With Election Day only a week away we are publishing what we hope will be some useful information for local voters about local and statewide candidates. We’re listing grades and endorsements for candidates from organizations which align with both the left and the right based on the most recent information detailed on the national Vote Smart website.
In addition, we’re adding our own grade based on whether a candidate responded to our questions regarding state and local issues. The criteria for our grade is simple – if a candidate responded they get an ‘A’, if not they get an ‘F’. We did not send questions to U.S. Senate or House candidates.
NRA = National Rifle Association
MCV = Montana Conservation Voters
ECB = E-City Beat
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Statewide candidates for U.S. Senate
Jon Tester (D) – NRA 33% MCV 92%
Matt Rosendale (R) – NRA 93% MCV 0%
Rick Breckenridge (L) – No records on Vote Smart
Statewide candidates for U.S. House
Greg Gianforte (R) – NRA 93% MCV no record
Kathleen Williams (D) – NRA 13% MCV 100%
Elinor Swanson (L) – No records on Vote Smart
Local candidates for MT Senate SD 11
Tom Jacobson (D) – NRA 13% MCV 67% ECB F
Adam Rosendale (R) – NRA 93% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT Senate SD 12
Carlie Boland (D) – NRA 13% MCV 93% ECB F
Steven Galloway (R) – NRA 87% MCV no record ECB A
Local candidates for MT Senate SD 13
Brian Hoven (R) – NRA 47% MCV 27% ECB F
Bob Moretti (D) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB F
Kevin Leatherbarrow (L) – No records on Vote Smart ECB A
Local candidates for MT House HD 19
Wendy McKamey (R) – NRA 93% MCV 13% ECB A
Lynelle Melton (D) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 20
Fred Anderson (R) – NRA 93% MCV no record ECB A
Keaton Sunchild (D) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 21
Ed Buttrey (R) – NRA 80% MCV 14% ECB A
Leesha Ford (D) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 22
Lola Galloway (R) – NRA 87% MCV no record ECB A
Laura Dever (D) – NRA 0% MCV endorsed ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 23
Brad Hamlett (D) – NRA 33% MCV 40% ECB F
Will Smith (R) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 24
Mike McNamara (R) – NRA 93% MCV no record ECB A
Barbara Bessette (D) – NRA 0% MCV endorsed ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 25
Jeremy Trebas (R) – NRA 93% MCV no record ECB A
Jasmine Krotkov (D) – NRA 93% MCV no record ECB F
Local candidates for MT House HD 26
Casey Schreiner (D) – NRA 13% MCV 67% ECB F
Michael Cooper (R) – NRA 0% MCV no record ECB A
I think it’s important to keep in mind that for the candidates with no prior political record, a 0% rating from the NRA only means that they do not have any key votes or matching public statements on record for the candidate, according to VoteSmart. So a 0% rating for NRA would, in many cases, mean there’s not enough information for candidate to be rated. For a few of the candidates above, I think the 0% rating from the NRA might be misleading.
The VoteSmart NRA ratings are based on candidates responses to 2018 surveys sent to all candidates regardless of previous political experience or whether they have a voting record. If a candidate doesn’t return a survey the NRA gives them a 0%. We’re not sure why any pro Second Amendment candidate would not return a survey. We are listing the most current information according to the Vote Smart website and is not “misleading”. If a voter has a question about the rating they should contact the candidate directly.