "We believe in the equality of all people, but as Montanans we have a particular obligation to Montana’s first people. We recognize that Montana’s American Indians are not only Montanans, but also members of their own tribal nations with the sovereignty to govern themselves and the right to preserve their cultural integrity.."
• Cultural enrichment
  " We believe that access to the arts, libraries, museums, and cultural experiences is an essential component of the quality of life and the economy in Montana. We are committed to ensuring that those who create and provide this access are encouraged to prompt us to imagine, marvel, reflect, and learn."
• Energy
  "As we confront global climate change, Montana Democrats believe that we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through a combination of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the development of clean, renewable energy sources. We believe that we can achieve this goal AND create or provide transitions into good Montana jobs."
• Good government
  "We view government as the means by which individuals work together to solve mutual problems, balance competing interests, and accomplish common goals. Good government meets its constitutional obligations to protect health and safety and to promote community, commerce, and culture. At every level, good government is open, accountable, and responsive to the people."
• Healthcare and human services
  " We are dedicated to ensuring quality of life and equality of opportunity for all individuals and families, regardless of their socio-economic status. Fundamental to such quality and equality is access to the basic necessities of life, including, at a minimum, health care, education, shelter, adequate nutrition, human dignity, and lives free of violence."
• Human and civil rights
  "We believe that neither a peaceful planet nor a democratic society can survive without appreciation for the diversity of all people and respect for the unique value of each person. We embrace the rights guaranteed by the constitutions of our state and nation, recognizing that the meaning and application of those rights evolve as our knowledge and understanding as human beings in a democratic republic evolve."
• Hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation
  " We recognize that the opportunity for Montanans to enjoy our spectacular landscapes, clean waters, and abundant fish and wildlife is an integral part of our heritage, identity, and lifestyle. We believe in public ownership of the fish, wildlife, streams and rivers of our state and rely on our government to hold these resources in trust for the beneficial use of our citizens and future generations."
• International relations
  "In the spirit of the late Senator Mike Mansfield, we believe that America should treat all nations and peoples with the same dignity and respect we expect of one another. While we must maintain the military strength to be secure as a nation, we believe our greatest strength and our greatest security lie in our effective use of commerce, aid, diplomacy, and collaboration to improve the well-being and good will of all peoples and all nations."
• Jobs and the economy
  " We know that it requires both government and private business to create the quality jobs necessary to sustain a healthy economy. Government at both federal and state levels is responsible for funding infrastructure, education programs, and economic growth policies that are major job creators and strengthen and diversify our private-sector economy."
• Justice—access to justice
  "We expect our justice system to operate impartially and efficiently to protect and enforce the rights of all citizens equally, to provide every citizen with a venue to seek redress of grievances, and to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities."
• Justice—crime and punishment
  "We believe that the best approach to reducing crime is providing the education, opportunities, and social services that prevent crime. When crime does occur, we believe in a fair, balanced approach that seeks to restore the victim, safeguard the public, and rehabilitate the offender."
• Labor
  " We believe that stable jobs with livable wages are another cornerstone of a stable economy and a healthy society. Because the vast majority of Montanans make their living as wage-earners, we seek fair compensation for their labor so that they can provide for their families and sustain their communities. Montana workers deserve safety, security, and dignity as conditions of their employment, as well as conditions of their retirement after a lifetime of hard work."
• Public education
  " We believe that public education not only acts as the primary catalyst for a strong economy, upward mobility, and the quality of life in Montana, but also fosters the lasting bonds of understanding, acceptance, and community that make Montana such a desirable place to live. We are therefore committed to a continuum of high-quality public education opportunities that develop the potential of every Montanan and of Montana itself."
• Stewarding our natural resources
  " The teeming bounty of Montana’s natural resources has always been at the heart of our prosperity, our heritage, and our lifestyle as Montanans. We believe that we must work together to ensure that these resources not only contribute to the strong economy needed to sustain families and communities in the 21st 49 century, but also provide the clean and healthful environment that is our constitutional right."
• Taxation
  " We seek a progressive, broad-based, equitable tax system that reflects and enhances our changing economy and adequately supports a full range of quality public services and public education. We believe in being fiscally responsible while promoting quality of life and equality of opportunity for all our citizens."
• Veterans and active military
  " We ask Americans in the military to risk their lives and disrupt their families’ lives to serve our country. In gratitude for their sacrifice, Montana Democrats regard as sacred our obligation to care for America’s military – during active duty and for the rest of their lives."
• Women
  " We are the party of trail-blazing women. We are committed to securing equal opportunities in education, employment, and leadership for every woman and to ensuring safe, healthy, and nurturing environments for all women. To achieve these goals, women must have an equitable role, not only in determining local, state, and national policies, but also in allocating resources to meet the needs of families and communities."

Party rules and bylaws

Candidate ballot access
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See also: Rules of the Montana Democratic Party

The state party is governed by a set of rules and bylaws. Typically, these give structure to the different levels of organization—local, county, and state committees—and establish protocol for electing committee members. The bylaws also typically give details on the party's process for nominating and sending delegates to the national party convention during presidential elections. The following is a selection of the Montana Democratic Party's rules. This selection focuses on the structure and governance of the party:

• All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party are open to all members of the Democratic Party of Montana regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or philosophical persuasion. Members of the Democratic Party are defined as any individuals who are supportive of the Democratic Party’s mission and values, without test of membership or oath, and are in good standing with the organization. All members of the Democratic Party of Montana shall be encouraged to participate in party affairs. (1.B.1)
• The county central committee shall meet in county convention between April 15 and May 31 of each odd-numbered year and elect the following officers: a) a county chair and vice chair, one of whom shall be a woman, and one of whom shall be a man; b) a state committeeman and a state committeewoman; c) four state central committee alternates, two of whom shall be women and two of whom shall be men. These officers serve as alternates to the chair or vice chair, or state committeeman or woman. State central committee alternates shall replace members of the same sex whenever possible. The county convention shall designate first and second alternates; d) a secretary and a treasurer. (2.B.1.a-d)
• The Montana Democratic State Central Committee consists of: a) all voting members of the State Party Executive Board, as defined in Rule 6; b) the county chair and vice chair of each county, or, in their absence, the state central committee alternates; c) the state committeeman and state committeewoman from each county, or, in their absence, the state central committee alternates; d) the president (or, if absent, the vice president) of any organization chartered by the Montana Democratic Party; and e) Democrats holding the positions of Lieutenant Governor, Clerk of the Supreme Court or Public Service Commissioner. (4.A.1.a-e)

Party candidates

Note: The following table lists candidates who filed to run for office with this political party in a given year. This may also include candidates who filed to run with more than one political party. The list may not be comprehensive if the state's official filing deadline has not passed. This list may not populate if no candidates have filed to run with this political party. The table lists non-presidential candidates who filed to run for office with this political party in a given year. For more information on presidential candidates and elections, please click here.

Using the tools at the top of the table, you can increase the number of candidates shown on your screen or scroll through the table to view additional candidates. To report an error, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

See also

• List of political parties in the United States
• Political parties in Montana
• Democratic Party
• Montana

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Montana Democratic Party Website
• Montana Democratic Party on Facebook
• Montana Democratic Party on Twitter