WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced three 2024 Spotlight candidates in Montana running to combat MAGA extremism in the legislature. These strong Democratic candidates provide opportunities to protect competitive seats and chip away at entrenched GOP power.
The Spotlight candidates unveiled today are:
- Mark Nicholson (SD-24) is a retired psychiatrist running for the Montana Senate. Mark spent his career helping people manage varying types of mental illnesses so that they could live independently and fully participate in their communities. He believes deeply that everyone deserves care and respect, and this belief drives Mark’s commitment to fight for affordable health care, quality public schools, and reproductive freedom. As a member of the state Senate, Mark will work to protect and expand these rights while also standing up for the environment and tax policies that favor working families instead of wealthy corporations.
- Lindsey Jordan (HD-4) is a licensed therapist who provides crisis intervention and trauma counseling to students. Last year, Lindsey watched as lawmakers mismanaged the state’s Medicaid redetermination process, leaving thousands of her fellow Montanans without any form of coverage. Lindsey is committed to expanding Medicaid to get everyone the care they need, as well as fighting for public school funding to ensure that a quality education is available to all.
- Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (HD-42) is a lifelong Montana resident and proud member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe running for the Montana House. Sidney is a long-time leader in his community who has served in the local sheriff’s department and as a member of the Big Horn County Commission, where he was part of numerous committees, including Tribal Government Relations, Public Safety, and Resource Energy. He’s ready to bring community-minded leadership to the House by flipping his district, expanding Democratic representation, and helping ensure that the rights of all Montanans are protected.
Republicans currently hold narrow supermajorities in both chambers as well as the governorship and have repeatedly used their governing trifecta to undermine abortion rights. The voices of these Spotlight candidates will be instrumental in the fight against Republican power as Democrats work to build a brighter future for their state.
This announcement continues the momentum of the “Summer of the States” campaign that was launched this week to call attention to the critical window to build the infrastructure for Democrats to push past Republican efforts and boost our chances for victory in November. These strong Montana candidates join hundreds of candidates who are mounting inspiring campaigns in every corner of the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The DLCC is proud to Spotlight these powerful Democratic candidates who are on the frontlines of chipping away at the Republican supermajorities in Montana and building defenses against MAGA extremism. As the party committee charged with setting the national agenda for state legislatures, growing Democratic power seat by seat is essential to gradually altering the balance of power in the states. We’re thrilled to shine a light on these candidates who are putting in the work to build Democratic power as Montana Republicans continue to attack fundamental freedoms. As the DLCC continues our momentum from the launch of the ‘Summer of the States’ campaign this week, we’re committed to building power across every corner of the country.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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