Kim Gillan

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Kim Gillan
Image of Kim Gillan

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Montana House of Representatives
Montana State Senate District 24
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of California, Los Angeles, 1973

Graduate

Cornell University, 1975

Personal
Birthplace
Berkeley, Calif.
Religion
Catholic
Profession
Business executive
Contact

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Kim Gillan (Democratic Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 24. She assumed office in 2005. She left office in 2013.

Gillan (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Montana House of Representatives to represent District 55. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

Gillan earned her B.A. in psychology from the University of California-Los Angeles in 1973. She went on to receive her MRP in Resource Planning from Cornell University in 1975. She then attended Weber State and George Washington University in 1980.

Gillan was a Planner of a Energy Research & Development Agency from 1975 to 1977. She then worked as an Analyst for the Energy Office of the State of Texas from 1977 to 1979. From 1979 to 1981 she was a Management Consultant for a Resource Planning Association. Gillan then worked as a Senior Planner for National Energy Resources Company from 1981 to 1984. She was also a Business Consultant/Grant Writer from 1984 to 1986. She has been Coordinator of Workforce Development for Montana State University, Billings, since 2005.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gillan served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Gillan served on these committees:

Elections

2024

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Brad Barker defeated Kim Gillan in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 55 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Brad Barker
Brad Barker (R)
 
65.9
 
4,931
Image of Kim Gillan
Kim Gillan (D) Candidate Connection
 
34.1
 
2,546

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,477
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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 55

Kim Gillan advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 55 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kim Gillan
Kim Gillan Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
973

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 973
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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 55

Incumbent Brad Barker defeated Mary Horman and Lisa Bennett in the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 55 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Brad Barker
Brad Barker
 
52.1
 
1,527
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Mary Horman
 
25.1
 
736
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Lisa Bennett
 
22.8
 
667

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,930
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 Gillan in this election.

2012

See also: Montana's At-Large Congressional District elections, 2012

Gillan ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Montana's at-large District. She won the nomination on the Democratic ticket.[1] She defeated Jason Ward, Diane Smith, Dave Strohmaier, Rob Stutz, Franke Wilmer and Sam Rankin in the June 5, 2012, Democratic primary.[2][1][3] Gillan was defeated by Republican candidate Steve Daines in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4]

U.S. House, Montana, At-Large District General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Kim Gillan 42.7% 204,939
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Daines 53.3% 255,468
     Libertarian David Kaiser 4% 19,333
Total Votes 479,740
Source: Montana Secretary of State "2012 Election Center"
Montana's At-Large District Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKim Gillan 31% 25,077
Diane Smith 15.6% 12,618
Dave Strohmaier 14.1% 11,366
Rob Stutz 3.2% 2,586
Franke Wilmer 18.4% 14,836
Sam Rankin 11.6% 9,382
Jason Ward 6.1% 4,959
Total Votes 80,824

Polls

Gillan vs. Daines
Poll Kim Gillan Steve DainesOtherUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Pharos Research Group
(October 26-28, 2012)
 44.6%51.6%0%3.8%+/-3.5799
Public Policy Polling (October 10, 2012)
 34%43%10%12%+/-3.6737
Mason-Dixon Polling (September 22, 2012)
 38%46%2%14%+/-4625
Public Policy Polling (September 10&11, 2012)
 37%40%9%15%+/-3.8656
AVERAGES 38.4% 45.15% 5.25% 11.2% +/-3.73 704.25
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2008

On November 4, 2008, Gillan won re-election to the 24th District Seat in the Montana State Senate, defeating Wilfred Ebert (R).[5]

Montana State Senate, District 24 (2008)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Kim Gillan (D) 5,490
Wilfred Ebert (R) 3,692

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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

Expand all | Collapse all

People Before Politics. Decisions at the state legislative in past sessions don’t reflect the priorities or values or rural communities. Our area relies upon affordable property taxes, good public schools, good roads, access to health careand generally recognize that the “one size fits all” approach doesn’t work. Our state legislature squandered a $2.5 billion surplus, while taking away key freedoms such as medical decision making, voting, etc. I’ want to give residents a real voice…one that listens to them and not the GOP supermajority. I have past legislative experience and developed, over 16 years a reputation for finding common ground and using common sense. Our communities rely upon good public schools, however, instead the legislature decided to divert money to charter schools, private institutions and raise property taxes! Instead, our area is represented by folks who strictly adhere to party politics, regardless if it hurts our community. I am not afraid to speak out for rural concerns and as a Montanan for over 30 years, I know how important it is for the citizen legislature to focus on what is good for everyday folks be they small businesses, ranchers or farmers, retirees, children and families. M
  • People before politics
  • Independent thinker with a track record (in both the legislature and business) for problem solving and common sense
  • I will listen to the voters, engage with them before, during and after the legislative session. I will show up and not rely upon newspaper columns for glossy publications. The decisions made in Helena need to reflect our community’s values and priorities, not simply those of the majority political party
Taxation and Public School Funding..along with health care.
Willingness to listen and be open to new and diverse ideas. I will keep in touch, engage voters in the decision making. I will respond to all correspondence and I will vote and not dodge voting. The MT legislature is a citizen legislature and we send votes to Helena to be our voice, not just that of a political party or special interest.
I am a great listener, problem solver and fortunately, have experience in tackling difficult situations and finding solutions. I have a reputation for being direct, for being very honest and also, for not being afraid to stand up for what is right.
Willingness to listen and put people before politics.
I believe that rural communities in Montana need strong advocates. Rural communities have some unique challenges (as well as tremendous opportunities) and Montana needs to build on those. I would like to say that under my watch in the legislature, people were treated fairly and benefitted from my participation.
My first job was when I was in 9th grade and working at a local hamburger fast food restaurant. it helped me start saving for college as my family was not able to give me much financial help. I met folks from all walks of life and learned the value of hard work. When I’d come home from work, if I complained about something but my Dad would say…don’t complain, just find a way to fix it.
My favorite book is where the Crawdad sings. It shows how it’s possible to over adversity no matter how challenging, and that human kindness is essential.
The Governor and state legislature should, when appropriate work together…but not be a simple rubber stamp for the Governor’s political agenda. The 2023 legislature rubber stamped a huge tax cut for wealthy Montanans and the legislature ignored homeowners and small business property tax. This is terrible. Those who benefit from some of these laws are less than 5% of the state.
First, I am very concerned about personal freedoms. The Governor and his supermajority want to impose upon Montana their religious beliefs. This goes against the grain of hard working Montanans….who value their privacy and right to make their own decisions about medical/family issues. The Governor seems hell Benton making Montana a playground for the wealthy. Next, The state’s health care system will be in financial trouble if the 2025 legislature does not extend and appropriate Medicaid Expansion. Montana receives for every ten dollars spent on health care, almost 9 dollars (for Medicaid ) from the Federal government and we pay only $1. Now, with the recent purge of Medicaid rolls…people will be without access to affordable health care…giving rise to medical bankruptcies and financial strain on the rural health system. This is all avoidable, but the current Administration ignores the facts. We need to work on property tax (lower the rate), work to expand our labor force, help with the escalating costs of housing. Also, the challenges to keeping public lands open and accessible can’t be ignored. These outdoor spaces are the “bonus” for living in this great state…but selling land off and allowing folks to close access to these spaces (as the Gov did) is a step backwards.
Yes and that is what I offer Carbon County residents. I have a track record for getting things done and will continue to use my common sense. Also, I don’t have fear of playing political games to ensure I am re elected. I will speak up for our community and work hard.
Yes. When I served for 16 years, I believe I worked across the aisle thousands of times. For me, it wasn’t even a thought to simply consider how I could build coalitions to support bills…and that involved working with folks from all political ideologies. But, I am not afraid to call a spade a space
No
Yes. I had heard two stories of concern. One recently, of a family whose children lost their Medicaid insurance but had no idea it had been terminated. The child was very sick and when they arrived at the clinic, they only learned then. They could not afford the tests the child needed to diagnose the problem. It seems they had moved and never received any of the paperwork to reapply or prove their eligibility. Because they couldnt afford the tests locally, they had to drive into Billings and go to the ER. Next, we’ve had many nursing homes close. Yet, the legislature was not going to try to fix the problem. We had several community forums which I attended and discussed, and heard from good people that thEy are struggling to find care for their older love ones. They feel no one cares.
There are state statutes which provide a basis for the Governor’s use of emergency powers.
To reduce the property tax rates on homeowners and small businesses as recommended in Nov 2022 by the Department of Revenue to tackle escalating home values and property taxes. Its a simple bill and has been done before
None at this point
Taxation, Education and Public Health
Strong support for transparency in all aspects of finance, including campaign funding. Everyone should know how the government is spending our money. And, we should not let the Governor play favorites and hire out of state firms to do Montana work…unless absolutely necessary. We have wasted money on several big ticket projects (bid out by DPHHS) on firms who charge too much and don’t know where Helena is? Also, the current effort to make state government the big dog, and take away local control is not what rural voters want.
I believe strongly in the current state ballot initiative process and do not support the current Attorney General’s powergrab in this area. He cannot impose his person beliefs.

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.

2012

On her campaign website, Gillan lists eight issues. They are:[6]

  • Creating jobs by supporting small businesses
  • On her website, Gillan says, "A hallmark of Kim’s legislative career has been her support for small business. Whether pushing for small business tax relief so they can create jobs or promoting a worker training program so that businesses can compete, Kim knows that small businesses have always been the engine of economic growth for Montana and for America."
  • Strengthening education to ensure a well trained workforce
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Kim Gillan first took an interest in public service while serving on the Billings PTA. She saw then how “one size fits all” approaches hurt Montana schools. It was this experience that led her to run for public office. After six terms in office, Kim is more convinced than ever that the key to Montana’s long-term economic success is a well-educated, well-trained workforce."
  • Utilizing Montana energy to build a new economy
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Energy has long been instrumental in heating our homes and fueling our automobiles. But now is the time for Montana to harness the tremendous potential of clean energy as a way to create jobs and build a 21rst century economy."
  • Preserving Montana's outdoors heritage
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Montana’s unique quality of life is what makes our state a special place to live, work, and raise a family. Protecting that quality of life and preserving clean air and water has always been a major focus for Kim, in both the legislature and through her work in the community."
  • A leader for women and children
  • On her website, Gillan says, "As both a legislator and leader in the Democratic Party, Kim has led many fights against extreme efforts to that would defund sex education and overturn local ordinances against discrimination. She has always been a strong supporter of equal pay for equal work and a woman's right to choose."
  • Supporting our seniors
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Kim Gillan believes that as a nation we owe the Greatest Generation more than just our gratitude. Kim is committed to upholding the promises we have made to Montana seniors by protecting Medicare."
  • Defending tribal sovereignty
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Montana’s Native American Tribes play an important role in Montana’s and the nation’s economic future. It is critical to not only respect Tribal sovereignty and self determination, but to make sure that Tribal representatives be included in decision making at all levels."
  • Standing up for children with autism
  • On her website, Gillan says, "Over the past decade study after study showed an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism. While the diagnosis of autism was on the rise, access to autism treatment lagged behind for far too many Montana families. At a time when Montana families needed a champion, Kim Gillan stepped up to the task."[6]

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.

Kim Gillan campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Montana House of Representatives District 55Lost general$12,294 $0
Grand total$12,294 $0
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal 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

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Gillan is divorced and has two children.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named elections
    2. ↑ KAJ18 "Kim Gillan enters Democratic race for US House" accessed February 4, 2012
    3. ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Results," accessed July 23, 2012‎
    4. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Montana," accessed November 7, 2012
    5. ↑ Montana Secretary of State - 2008 General Election Results
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gillan for Congress, "On the Issues" May 7, 2012

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