Mike Knoles

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Mike Knoles

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 2, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Idaho State University, 2013

Military

Years of service

2011 - 2013

Personal

Birthplace

Keokuk, Iowa

Religion

Christian

Profession

Data analyst

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Mike Knoles (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Montana. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2020. Knoles unofficially withdrew from the race but appeared on the primary election ballot on June 2, 2020.

Knoles completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mike Knoles was born in Keokuk, Iowa. He served in the United States Navy from 2011 to 2013. Knoles earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho State University in 2013 and attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for graduate study. His career experience includes working as a data analyst, quantum mathematician, physicist, and educator.

Elections

2020

Mike Knoles

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Growing up in the average blue-collar household with over a dozen children, Mike Knoles has had first-hand experience with the flaws in today's government, healthcare, and education systems. Born in Redmond, IA, he has since moved 42 times in his life and worked a number of odd jobs. First starting out as a ranch hand and baling hay at $0.05 a bale, he moved on to become a busser, salesman, tutor, quantum mathematician, and even a military member. He now works in his current position as a data analyst at a top robotics company. Though never having run for office, his love of politics started early on. He joined the race late this year (2019) after carefully thinking over his decision to pursue a spot in the U.S. Senate. Previously voting on the Republican side, he now runs as a Democrat. Between becoming a father, living through unemployment, experiencing homelessness, and carefully studying the current state of politics, he feels the generations need to step up, join together, and give Montana a reason to vote. He supports all candidates who are fighting to protect our families, appreciate our lands, and secure our future. We need to join together to fix this. "

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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End corruption.

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Healthcare for all.

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Protect our land.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Montana in 2020.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike Knoles completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Knoles' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Growing up in the average blue-collar household with over a dozen children, Mike Knoles has had first-hand experience with the flaws in today's government, healthcare, and education systems. Born in Redmond, IA, he has since moved 42 times in his life and worked a number of odd jobs. First starting out as a ranch hand and baling hay at $0.05 a bale, he moved on to become a busser, salesman, tutor, quantum mathematician, and even a military member. He now works in his current position as a data analyst at a top robotics company. Though never having run for office, his love of politics started early on. He joined the race late this year (2019) after carefully thinking over his decision to pursue a spot in the U.S. Senate. Previously voting on the Republican side, he now runs as a Democrat. Between becoming a father, living through unemployment, experiencing homelessness, and carefully studying the current state of politics, he feels the generations need to step up, join together, and give Montana a reason to vote. He supports all candidates who are fighting to protect our families, appreciate our lands, and secure our future. We need to join together to fix this.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• End corruption.
• Healthcare for all.
• Protect our land.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Having been poor, experienced first-hand homelessness, working for the government, with the VA offices, teaching in public and private sectors, and becoming a father, he has a particular passion towards supporting those in need, education, job loss, and a need for a fix to our current broken systems. Our government is often run on broken decisions supported by finances rather than the good of others. Mental health is another sector that falls into this category after seeing neglected veterans and other members of our communities.

Raising awareness of both people's personal issues and the fact that we need to keep our lands open and free for all is a major factor on his agenda. He has a deeply thought out plan for change that encompasses our need to fix tax code issues, corruption, healthcare, and ecology. Nothing is perfect, but a few small changes would put power back into the hands of the people.

Having come from nothing and knowing the struggles of the average individual, he wants to work together to fix this.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I don't have a specific person I look up to, in fact, I have an array. Not because I can't pick one, it's because I think everyone is flawed and has their own qualities that really stand out. I admire certain traits, ideas, and situations in which people have put themselves and stand out. I'm a flawed individual and I would hope that people can see past my flaws to see my better qualities. I try my best, throughout life, to follow the golden rule. Some of my heroes include:

Paul Dirac
Pascal
Einstein
Shroedinger
Feynman
Confucius
Plato
Aristotle
Maslow
Descartes
Nietzsche
Thomas Jefferson
Harry Truman
Teddy Roosevelt
Abraham Lincolbn
George Washington
Samuel Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Maxwell
Jackson
Sakurai
LeBron James
Michael Jordan

Oscar Robertson

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I want my senators to have a strong ethical and moral background.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Being from situations that were personal, mental, educational, and otherwise struggle, I feel I've lived through a lot of the hardships that the general population faces. My role in society is not that of the elite or the bottom tier. I have met all aspects at some point in my life, and I fall in between. I will never know what it is to be a woman, or a person of a different race, however, I do know that these struggles are something that everyone faces.

I want to run for office to give each of us a voice. My personality, to be honest, is that of an introvert, but in the best of ways. I take time to myself to consider problems, to think over situations. I feel that most of us are this way, whether we let it show or not. My personality is that of someone who cares for others. I have in the past given someone in a more dire situation than I my last twenty dollars, I will always look at someone's struggles as more important than my own. I want us all to thrive.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I want to:

Represent my constituents
Lead by example

Unite people

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember historical events before this, but the first major political event that I remember that really made an impact on myself, and probably a lot of you, was 9/11. It was one of those days that I actually woke up on time (4:30 am) to get ready before getting in the car at 6:21. I had to make sure I milked cows, collected eggs, etc. I remember I always had to be in the car on time before my dad. He always listened to NPR. I remember I made it and him turning on the radio.

I remember hearing about a crash, planes, a disaster right before I got to seminary. After seminary, I got to class and remember walking into Channel One News. It was on every morning. Every politic thing that we watched that year was on there, the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Clinton's rebuttal, and then we had this on. I remember it being completely silent and the teacher had tears streaming down her face. I remember seeing those people on screen, silence as we watched people jumping from buildings. The entire day was silent as we walked from class to class.

I remember the next year I was in a new school (at 15) and we had a moment of silence. I remember it hitting me really hard. I knew then that I felt a deep sadness at the thought that people could hate people that much. I knew it wasn't okay. Ever since, that memory has been a part of me, and I still take a moment of silence.

We don't need this, we can't do this, it isn't okay. Ever since I have wanted to help fix it.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a ranchhand bucking hay at 5¢/bale.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Lord of the Rings

It was the first book I read at twelve years old that introduced me to the world of fantasy.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Bipolar issues. Though I have a number of struggles that I and other people close to me have gone through, I see a huge gap in our system that overlooks mental health issues. I would like to put a focus on troubles like these that we all know we go through.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

1. Corruption

2. Healthcare

3. Ecology

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The U.S. Senate has more power than any other institution in the executive branch of the U.S. government. Each senator holds 1% of the power of the President of the United States of America. No other institution in the world has this type of power.

Running for senator, I understand this. I uderstand that the power of a Senator is immense. As such, I understand that my responsibility as a Senator is more than that most other positions. I need to ensure that I speak for my constitutents. I need to understand that my decisions impact more people than myself. I need to understand the far reaching impact of my decisions.

I'm not a politican, but I do understand that right now we don't need politicians who have all the answers. We need politicians who can talk to constituents and find the answers.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do.

Experience is extremely important. I also understand I have never been on a ballot. My experience is unique. I grew up from nothing. My family history is in blue-collar work, farming, logging. I grew up on a farm. I've worked excavation and construction. I've also spent time as an educator, a scholar, and a quantum mathematician. I have a unique understanding of the universe and I understand that experience doesn't just come from public service.

What do you think of the filibuster?

We need the filibuster because the minority voice needs to be heard.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

Ask the question, "Are they fit for office?"

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

Yes. I live by the principle my father taught me; collaboration not compromise.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I am good at math. I would prefer to be a part of committees involved in Tax Code and other issues therein. However, I would take part in any committee and would be involved to the best of my ability. All areas need attention and rigorous attendance.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I'm a mathematician. I would love to be on committees where I can use my skills as a mathematician.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Not particularly. I see myself as a unique brand of politician.

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.

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Footnotes

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Montana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Steve Daines (R)

Tim Sheehy (R)

Representatives

District 1

Ryan Zinke (R)

District 2

Troy Downing (R)

Republican Party (4)