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Kathleen Gilluly

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Kathleen Gilluly
Image of Kathleen Gilluly
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1989 - 1993

Personal
Birthplace
Seattle, Wash.
Religion
Atheist
Profession
Retired
Contact

Kathleen Gilluly (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 27. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Gilluly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kathleen Gilluly was born in Seattle, Washington. She served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1993. Her career experience includes working as a reporter and editor before retiring. She also worked at nonprofits.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 27

Vince Ricci defeated Kathleen Gilluly in the general election for Montana State Senate District 27 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Vince Ricci
Vince Ricci (R)
 
74.2
 
8,446
Image of Kathleen Gilluly
Kathleen Gilluly (D) Candidate Connection
 
25.8
 
2,942

Total votes: 11,388
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 27

Kathleen Gilluly advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 27 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kathleen Gilluly
Kathleen Gilluly Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,155

Total votes: 1,155
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 27

Vince Ricci defeated incumbent Chris Friedel in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 27 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Vince Ricci
Vince Ricci
 
60.6
 
2,519
Image of Chris Friedel
Chris Friedel
 
39.4
 
1,640

Total votes: 4,159
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gilluly in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Kathleen Gilluly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gilluly's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I will be 64 by election day. I live in Laurel and have been a resident of Yellowstone County most of my life. Although I have retired, I spent the past 15 years as a journalist and editor beginning at The Anaconda Leader and finishing at The Laurel Outlook. Prior to that, most of my working life was spent at non-profits. I also served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army, where I suffered injuries affecting my mobility. Because of the work I pursued, I understand the needs of Montana's low-income populations, veterans and folks with disablities. As a single woman who raised a grandchild, I can attest to the difficulties faced by Montana families. Before acting, I will ask, "Who does this help?"
  • I am running so that voters in my district can participate in Democracy. Without a choice, they can't. I vow to protect Montanans' right to privacy; especially regarding reproductive and identity care; to preserve and protect our environment; and to listen to the concerns of voters.
  • While property taxes for homeowners have risen about 20%, industry has been given a pass. Overall, large industrial taxes have fallen. As an example, NWE, the state’s largest taxpayer, saw a decrease of 20%, paying $36 million less than the previous year. Reform of property evaluations need to be instituted, ensuring homeowners don’t don’t shoulder so much of the burden. To assist elderly and poor homeowners qualify for relief, I would support a system that automatically enrolls them based on their state income tax return or other proof of income.
  • Medicaid is vital to the health of our populace, especially children and other vulnerable folks. I would vote to continue Medicaid expansion past 2025. The program not only sustains much of our rural economy, it creates and supports thousands of jobs, all while expanding Montana’s healthcare reach across the state and on Indian Reservations. Everyone benefits from a more comprehensive health delivery system. The best part is that the federal government contributes 90% of the funds for the program, infusing about $900 million into the state annually.
Montana is facing many challenges because of the recent boom in population. We must continue to protect and enhance public lands, sustain wildlife and its habitats all while balancing the needs of citizens, tourists and the agricultural industry. We must also develop adequate housing to support folks of all incomes and reform property taxes so Montanans don't shoulder the burden brought on by newcomers.
I was fortunate to grow up in a home rich with academics, writers, musicians and philosophers. There are a number of them I will always admire, along with the many members of my family who passed along their love of Montana, literature, nature and history.

There are two long-time leaders of the Montana Democratic party I would be proud to emulate. Both hailed from Laurel and both left lasting legacies.
Chet Blaylock was born in Joliet. He later lived in and represented Laurel in the legislature. As a teacher for over three decades, he influenced many.
Mr. Blaylock was also the chairman of the Montana Democratic Party and, as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1972, a signer of what is considered the best state constitution in the nation.
While running for governor in 1996, he died of a heart attack. In the state record of his passing, it was noted that, "Chet Blaylock was an educator. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job and affordable health care."
The other man is visionary James "Jim" Murry, who was born on the Southside of Laurel and was the long-time leader of the Montana State AFL-CIO. Unfortunately, Jim died in 2020.
His obituary acknowledged, "Jim Murry’s commitment to the rights of working people, people of color, the poor and the forgotten, was bred in the bone."
Jim's efforts were central to the election of three Democratic governors, four members of Congress, five United States Senators, dozens of other statewide officials and numerous members of the Montana legislature.
I was lucky enough as both a child and an adult to be privy to conversations between Jim, my father, Richard, and my uncles, Jack and Bob, as they were old friends. I was inspired by Jim's passion for equity, and I still am.

It would be an honor to carry on the legacies left by Chet Blaylock and Jim Murry.
I would absolutely do my utmost to work with all my fellow legislators, especially those who don't share my viewpoints, in order to pass legislation benefitting the people of Montana. Montanans frequently share ideas across a fence or on a front porch. We can be civil while agreeing to disagree.
VoteVets, Center For Free Thought Equality

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Kathleen Gilluly campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Montana State Senate District 27Lost general$2,475 $0
Grand total$2,475 $0
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 15, 2024


Current members of the Montana State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Matt Regier
Majority Leader:Tom McGillvray
Senators
District 1
District 2
Dave Fern (D)
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
John Esp (R)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (18)