Robyn Driscoll
Robyn Driscoll (b. July 16, 1962) was selected to serve on the Yellowstone County Commission in August 2016. She accepted the offer and resigned from her state Senate position effective August 16, 2016.[1]
Driscoll served in the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 51 from 2005 to 2013. After that, she served the Montana State Senate, representing District 26. She was first elected to the chamber in 2012, and served as Minority Whip from the 2013-2014 session until her resignation from the Senate.
Driscoll was first elected Democratic Party Chair of Montana in 2019. She was elected to subsequent two-year terms in 2021 and 2023. She left office on September 14, 2025.[2][3]
Biography
Driscoll earned her B.A. in history and political science from Rocky Mountain College in 1992. Her professional experience includes working as a community education coordinator at Billings Public Schools, legal instructor at Billings Business College, secretary for the Chief Clerk's Office, and intern for the Montana State Legislature.
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Driscoll served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Judiciary |
| • State Administration |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Driscoll served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education and Cultural Resources |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Driscoll served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications, Vice Chair |
| • Fish, Wildlife, and Parks |
| • Judiciary |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Driscoll served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications, Vice Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Local Government |
Issues
Law enforcement drones
On January 16, 2013, Driscoll introduced SB 150, "an act limiting the use of unmanned aerial vehicles; and prohibiting any governmental entity within the state of Montana owning or utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle with antipersonnel devices."[4] Her bill would have banned the use of evidence obtained using drones in criminal trials, banned state and local agencies from owning or using any drone with "an anti-personnel device," and given anyone who is the victim of illegal government drone use the right to sue for damages. Driscoll's bill was more restrictive than SB 196, a similar bill sponsored by Senator Matthew Rosendale requiring law enforcement agencies to seek warrants for drone use.[5] The Montana State Senate passed Driscoll's SB 150 on February 5 by a margin of 32 to 17. The bill went to the Montana House of Representatives, where it was tabled in committee and not acted on again before the session's end. Rosendale's bill passed both houses and was signed into law.[6][7][8][9]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2016
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016. Incumbent Elsie Arntzen (R) did not seek re-election.
Margie MacDonald defeated Donald Roberts in the Montana State Senate District 26 general election.[10][11]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Margie MacDonald |
50.14% | 7,658 | |
| Republican | Donald Roberts | 49.86% | 7,614 | |
| Total Votes | 15,272 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Margie MacDonald ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 26 Democratic primary.[12][13]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Margie MacDonald (unopposed) | |
Donald Roberts defeated Joshua Kotter and Rodney Garcia in the Montana State Senate District 26 Republican primary.[14][15]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Donald Roberts |
50.46% | 1,147 | |
| Republican | Joshua Kotter | 26.57% | 604 | |
| Republican | Rodney Garcia | 22.97% | 522 | |
| Total Votes | 2,273 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
2012
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2012
Driscoll won election in the 2012 election for Montana State Senate, District 26. Driscoll ran unopposed in the June 5 primary election and defeated Malcolm Long (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[16][17]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robyn Driscoll |
58.7% | 3,679 | |
| Republican | Malcolm Long | 41.3% | 2,592 | |
| Total Votes | 6,271 | |||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Driscoll won election to the Montana House of Representatives. She did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. Troy Boucher ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[18][19]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 51 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Robyn Driscoll (D)
|
1,069 | |||
| Troy Boucher (R) | 844 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Robyn Driscoll won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 51, receiving 1,984 votes.
Driscoll raised $6,794 for her campaign.[20]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 51 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Robyn Driscoll (D)
|
1,984 | |||
| Susan Anderson (R) | 1,398 | |||
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Montana State Legislature was not in session.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Driscoll is married with one daughter and one grandson.[23]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Robyn + Driscoll + Montana + Senate"
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana State Senate
- Montana Senate Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
- Office website
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- Flickr profile
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
Footnotes
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "Yellowstone County Commissioners give notice of intent to appoint Driscoll," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Free Press, "Montana Democrats choose officers ahead of high-stakes 2024 cycle ," July 25, 2023
- ↑ KTVQ TV (Billings, Montana), "Montana Democrats elect new chair at state party convention," September 14, 2025
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Detailed Bill Information," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Detailed Bill Information," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Tenth Amendment Center, "Anti-Drone Bills Pass Virginia House, Montana Senate," February 6, 2013. accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ KXLH, "MT Senate tackles legislation about drones and strip searches," February 6, 2013. accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Open States, "SB 150," accessed July 23, 2013
- ↑ Open States, "SB 196," accessed July 23, 2013
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Legislative Primary Canvass - June 08, 2010," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Driscoll, Robyn," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ Driscoll for Senate, "About Robyn," accessed October 10, 2012 (dead link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lynda Moss (D) |
Montana State Senate District 26 2013–2016 |
Succeeded by N/A |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 51 2004–2013 |
Succeeded by Kelly McCarthy (D) |
