Monica Tranel

Born

Raised

Married

Children

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Education

<h4>Monica Tranel was raised with her nine brothers and sisters on a ranch in eastern Montana, and she always had a job to do: feeding pigs, stacking hay, fixing fences.</h4>The strong work ethic Monica learned on the ranch led her to become a world-class rower, competing in two Olympics and winning a World Championship Gold for the United States Women’s Rowing Team - the first U.S. Women’s eight to win gold at 2000 meters.Monica worked her way through college and law school. Her career has been in Montana, working for local business owners, working families, and Montana ranchers.<h4>As an attorney, she has taken on out-of-state billionaires and corporate monopolies to stop them from ripping off Montanans.</h4>Monica took Northwestern all the way to the state supreme court, and won, saving rate payers $10 million dollars. She stopped a New York Hedge fund from cheating Montana small businesses, and beat out-of-state corporation’s attempts to steal land from local ranchers.Corporations buy politicians like Ryan Zinke to drive up their profits, and hardworking Montanans are paying for it. We can bring rising costs down by cleaning up Congress.<h4>Monica will hold those who want to profit off the backs of everyday Montanans accountable so we can focus on bringing down costs for everyone.</h4>She will work to create an economic environment where our local and small businesses can thrive, and provide good paying jobs to folks who want to build families here and contribute to our economy year-round. Montana has some of the best and most unique natural resources in the world, and can lead the energy transition by developing our tremendous potential.<h4>We need a leader for the people of Montana - no more rotten politicians who make the whole barrel bad just by being in it.</h4>Monica Tranel continues her statewide practice, serving the people of Montana, and enjoys Montana’s outdoor spaces with her husband and three daughters.

<h3>I’m running for Congress to represent the missing middle — the people who feel invisible, whose voices are not heard, who are not represented in the current political divide.&nbsp;</h3>Our country needs to grow the middle class and invest in our communities so our children can afford to live in this beautiful place called Montana — the only place I call home. We need to protect our public lands, our children’s and grandchildren’s inheritance, so they can use and enjoy the majestic beauty of our stateFairness: Everyone should have a fair chance to work and find a place to live they can afford. Everyone must pay their fair share for providing the community and public benefits we all prosper from.&nbsp;Freedom: Every person should have the freedom to choose how they live their life, and the privacy to make decisions about whether they have children, who they love, and how they live their lives.Accountability: Montana is my only home—the home that I grew up in, worked for my entire life, and the place where I am raising my family.&nbsp;Our elected officials, and those who benefit from Montana’s resources, must be held accountable to the people of Montana.&nbsp;&nbsp;Politicians who serve the financial interests of the few make America less free, less secure and less stable. Working together, we can chart a different course for Montana—one that is full of opportunity for all of us, protects our privacy and freedom, and keeps our communities secure, safe, and stable.The current Congress is the most chaotic and least productive in history. It sat on his hands and squabbled while millions of Americans were trying to put a roof over their heads. It’s time to put Congress back to work again, tackling the issues that affect real people in our everyday lives.Read more on where I stand by clicking on the links below:

<h2>China is buying up our land and cheating our ranchers, and Ryan Zinke is letting them do it.</h2>

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

MONICA TRANEL ON THE ISSUES

<h4>Economies that work for families</h4><h5>Housing</h5>Too many people, especially young families, trying to find a home to rent or buy are being priced out of Montana. Congress can help Montana families afford a place to live by providing more financing for housing construction, tax credits to help young families buy homes, and by changing the tax code to discourage housing speculation.Having traveled tens of thousands of miles in my minivan, and connected with Montanans in all 16 counties of this western District, the issue people want solved is housing, housing and housing. Small businesses, hospitals, schools, and our law enforcement can’t hire employees because there is no available housing. For seniors, there are limited or no options for nursing homes in Montana. Our young people cannot find a place to rent, let alone buy.Rising costs are the largest issue affecting our state. People in every corner of the district have thoughtful, innovative ideas to address the challenges we’re facing. I will continue working to bring people together to implement at scale the solutions that are working and find common threads in what is needed regionally. I will campaign by listening and in Congress I will govern by listening first.<h5>health</h5>Nobody should be forced to choose between healthcare and putting food on the table. The Affordable Care Act gave millions of Americans health insurance through their employers, from Medicare and Medicaid, and through the insurance marketplace. Ryan Zinke looked on as over 130,000 Montanans lost Medicaid coverage this past year and has repeatedly voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would end health care for many more.That’s not right. Congress needs to protect what we have and do more to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare, including strengthening the ability of Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug prices and guaranteeing that hundreds of thousands of Montanans—and millions of Americans—who rely on these programs get the coverage they are entitled to and the protections they deserve.<h5>Child care</h5>As the mother of three daughters, I live the challenge of working and raising kids. Families in Montana face the impossible dilemma of having to work but not being able to find affordable child care. Many Montanans live in childcare deserts. In rural areas, more than a quarter of the families who need child care can’t find it. Congress must continue to support child care for working families, and particularly to extend the child tax credit, which lifted 3.4 million children out of poverty. The credit should be made fully refundable, so that low income families can benefit from it just like everyone else.<h5>Public schools</h5>A robust public education, starting early in life, is the backbone of Democracy and is a ladder for individuals to pursue lifelong opportunities. But&nbsp;Montana and the country are behind in early childhood education. Among 36 industrialized countries, the United States is the only one to not provide early education programs to all 4-year-olds. I support efforts to create high-quality early childhood programs to secure the economic future and well-being of Montana’s children.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our public schools, and the people who work and teach there, must be fully supported and earn the wages they deserve. The best reforms support local innovation and control, greatly increase teacher pay, and reverse the defunding of public schools, especially in rural areas.<h5>Social Security and Retirement</h5>From the first dollar we earn, we pay into social security. In retirement, Montanans rely on Social Security and Medicare to help them meet everyday needs, and those needs are becoming more costly to meet, particularly for retirees who need long term health care at home or in assisted living places or nursing homes. Americans work hard to pay for these bedrock programs and the benefits they provide. Ryan Zinke voted to raise the retirement age, and to cut Medicare for seniors by turning it into a voucher program that would force them to pay more out of pocket.&nbsp; I strongly disagree. We need to honor our end of the agreement, protect benefits,and make sure that Social Security and Medicare are sustainably financed with fair and adequate taxation.<h4>Strong communities</h4><h5>Tribal Sovereignty</h5>I support legislation to codify the federal government’s obligations to fulfill its treaty obligations with Tribal Nations. I support implementing laws to give Native Americans meaningful access to vote. I will work to implement programs to protect Indigenous women from violence. I will work to build out reliable internet access across Tribal Nations and rural areas in our state.&nbsp;Tribal Nations have been leaders in protecting our environment, protecting instream water flow and fisheries. Here in Montana, we saw that leadership turn into action with the return of the Bison Range to the CSKT Nation —a transfer that Ryan Zinke opposed and worked to defeat. &nbsp; Zinke also has voted to cut social security, defund law enforcement, force people to work longer before retiring, and to slash healthcare programs, disproportionately harming Native American communities.&nbsp;In contrast, I will work with our Tribal Nations to ensure that the programs needed to support our communities are put in place.&nbsp;For example, in May 2022, the Interior Department released a report detailing the reason and legacy of the federal government policies that supported Federal Indian boarding schools for 150 years, from 1819 to 1969.&nbsp;I&nbsp; join in the report’s recommendations that allow for reburial (or marking) of the remains of Indian children, support funding for Native language revitalization, and creating a federal memorial for those whose lives were unforgivably harmed and destroyed from federal policies.<h5>Infrastructure</h5>Infrastructure investments— roads, bridges, schools, airports, hospitals, broadband, train service, local transportation—make our communities safer, more productive, and more liveable. They are essential to a healthy economy in which everyone can prosper. Infrastructure is a basic component of addressing the housing crisis. For many years, our infrastructure was allowed to deteriorate, but the Democratic 2020-2021 Congress passed a landmark infrastructure bill that begins to turn that deterioration around. That bill has benefited our Congressional district by funding investments in sewer and septic systems in Kalispell and Dillon and high-speed internet in Thompson Falls, improving the Missoula and Glacier airports, and continuing roadwork in Bozeman.&nbsp;Ryan Zinke opposed this legislation that made these improvements possible. Even worse, since his opposition, he has been going around the district taking credit for projects he opposed. It’s essential that we have someone in Washington who will champion Montana’s interests so that we maintain, improve, and innovate our infrastructure. I will be that champion for Montana.<h5>Public Lands</h5>Montana’s public lands provide us with a wealth of benefits. They grant us the opportunity to camp, fish, float, hunt, ski, snowmobile, and bike in stunning public spaces. They protect air and water quality, scenic vistas, and wildlife habitat. Their commercial use for mining, logging, livestock grazing and outfitting provide us with economic opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;I support the approach to public lands management embodied in the Headwaters Legacy Act and the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, that brought ranchers, loggers, recreationists, business owners, and conservationists together to chart a path forward for Montana’s resources. These are examples of neighbors working to achieve a common goal, regardless of differences and politics. In Congress I will champion these acts, and others like them.Public lands are just that - they belong to us, the people. I will work to ensure that we have access to our public lands, that they remain available and accessible to us, the people, and that wealthy out-of-state corporate interests are not able to trade out or close off our public lands, turning Montana into their own personal playground for the rich.<h5>forestry</h5>Sustainable forest management and wood manufacturing is essential to all the above community elements. Addressing the increasing risk of large wildfires is critical to watershed protection. The use of wood in place of steel, concrete and other energy intensive materials helps conserve energy and the use of wood residuals from harvests and manufacturing to produce renewable, firm heat and power helps balance wind and solar energy, like in the Flathead Valley creates synergy for all of these community values.It protects our tourism and recreation industries, it helps landowners, whether Tribal, family forests, farms and ranches, state and federal lands. Forests are important natural infrastructure, providing habitat and carbon capture and storage. Monica supports the investments provided by the bipartisan infrastructure bill which invested in our forests and wood manufacturing base, which her opponent opposed. She knows we need to continue these investments. The closures of Pyramid and Roseburg manufacturing facilities must be replaced so we can afford to maintain and restore our forests and the communities and businesses that rely on them.<h5>Tourism and Recreation</h5>Montana’s western district is bounded by Glacier National Park on the north end and Yellowstone National Park on the south, with many state and national treasures in between. People come to Montana from all over the world to ski, fish, hunt, watch wildlife, sightsee, attend cultural events, float rivers, ride horses into the backcountry and so much more.These visitors bring <a href="https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/tourism-to-glacier-national-park-contributes-548m-to-local-economy.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">investment and opportunity</a> to our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and millions in revenue to communities in western Montana. But they also impact the resources that sustain tourism. We need to manage our public resources, and particularly our national parks, so all of us, Montanans and visitors from out of state, can continue to enjoy their wonders for generations to come.<h5>Family farms and ranches</h5>Montana’s small businesses, farmers and ranchers struggle to compete in a world of big national and multinational corporations that grow their profits by consolidation and dictating prices.&nbsp;From 2009 to 2022, corporate ownership of farmland tripled, and the property values increased from $2 billion to $14 billion.&nbsp;If we do not act, another 400 million acres of family farms will be bought up by corporate interests and Wall Street investors.Congress can and should protect rural family farms in Montana. I support the Farmland for Farmers Act, which will let family farms stay in the family. I will also work on the Farm Bill, which has been neglected in the current Congress.Montana farmers and ranchers should be protected from unfair foreign competition by requiring that imported meat and food be clearly labeled with its country of origin and not be allowed to be labeled as a “product of the United States” after minimal processing. Consumers should be informed about where their food is coming from. I will champion these bills to make sure they become law of the land.In contrast, Ryan Zinke voted to eliminate country of origin labeling requirements, hurting Montana ranchers and helping foreign competitors in China or South America.<h5>Water and Energy</h5>Montana is rich in natural resources, and can and should lead the energy transition that is underway and that can benefit Montana if we choose. Hotter summers, increased droughts, reduced snowpack, longer wildfire seasons and more wildfire smoke place our economy at risk. We must be strategic to develop the energy resilience, freedom, and security in our communities that will define our economy in the next 20 years.&nbsp; Western Montana has the resources and infrastructure to lead this economic growth. I have worked on water issues and energy producers throughout my professional career. My experience advocating for farmers, ranchers, energy producers and everyday Montanans makes me a powerful voice for Montana in Congress, and a leader in water and energy policy. As we move forward, we need to assist Montana communities whose economies will be impacted by drought, and the energy transition. We can secure a livable future for all by investing in the energy transition and making sure Montana’s resources benefit Montanans.<h4>Growing the middle class</h4><h5>Fair Taxation and Inclusive Growth</h5>Over the past four decades, American economic growth has been robust but unfortunately, not inclusive: while wealthy Americans have seen their wealth and incomes soar, the economic fortunes of their low -and moderate-income neighbors have stagnated. At the same time, wealthy Americans have seen their taxes reduced in the name of trickle down economics. Income inequality has exploded. The 2017 tax bill passed by the Republican Congress led to dozens of corporations and wealthy individuals paying next to no taxes, leaving hard working families with the bill. Not to mention the tax cuts afforded to the ultra-rich. We need to update our tax code, and allow the unfair provisions of the 2017 tax bill to expire, so that everyone pays their fair share, working families get a break, and we have the resources we need to fund critical priorities.<h5>Higher Education and Opportunity</h5>Montana’s universities, community colleges and trade schools provide the education essential to those who wish to develop professional careers, acquire vocational skills or transition into the new jobs in a rapidly changing economy. But in Montana and across the country, states have reduced their support for trade schools and for higher education, and students have struggled financially to stay in school. Ensuring Montanans have access to career-ready programming is essential and worth funding. These programs will also help address our housing crisis. I support trade programs especially starting in high school, community colleges, and need-based scholarships for students.<h5>Labor Unions and Labor Law Reform</h5>It is not an accident that the growth of inequality and the decline of union power have gone hand in hand. Unions brought us living wages, safe working conditions, and dignity and respect in the workplace. In the 1950s, 1 out of every 3 workers belonged to a union, and Montana was a proud union state. Over time, the labor laws that promote and protect union organization have been weakened, and despite some recent advances, union representation has been drastically reduced. Today, only 10% of workers belong to a union, people are not always paid living wages, and the new economy does not give a pathway for workers to advance in their careers or enjoy a secure future. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220608171457/https:/aflcio.org/tags/pro-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">I support comprehensive labor law legislation like the PRO Act, t</a>o strengthen the ability of unions to organize workers across the economy and negotiate fair terms of employment.<h5>Resisting Corporate Expansion and Power</h5>Over much of our history, the American economy experienced unbridled growth of large corporations, consolidation of corporate rivals, and a dangerous reduction in competition in the marketplace. We see this today in the growth of big box stores and on-line sellers in retail markets, along with the shuttering of small, local downtown businesses. This growth of corporate power threatens the viability and diversity of local businesses and creates an economy that increasingly serves the interests of stockholders rather than consumers. In Montana, for example, we see farmers who are not allowed to repair their own equipment. They should have that right.Those who cause harm must be held accountable. But, there are efforts underway in state legislatures to protect corporations from legal liability by imposing mandatory arbitration clauses, waiving the Seventh Amendment right to a jury in civil actions, limiting or ending class actions, closing the federal courts to certain claims, and capping damages, which interferes with Americans’ access to justice.&nbsp;As an advocate for small business and every day Montanans, I know all too well that having a fair fight is many times as important, if not more important, than the final outcome. Having a fair hearing makes sure that all evidence is heard and the correct law is considered. I support the FAIR Act, which ends forced arbitration and protects our constitutional freedom to a trial by jury. I support federal policies that limit the expansion of corporate power and encourage healthy business competition

Everyone should have a fair chance to work and find a place to live they can afford. Everyone must pay their fair share for providing the community and public benefits we all prosper from.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

FAIRNESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

<h5>Reducing national debt and ensuring transparent, accountable government</h5>The national debt must be reduced and we must develop a smart fiscal policy that includes taking care of our veterans, children, the elderly, and investing in our future. Responsible fiscal policy means that we generate tax income from the wealthiest Americans and corporations and surgically cut government waste where it exists.<h5>Election Security and Voting Rights</h5>2020 saw one the highest levels of voter participation in a presidential election since 1900. We should be celebrating that high turnout, regardless of the electoral result. But public trust of elections has been deliberately and falsely undermined, culminating in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. At no other time in our history has an outgoing President incited physical violence to stop the peaceful transfer of power and several extreme state legislatures enacted&nbsp; laws that will make it harder for Americans to vote. That’s not right. To protect American’s right to vote, we need federal legislation to ensure that regardless of what state they live in, every eligible voter can cast their ballot without interference.<h5>Civility and Bipartisanship</h5>Rarely in our history has our politics been as divisive and as lacking in civility as today. Montanans I have talked with are alarmed that the middle ground has disappeared; that members of Congress trade insults rather than working together, replace decorum with chaos, and are constantly deadlocked. In contrast, I am pledged to holding our elected officials accountable, and while I will call out the ways their votes and actions hurt Montana, I will work respectfully with everyone, regardless of party, to make sure that necessary work gets done to help Montana.<h5>Transparent government</h5>If we want to secure our democracy, and make sure that elected leaders represent Americanss’ best interests, we need to get money out of politics. Since the 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United ruling, the prevalence of misinformation and money has grown. In order to make sure that people’s voices are being heard over the interests of corporations, we need to allow everyone’s voice to be heard and get money out of politics.We also need policies that make it impossible for politicians to enrich themselves with the public decisions they make. I support proposals to ban anyone from Congress from actively trading stocks and I support HR 336, which requires everyone in Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children to put their stocks in a qualified blind trust. Until that becomes the law of the land, I pledge to voluntarily place my and my families’ assets in a&nbsp; qualified blind trust once elected, as I expect everyone to do. I challenge Ryan Zinke to do the same so that every voter knows that we work for them first.

Montana is my only home—the home that I grew up in, worked for my entire life, and the place where I am raising my family.&nbsp;Our elected officials, and those who benefit from Montana’s resources, must be held accountable to the people of Montana.

ACCOUNTABILITY

<h5>Privacy and Individual Rights</h5>In 2022, the Supreme Court reversed 50-year-old precedent, overturning Roe v. Wade. There is nothing compassionate about an extremist position where a minority of states can deny life-saving health care to women, many of whom are mothers who desire more children but find themselves in a life-threatening situation.&nbsp;Women with wanted pregnancies are being subjected to state laws that cause them to carry non-viable fetuses, threaten their doctors with jail, and deny women abortions and medical care in emergency rooms, even when their lives are at risk.This extremist movement is now working to deny access to birth control and assisted reproductive technology such as IVF, and to prevent doctors in states that legalize abortion the ability to prescribe medicine to end pregnancies.Ryan Zinke has voted repeatedly to restrict abortion access and supports letting states ban abortion without exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother, taking away our freedom and privacy. In stark contrast, I will never let the government interfere with our most basic, fundamental freedom to make the private decisions about who we love, whether we have a family, and how we live.<h5>National Security and Military</h5>As an Olympian, I experienced life in the Olympic Village, and share the ideals advanced by Pierre de Coubertin when he founded the modern Olympic Games to advance the ideal of peace among nations. The Olympic rings combine the five inhabited continents and are a symbol of peace and international understanding. That ideal model is meant to end wars and conflicts.I will be the first female Olympian ever to serve in the United States Congress, and with that perspective, I will champion America’s leadership in the world through diplomacy, and support our investment in building relationships with our global partners to ensure peaceful relationships wherever possible. Our country cannot lead the world by retreating from our leadership role in it. In addition to diplomacy, I support our place in NATO and working with our partners to protect Democracy and contain authoritarian governments that seek to impose their will on peaceful countries and peoples. In Congress, I will invest in our military and invest in our State Department to ensure that diplomacy and Democracy thrive.<h5>Veterans</h5>All those who served our country deserve our support, starting with funding for health care, robust job training programs, access to higher education, and affordable housing.Our veterans need a champion in Congress who will provide continued support to veterans who were exposed to burn pits by building on the protections of the PACT Act. I will support the work that Senator Tester has done and carry legislation in the House to ensure that our veterans, especially our Montana vets, are getting the benefits and protections they earned.And I will never vote to decimate veterans healthcare, as Ryan Zinke did when he voted for an extreme plan that could cut up to 30 million veteran outpatient healthcare visits nationwide and gut the VA.<h5>Immigration and Border Security</h5>The crisis along the U.S.- Mexico border can be resolved by thoughtful, bipartisan efforts and without resorting to name-calling and fear-mongering. We have a 3 million case backlog and 1.6 million asylum seekers waiting for hearings. We need more asylum officers and more immigration judges to sort out who can stay and who must leave. Our immigration system must be updated to bring in lawful immigrants who are able to provide critical contributions to our construction, agriculture, health care, elder care, child care, and technology sectors.In 1989, President Ronald Reagan said that “We lead the world because unique among nations, we draw our people, our strength from every country and every corner of the world” Because the United States attracts new ideas and new people who fled persecution we are able to be a nation forever young and always on the next frontier. Our immigration laws are woefully outdated. Using common sense and President Reagan’s optimism, we can bring our immigration laws into the modern era.&nbsp;The Republican leadership wrote their ideal law with all of their ideal solutions to this problem. Rather than support this Republican written bill, Ryan Zinke is choosing to hold Americans hostage, harming western Montana by refusing to stop the influx of fentanyl and secure the border so he can play political games. It’s time to make sure serious people are in charge because politics cannot be about who is winning or losing when the only winner has to be the American people.<h5>Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Addiction</h5>In the past three years, fentanyl apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border increased over 800%. We must support the continued research and manufacturing of detection technology so that our border patrol has the means to stay ahead of the cartels and traffickers. Since the chemical precursors of fentanyl are produced in China before being sent to Mexico, in the past year, the administration has used diplomacy to have the Chinese government crackdown on fentanyl trafficking at home. These efforts need to continue with funding, innovation, and support. Fentanyl, unfortunately, is not the only problem. Methamphetamine addiction is hurting our communities, neighbors, and families here in Montana. It is essential to give law enforcement the tools they need to protect the community.&nbsp; In dealing with drug trafficking, we must also invest in measures that stop the demand.&nbsp; Montana, like many rural states, has hundreds of miles between addiction centers, putting up barriers for those who want to find help. The federal government needs to increase funding for building more addiction centers and guarantee that health insurance policies cover rehabilitation and recovery.

Every person should have the freedom to choose how they live their life, and the privacy to make decisions about whether they have children, who they love, and how they live their lives.

FREEDOM AND SECURITY

Issue 4

<h3>Donate now to elect Monica to Congress.</h3>

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"Decisions"

Pyramid Mountain Lumber is closing. Sheriff deputies are living in campers. Teachers share rooms in houses. Seniors can't find nursing homes – they have nowhere to go.&nbsp; Families in trailer parks are being evicted from the only homes they’ve known. Each of these stories is due to the lack of housing in our state that is affecting hard working Montanans everywhere.&nbsp; Meanwhile, <a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/apps/economic-profile-system/30073+30035+30029+30053+30089+30047+30063+30061+30077+30039+30081+30001+30023+30093+30057+30031" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">nearly half</a> the houses in Granite and Madison county are vacant. Whitefish has at least 15% of its housing used as short-term rentals. Montana’s families are being priced out of Montana. The median price for a house in Gallatin County is $<a href="https://www.redfin.com/county/1730/MT/Gallatin-County/housing-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">725k</a>, in Flathead County it’s <a href="https://www.redfin.com/county/1730/MT/Gallatin-County/housing-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$630k</a>. That doesn’t work when you’re a teacher making <a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$35k a year</a>. Our small business owners, lumber mills, and schools can’t find employees and our workers – electricians, teachers, firefighters, nurses, carpenters, and sheriff deputies – can’t find a place to live. Even when small businesses pay good wages and include insurance, and workers make good money - $25/hour and up to $80,000 a year – people either can’t even find a place that is available, or what is available is unaffordable.&nbsp; The growth that our state has experienced over the last few years is unprecedented. While city and county officials are grappling with implementing real solutions, working with public and private housing groups, our elected representatives in Helena and Washington have put the interests of wealthy out-of-state corporations and the profits of hedge funds first, while forcing working Montanans to pay the price.

"Land Deal"

"Balloon"

<h2>As Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke tried to cash in by selling off Montana’s land to international developers.</h2>

To effectively address housing, we must accurately assess the issue and have reliable data about what is causing the crisis on both the demand and the supply side. We must hold bad actors accountable to ensure that the demand side of the problem is alleviated by bringing profit seeking out of state corporate entities to account. We can incentivize supply of affordable homes through right-sizing programs and ensuring that our federal government is an effective and responsive partner to our local and county champions of housing in Montana. Achieving equitable housing across Montana will require building coalitions from all walks of life. There are lots of good people coming together with good ideas. I am committed to working with everyone in Montana to address and solve this issue for Montanans. Finally, houses in Montana should be homes for Montanans to sleep, eat, live, raise their children, grow a garden, chat with a neighbor about the other neighbors, and call home. Along with so many of my neighbors, family, and friends from Montana, I am fortunate to have a home in Montana, and I want my daughters – and all our children – to have that opportunity as well.

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All Across Montana's 1st Congressional District

Missoula

Kalispel

WHITEFISH

Having traveled tens of thousands of miles in my minivan, and connected with Montanans in all 16 counties of this western District and both Tribal Nations, the immediate issue we need to solve is housing. The <a href="https://www.slowboring.com/p/your-best-ideas-on-increasing-housing?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">federal government</a> is deeply involved in housing finance along multiple dimensions. Taking the lessons from the people of western Montana with me, I will be a partner at the federal level to continue and scale the work that is happening now at the local and county levels, in both the public and private sectors:<ol><li>Start with an assessment of the housing supply and demand;</li><li>Hold bad actors accountable where it is decreasing supply and increasing prices; and</li><li>Make building, renting, or owning a house more affordable.</li></ol>To correct the high price of housing across western Montana, there must be a correct assessment of the problem. Any starting point recognizes the <a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/2023HE-Amenity-Report-R3b-LOWRES.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ongoing</a> creative work in our communities to address the challenges we face in housing, infrastructure, fiscal policy, and disaster preparation. But our local communities need federal partners willing to address the problem with common sense solutions.There is not a one-size fits-all solution to the housing crisis, but an important step is to hold bad actors accountable. We must crack down on out-of-state investors using houses to make money, rather than as a place for people to live in and call home. We see this in the increase of short-term rentals across Montana, private equity purchases of nursing homes and trailer parks, pushing out current residents and driving up prices; and the corporate purchases of Montana lands that end up closing off public access to public lands.To address affordability we need to loosen supply by ensuring that houses are treated as homes where people who live in a community go to sleep and eat and play, not as investment vehicles for foreign and out-of-state profiteers to turn a fast buck. On the other side, solutions include redefining area median income to allow local flexibility, allowing mortgage assumptions to offset high interest rates, fully funding existing programs that give rent relief and support first time homebuyers, and using tax credits to offset high land and labor costs so more housing can come online that can be attained by working families. In addition, the federal government should work with local and county governments to pursue common sense building regulations that address transport, infrastructure, and zoning.In implementing a plan to address the housing crisis in Montana, I will bring people together to implement at scale the solutions that are working and find common threads in what is needed regionally. In Congress, I will represent our home – Montana – and I plan to start by listening.Let’s get to work.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/d216f3f8-76f4-4cda-9d52-358dbdf62e5f/d216f3f8-76f4-4cda-9d52-358dbdf62e5f.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C382%2C160&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="25" variant="base"> Monica Tranel Candidate for Montana’s 1st Congressional District

Good policy depends on good information. I have gathered information through listening to Montanans, including public and private interest groups, and those who have been marginalized. I commit to continuing listening, and will govern as I am campaigning, by listening first.&nbsp;<ol><li>To start, we need to <a href="https://fas.org/publication/bps-building-permits-software-tool/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">update the data</a> on permitting for an accurate assessment of supply and demand. The U.S. Census Bureau should develop a uniform software tool for building permit data that would make the U.S. Census Bureau’s Building Permit Survey (BPS) more reliable and consistent across the country. Local leaders need to know how changes in land-use reform are affecting the housing market and a unified database would help state and local governments identify which reforms are working and which are not.</li></ol>We must also ensure that housing data is easily accessible and available for all private and public actors. In Madison and Granite counties, almost half of existing homes are <a href="https://headwaterseconomics.org/apps/economic-profile-system/30073+30035+30029+30053+30089+30047+30063+30061+30077+30039+30081+30001+30023+30093+30057+30031" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">listed as vacant</a>, meaning that they are seasonal homes that sit empty for most of the year, but are not listed for sale.

Click here to read Monica Tranel's full, detailed housing plan for Montana

<h2>Ryan Zinke would make a fortune, while Montanans pay more for housing.</h2>

III.	AFFORDABILITY – Loosen the supply

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I. ASSESSMENT - Truly understand the problem

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Houses must be treated as homes where people who live in a community go to sleep and eat and play, not as investment vehicles for foreign and out-of-state profiteers to turn a fast buck. Out-of-state hedge funds, land speculators, and corporate landlords have made housing more expensive in Montana, and it's time we hold them accountable for their actions. Everyone needs to play by the rules, and be held accountable if they don’t.<ol><li>Ban Hedge Funds from Buying Homes and Crack Down on Land Speculators and Foreign Investors We need to eliminate the incentives that push private equity firms into buying nursing homes and mobile home parks and sucking the money out of them or razing them to the ground and selling off lots at high prices.<ol><li>Congress should structure our tax code to discourage corporate ownership of multiple homes or housing units that are held as investment vehicles rather than as homes for people who live and work in our communities. We must level the playing field for working people and make sure everyone plays by the rules. </li><li>We also need to clamp down on foreign <a href="https://www.tester.senate.gov/newsroom/news-coverage/bloomberg-montana-senator-calls-for-ban-on-chinese-land-purchases-following-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">adversaries</a> buying up farmland and water rights in Montana. This not only takes land away from prospective Montana land owners, but also increases concerns around our national security.</li></ol></li><li>Stop Corporate Landlords From Price Gouging MontanansFrom hidden junk fees to collusion around when and how much to hike up rents, corporate landlords have gouged Montanans on rent for too long. These practices are pricing Montanans out of the communities they call home, and it's time we regulated this.<ol><li>Currently, it’s too easy for corporate landlords to collude in setting high rents, whether by using algorithms that alters pricing unilaterally in a market, or by setting rent at levels designed to maximize profit driving up rent for everyone at the same time. By using an algorithm to set pricing, corporate landlords are able to create a monopoly environment, without creating the perception that there is monopoly. These algorithms collect real time market information, and offer suggestions to corporate landlords on when, and how to raise rents, based on other market information. Coordination of information regarding pricing and supply of housing needs to be addressed. </li><li>Renters in Montana are also faced with increasing application fees. Not only are these fees opaque in what they are actually covering, they’re constantly increasing with no obvious benefit. With the current market, renters are paying multiple application fees just to be told they aren’t allowed to live somewhere. This adds up. Streamlining and lowering barriers to entry into housing is a necessary step.</li></ol></li><li>Protect Our Mobile Home OwnersPeople living in trailer parks from Columbia Falls to Bozeman are getting short notice eviction letters, meaning they have to move out of the place they’ve called home for years, or decades – with no time to figure out where they’ll go, what will happen to their kids in school, and how their jobs will be affected. This is a result of private equity entities deciding they’ll change the rules, without notice or participation from the people who live in these trailer parks, to make more money. <ol><li>Trailers and other manufactured homes are an important piece of the housing picture that is critical to growing the supply of housing in our state. As the primary regulator of manufactured homes, the federal government is tasked with protecting mobile home owners. One small step is to remove the <a href="https://fas.org/publication/manufactured-home-chassis-requirement/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">permanent chassis requirement</a> for manufactured homes. </li><li>Congress should also reduce regulatory barriers that limit the construction of new <a href="https://www.slowboring.com/p/how-to-unleash-a-trailer-home-boom?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">manufactured homes</a>.</li></ol></li><li>Care for our SeniorsOur seniors in western Montana are telling me they have nowhere to go as they get older. They’ve spent their entire lives in a community and now they’re forced to move, even out of state, because they either can’t afford a bed in a nursing home, or there are none to be found. We need to make sure our elders remain in our communities, the place they call home, and the home that needs their wisdom and experience.<ol><li>One way we can do this is by requiring Medicare and Medicaid to provide adequate reimbursement for long term care. Our seniors have spent their lives paying into these programs, and we need to make sure they’re able to use them for what they need. </li><li>We also need to hold nursing homeowners accountable for quality. Any entities getting Medicare or Medicaid funding should be held to high standards of care for seniors to ensure that residents have high-quality and safe places to live. </li><li>Congress needs to incentivize the building of more Senior Care homes through tax credits, community grants, and more.</li></ol></li><li>Take Stock– own our past, move forward togetherIn 1887, two years before Montana became a state, Congress passed the Dawes Act, that became the General Allotment Act, making much of Native American Tribal land that had been reserved to the tribes available for private ownership. Today, tribes are working to purchase the land within the boundaries of their reserved lands. The federal government can partner with the Tribes to facilitate this process. Recognizing, owning, and honoring our past will allow us to face the future together.</li></ol>

MONICA TRANEL FOR CONGRESS

US Representative Sharice Davids, member of the Ho-Chunk Nation

Montana State Representative Dave Fern (HD 5)

Montana State Representative Frank Smith (HD 31)

Montana State Representative Emma Kerr-Carpenter (HD 49)

Montana State Representative Ed Stafman (HD 62)

Montana State Representative Eric Matthews (HD 66)

Montana State Representative Jennifer Lynch (HD 73)

Montana State Representative Laura Smith (HD 79)

Montana State Representative Jill Cohenour (HD 84)

Montana State Representative Katie Sullivan (HD 89)

Montana State Representative Marilyn Marler (HD 90)

Montana State Representative Connie Keogh (HD 91)

Montana State Representative Tom France (HD 94)

Montana State Representative Jonathan Karlen (HD 96)

Montana State Representative Bob Carter (HD 98)

Montana State Representative Mark Thane (HD 99)

Montana State Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers (SD 32)

Montana State Senator Susan Webber (SD 8)

Montana State Senator Mike Fox (SD 16)

Montana State Senator Ryan Lynch (SD 37)

Montana State Senator Edie McClafferty (SD 38)

Montana State Senator Mary Ann Dunwell (SD 42)

Montana State Senator Shannon O’Brien (SD 46)

Montana State Representative Donovan Hawk (HD76)

Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnik

Missoula County Commissioner Juanita Vero

Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown

Missoula City Councilor Amber Sherill

Missoula City Councilor Gwen Jones

CSKT Tribal Council Vice Chair Thomas McDonald

CSKT Tribal Council Member Carole Lankford

CSKT Tribal Council Member and Treasurer James Steele

Elected Officials

Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer

Former Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau

Former Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Keenan

Former President of the Montana State Senate Fred Van Valkenburg

Former Montana State Senate Minority Leader Steve Doherty

Former Montana State Senator Diane Sands

Former Montana State Senator Dick Barrett

Former Montana State Senator Bryce Bennett

Former Montana State Senator Dan Weinberg

Former Montana State Representative Mike Jopek

Former Missoula Mayor Mike Kadas

Former Elected Leaders

Helen Weems

Judith Heilman

Evan Barrett

Dayna Swanson

Al Smith

Mary Stranahan

Shane Doyle

Lucy Beighle

Amy Cilimburg

Jim Messina

Martha Newell

Terryl Matt

Jeff Smith

Melodee Hanes

Citizen Leaders

United Rural Democrats&nbsp;

Elect Democratic Women

Montana Federation of Public Employees

Voter Protection Project

EMILY's List

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund

Square One

NewDem Action Fund

Reproductive Freedom For All

American Association of Justice PAC

Tri-State Maxed Out Women PAC

National Organization for Women PAC

American College of Emergency Physicians PAC

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

American Society of Anesthesiologists PAC

American Federation of Government Employees

Jewish Democratic Council of America

JStreet

Northern Rockies Central Labor Council&nbsp;

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"Inside"

<h2>Ryan Zinke tried to use his power as Interior Secretary to sell off Montana open space for his own financial gain.</h2>

<h2>Now, Ryan Zinke is buying up properties across Montana and jacking up the rent.</h2><h2>He’s renting one of his properties for $16,000 a month on AirBnB!</h2><h2>Housing profiteers like Ryan Zinke are the reason it’s so expensive to live in Montana.</h2><h2>Monica Tranel will work to stop it.</h2>

<h2>Monica Tranel has been driving her minivan across the entire state of Montana, meeting voters in their own hometowns to hear their concerns.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/872b9167-a9f4-4146-92dd-1355841c7f6a/872b9167-a9f4-4146-92dd-1355841c7f6a.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1200%2C300&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Miles and counting..." align="center" alignwidth="25" variant="base">Miles and counting...<h3>Click on any of the Green Bubbles on the map below to see upcoming &amp; past events!</h3>

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- Monica Tranel Candidate for Congress

Latest Campaign Updates

MISSOULA, MT —&nbsp;Today, Monica Tranel announced a district-wide “Bringing it Home” GOTV tour as the final push to meet with voters face-to-face and encourage early voting and participation on Election Day.&nbsp;Tranel plans to travel to all 16 counties and two tribal nations in MT-01. The tour, which kicks off tomorrow in Missoula, will include meet and greets, canvassing, rallies, meetings with local elected officials and community leaders, and other events.“Bringing it Home” Tour Stops:<ul><li>Missoula, Mineral, Sanders and Lincoln County - October 29, 2024</li><li>Glacier, Blackfeet Reservation, and Pondera County - October 30, 2024</li><li>Granite County - October 31, 2024</li><li>Powell, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Madison, and Gallatin County - November 1, 2024</li><li>Flathead Reservation and Lake County - November 2, 2024</li><li>Missoula, Ravalli, and Gallatin County - November 3, 2024</li><li>Gallatin and Silver-Bow County - November 4, 2024</li><li>Missoula County - November 5, 2024</li></ul>More stops will be announced daily, and various events will be open to the press and advised throughout the tour.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/f47e00a2-958a-4017-b0a8-edf5ccdc2151/f47e00a2-958a-4017-b0a8-edf5ccdc2151.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1170%2C1188&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="25" variant="base">This tour follows record-breaking momentum for Tranel as voters turn against Zinke, with <a href="https://x.com/CookPolitical/status/1842174625335111847" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Cook Political Report</a> shifting Montana’s 1st Congressional District in her favor, citing Zinke’s long list of ethics scandals and 18 federal investigations as highlighted in her previous <a href="https://x.com/monicatranel/status/1844347151553528276?s=46&amp;t=PkEUeBeFGfjcltxMgsARAw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ads</a>. A <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2024/09/24/tranel-tightens-race-in-western-montana-in-her-bid-to-unseat-zinke/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">new poll</a> shows a virtual tie, while Tranel’s record-breaking fundraising of over <a href="https://x.com/jamesd0wns/status/1841799958040543677" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$5.25 million</a> and growing attention fuel her path to victory.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

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Monica Tranel Announces District-Wide "Bringing It Home" GOTV Tour

MISSOULA, MT — Monica Tranel's campaign has launched a bold new ad, “Housing Profiteers,” holding Ryan Zinke accountable for his role as a housing profiteer, exacerbating Montana’s housing crisis. The ad revives a powerful symbol from Tranel’s previous encounter with Zinke—a snake—linking Zinke's greed to the damage he’s caused Montanans."Ryan Zinke is the worst," the ad declares, as images of snakes slither across the screen. "Caught selling access to Montana’s land. Now, he's buying up houses and jacking up rents. We can protect public lands and lower housing costs if we stop the housing profiteers. Stop Ryan Zinke.”Monica Tranel is fighting to end Zinke’s corruption and make housing affordable for all Montanans—not just the wealthy few.&nbsp;The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on broadcast and cable television in the Missoula and Butte-Bozeman media markets across the district.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/8bc70654-76fe-4252-b18d-525a6e8f7d78/8bc70654-76fe-4252-b18d-525a6e8f7d78.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1600%2C683&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="32.5" variant="base">Click here to watch<a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=590712c0f7&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> </a><a href="https://x.com/MonicaTranel/status/1849420584351834492" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tranel’s Ad “Housing Profiteers”</a>Momentum is building behind Tranel as voters turn against Zinke, with <a href="https://x.com/CookPolitical/status/1842174625335111847" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Cook Political Report </a>shifting Montana’s 1st Congressional District in her favor, citing Zinke’s long list of ethics scandals and 18 federal investigations as highlighted in her previous ads. A <a href="https://x.com/jamesd0wns/status/1848707565422559590" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">new poll </a>shows a virtual tie, while Tranel’s record-breaking fundraising of over <a href="https://x.com/jamesd0wns/status/1841799958040543677" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$5.25 million</a> and growing attention fuel her path to victory.<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>NARRATOR: Housing profiteers, out-of-state developers, corrupt politicians. Buying up housing and squeezing us out. Ryan Zinke is the worst. Caught selling access to Montana’s land.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GI4mie4MwU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">KBZK Clip:</a> “...a commercial development that Zinke is poised to benefit from financially.”&nbsp; NARRATOR: Now Zinke is buying up houses and jacking up rents. We can protect public lands and lower housing costs if we stop the housing profiteers. Stop Ryan Zinke.&nbsp; MONICA TRANEL: I’m Monica Tranel, and I approve this message.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.

Tranel Continues to Hold Zinke Accountable as a Housing Profiteer

The Snake Returns in Tranel’s Newest Campaign Ad: “Housing Profiteers”

MISSOULA, MT —&nbsp;As Montana families face yet another proposed rate increase from NorthWestern Energy, Ryan Zinke continues to accept more of their corporate money. <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=f77df26389&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">New campaign filings</a> have shown that Zinke has taken even more campaign donations from NorthWestern Energy PAC, the same company that hiked electricity rates by 28% last year, and is now pushing for an additional $22 million rate increase."Those of us who live here in Montana are getting clobbered with rate hikes and high prices from corporate greed. Politicians like Ryan Zinke are in bed with those corporations, and Zinke is taking money from NorthWestern at the same time it is raising rates for us - AGAIN. Last year, we got slammed with a historic rate increase - apparently, it’s not enough, and NorthWestern wants more while paying off people like Zinke. &nbsp;I stood for Montanans against rate hikes and kept money in peoples’ pockets. Ryan Zinke is taking money from NorthWestern Energy PAC, making all of us pay more for basic needs," said Monica Tranel. “This is the kind of dirty politics Montanans rose up against a century ago. We’ll do it again this year by electing people like me, who have a proven track record of standing with the people of Montana against corporate greed. I have spent my entire career standing up to monopolies and fighting for the working class. I will do the same in Congress. It's time for Montanans&nbsp;to be heard.”Monica Tranel has a proven track record of standing up to corporate monopolies, including winning a case against NorthWestern Energy that saved Montanans $10 million. She is committed to continuing the fight for working families in Congress.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Tranel Fights Back Against NorthWestern Energy’s Rate Hikes

Zinke Sides with Corporate Donors While Montanans Pay the Price

MISSOULA, MT — Today, Congressional candidate Monica Tranel released her newest campaign ad, “All That Land.” The ad features two of Tranel’s legal clients, Kevin and Alfred Anderson. Tranel represented the Andersons in a legal fight against billion dollar out-of-state corporations that are trying to squeeze them out of land their family has ranched for 75-years, and won.“Alfred and his family have ranched this land for 75 years so when the billionaires tried to squeeze them out. I helped them fight back, and we won.” said Tranel. “Saving this Montana is what’s at stake.”“Monica fought for us when nobody else would. I usually vote Republican, but I’m supporting Monica,” said Alfred.The ad will be backed by a buy of over $500,000 on broadcast, satellite, and cable television in the Missoula and Butte-Bozeman media markets and digital platforms across the district - Tranel’s largest ad buy to date.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/2e5f26b2-2111-4afa-a3fc-c50b0ba0b2e4/2e5f26b2-2111-4afa-a3fc-c50b0ba0b2e4.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1956%2C836&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="35" variant="base"><a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=038ec86eeb&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Click here to watch Tranel’s Ad “All That Land”</a>Momentum is building behind Tranel as voters turn against Zinke, with <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=2ba24b1602&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Cook Political Report </a>shifting Montana’s 1st Congressional District in her favor, citing Zinke’s long list of ethics scandals and 18 federal investigations as highlighted in her previous ads. A <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8d7b465335&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">new poll </a>shows a virtual tie, while Tranel’s record-breaking fundraising of over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=94b55f07e0&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$5.25 million</a> and growing attention fuel her path to victory.<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>KEVIN ANDERSON: All that land over there is owned by one billionaire. Another billionaire to the south. There’s another one right there.ALFRED ANDERSON: They’ve got us all surrounded.MONICA TRANEL: Alfred and his family have ranched this land for 75 years. So when the billionaires tried to squeeze them out. I helped them fight back, and we won.ALFRED ANDERSON: Monica fought for us when nobody else would. I usually vote Republican, but I’m supporting Monica.MONICA TRANEL: I’m Monica Tranel and I approve this message. Saving this Montana is what’s at stake.&nbsp; &nbsp;###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

As Voters Cast Ballots, They Are Reminded of Tranel’s Commitment to Montanans, not Special Interest Money

“They’ve Got Us All Surrounded”: Tranel Unveils New &nbsp;“All That Land” Campaign Ad

MISSOULA, MT — Today, Monica Tranel released her new ad titled “Another One.” In this 30-second dose of reality, Monica stands in front of yet another one of Zinke’s nine properties. And here’s the kicker: he’s renting it out illegally as an Airbnb.&nbsp;The ad, a sequel to the campaign’s previous ad filmed inside one of Zinke’s Airbnbs, exposes his ongoing exploitation of Montana’s housing market for personal gain.&nbsp;The ad concludes with Tranel affirming her message and commitment to tackling the housing crisis: “Housing profiteers like Ryan Zinke are the reason it’s so expensive to live here. Let’s stop him.”<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/8fb5378f-405d-42b0-9dee-3d96b0ca1a94/8fb5378f-405d-42b0-9dee-3d96b0ca1a94.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1600%2C896&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="32.5" variant="base">Click here to watch “<a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=9a0d64f99f&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Another One</a>”The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on broadcast, satellite, and cable television in the Missoula and Butte-Bozeman media markets and digital platforms across the district.&nbsp;Momentum is building behind Tranel as voters turn against Zinke, with <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=ea1204e3c3&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Cook Political Report</a> shifting Montana’s 1st Congressional District in her favor, citing Zinke’s long list of ethics scandals and 18 federal investigations. A <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=55a9b5adad&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">new poll</a> shows a virtual tie, while Tranel’s record-breaking fundraising of over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=4e18b8af9c&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$5.25 million</a> and growing attention fuel her path to victory.<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>Monica Tranel: Here we are at another one of Ryan Zinke’s nine properties. He’s renting out this one illegally as an Airbnb. You can rent one of these units at a low price of $10,000 a month. He’s even taken a special tax break on this place while driving up home prices and property taxes for us. Good Morning Ryan! Ryan Zinke: Good morning, Monica!&nbsp; Monica Tranel: I’m Monica Tranel and I approve this message. Housing profiteers like Ryan Zinke are the reason it’s so expensive to live here. Let’s stop him.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

“Good Morning, Ryan!”

Tranel and Zinke Greet Outside Another One of His Airbnb Properties in New Ad Release

MISSOULA, MT — Western Native Voice Votes (WNV Votes), a prominent organization dedicated to advancing Native leadership and civic engagement in Montana, has announced its unanimous endorsement of Monica Tranel for her run in U.S. House District 1.“Western Native Voice Votes endorses Monica Tranel for her dedication, clear vision, and integrity. She understands the challenges that Native Americans face and will do right by our communities, making her the ideal candidate,” said Gail Small, Board Chair of Western Native Voice Votes.Monica Tranel has received endorsements from a number of prominent Tribal leaders, including members of Confederated Salish and Kootenai and the Blackfeet Nation, as well as <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=f60145953b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rep. Sharice Davids</a>, one of the first two Native American women ever to serve in Congress.Tranel is committed to working for Native Americans in Montana by:<ul><li>Respecting Tribal Sovereignty and Democratic Participation</li><li>Supporting Economic Development and Internet Access</li><li>Increasing Federal Response to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis</li><li>Addressing the Flow of Fentanyl Into Communities and Funding Addiction Centers</li></ul>During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=1f659c2d97&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel is the only candidate with an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=945e47e798&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a> to address Montana's housing crisis. Recent <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=37054cb534&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">polling</a> reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with the race now within the margin of error. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel gains momentum, putting the district firmly in play this November.&nbsp;###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Native Advocacy Group Cites Tranel’s Commitment to Tribal Sovereignty and Equality in Unanimous Endorsement

Western Native Voice Votes Endorses Monica Tranel

MISSOULA, MT — This week, Monica Tranel’s campaign for Montana continued picking up momentum, positioning the race as one of the most competitive in the country. Highlights include:&nbsp;Race Rate Change: &nbsp;The non-partisan Cook Political Report shifted Montana’s 1st Congressional District in Tranel’s favor. According to <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8c493d4e41&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cook Political Report</a>, “The former interior secretary’s long list of ethics issues, which ultimately resulted in him resigning from the Trump administration, have continued to haunt him, and Tranel has been on TV since July reminding voters of the 18 federal investigations — particularly the ones surrounding shady real estate deals.”Polling Shows a Virtual Tie: A new <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=90c7b0c7f6&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">poll</a> shows Tranel and Zinke virtually tied. Despite Republicans outnumbering Democrats by 10 points in the district, Ryan Zinke is deeply unpopular with independent voters, and his favorability continues to take a hit as Tranel’s grows.&nbsp;Record-Breaking Fundraising: Tranel announced another record-breaking fundraising total of over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=7962f8b6bc&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$2.15 million</a>, bringing her cycle raise to over $5.25 million—the highest ever for a Montana congressional challenger at this point in the race.Growing Attention as the Race Tightens: House Majority PAC made its first investment in the district, allocating over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=c42a38152f&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$4 million</a> in <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=39d120d8f2&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TV and digital ads</a>, underscoring that people across Montana and beyond see Zinke as beatable and are backing Tranel’s path to victory.With around 30 days to go, momentum is on Tranel’s side as she capitalizes on Zinke’s vulnerabilities and builds a campaign poised for a historic victory.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Polling, Fundraising, and Race Raters Shows Tied Race

ICYMI: MONICA MOMENTUM

MISSOULA, MT — Today, Congressional candidate Monica Tranel released her newest campaign ad, “Balloon.” Tranel’s ad makes it clear that she stands with Montana's ranchers and farmers, defending them against politicians like Zinke, who have sold them out to Chinese interests.“China is buying up our land, cheating our ranchers, they’re even flying spy balloons over Montana. They get away with it by buying off politicians like Ryan Zinke,” said Monica Tranel. “He’s bankrolled by a Chinese ag conglomerate that’s buying up American farmland and voted to help China rip off our ranchers.”The ad will be backed by a buy of over $300,000 on broadcast, satellite, and cable television in the Missoula and Butte-Bozeman media markets and digital platforms across the district. “Balloon” continues Tranel’s robust media presence, including an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=048b3b027b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ad inside Ryan Zinke’s Airbnb</a> highlighting Montana’s housing crisis, as the campaign gains momentum and continues to hold Zinke accountable for his “me first” style of representation.<span class="image video image-center" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVrAM9JMIGY?si=r7ty1WQf2HqMpAA5&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" style="width: 55%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/c74cc831-d8cd-49c5-8c31-9ad8dbba1ce6/c74cc831-d8cd-49c5-8c31-9ad8dbba1ce6.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C932%2C562&amp;w=1500" embedcode="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVrAM9JMIGY?si=r7ty1WQf2HqMpAA5&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>" align="center" alignwidth="27.5" src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/c74cc831-d8cd-49c5-8c31-9ad8dbba1ce6/c74cc831-d8cd-49c5-8c31-9ad8dbba1ce6.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C932%2C562&amp;w=1500" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVrAM9JMIGY?si=r7ty1WQf2HqMpAA5&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="<iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVrAM9JMIGY?si=r7ty1WQf2HqMpAA5&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen></iframe>">During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=c7206a620d&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel has set fundraising records this cycle by being the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=b064432f68&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fastest Montana house challenger to raise $4 million.</a> Tranel is the only candidate with an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8ddeedbd9b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a> to address the housing crisis Montana faces. Recent <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=d992129805&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">polling</a> reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with Tranel just one point behind Zinke. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel continues to gain momentum, putting the district firmly in play this November.&nbsp;<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>Monica Tranel: China is buying up our land, cheating our ranchers, they’re even flying spy balloons over Montana. They get away with it by buying off politicians like Ryan Zinke. He’s bankrolled by a Chinese ag conglomerate that’s buying up American farmland and voted to help China rip off our ranchers. I’m Monica Tranel, and I approve this ad to send a message to China: Montana is not for sale.&nbsp;###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Tranel Condemns Zinke’s Vote to Help His Chinese PAC Donors Rip Off Our Ranchers

Tranel Unveils New Campaign Ad: “Balloon”

MISSOULA, MT — When the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=7bd28c3c68&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Montana State News Bureau asked five key questions about the state’s housing crisis</a> and gave each candidate a full week to answer, Ryan Zinke couldn't even take the time to respond. Whether he doesn’t care or doesn’t have answers, voters should expect better of their representative.Despite housing being a top concern for Montanans, his team, not Ryan Zinke, only addressed questions about his <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=34dc741cd3&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">personal short-term rental properties that he profits from</a>, ignoring the broader issue plaguing Montanans.Meanwhile, Monica Tranel continues to lead the conversation with a <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=c95cf510ca&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">detailed plan </a>to make housing more affordable and accessible for all, announced a coalition of <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=c2d7eef65b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Homeowners and Renters for Tranel</a> and is accessible and available for voters district-wide to ask her questions.&nbsp;Tranel also <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=3d9f4299df&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">hosted community workshops</a> on housing in all 16 counties and both Tribal Nations that make up the district. Tranel’s housing plan was created and informed by these conversations, and in Congress, she will continue to do work on behalf of Montanans, starting by showing up, and looking for ways to partner.&nbsp;###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

After A Lackluster First Term In Congress, Zinke Asks Voters To Ignore The Housing Crisis

ICYMI: Ryan Zinke Doesn’t Have Any Thoughts on the Most Important Issue in the District

MISSOULA, MT — Sibanye-Stillwater will <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=28ce8b77d3&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">lay off approximately 700 workers in Montana</a>, triggered by a sharp decline in palladium prices. The layoffs will have far-reaching consequences for Montana’s economy and its families."These layoffs are a blow to hundreds of Montana workers and their families,” said Tranel. "Our economy is being held hostage by foreign markets, and Ryan Zinke and the do-nothing Congress in Washington are refusing to protect Montana jobs or fight for fair market conditions."Zinke voted for the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=6068828da7&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Limit Save Grow Act</a>, which cut funding to allow America to negotiate fair trade deals and protect U.S. industries from foreign exploitation.&nbsp;"Zinke voted to make it easier for Russia and other foreign powers to undercut U.S. mineral production, putting Montana workers directly in the crosshairs. This isn’t just bad policy—it’s about selling out our state’s resources and workforce to benefit Russia at the expense of&nbsp; Montanans. My priority is fighting for Montana families. We need to invest in good-paying jobs here in our state, work for strong trade deals that protect our industries, and hold foreign powers accountable when they manipulate global markets. Montana workers can rely on me to always stand up for them," Tranel said.Tranel is committed to ensuring the voices of Montana’s workforce are heard and that future policies reflect the needs of local industries and communities.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Zinke voted to weaken trade protections, weaken Montana’s mining industry, and benefit foreign ownership.

Sibanye-Stillwater Layoffs Resulted from Zinke Undermining Montana Industry

MISSOULA, MT — Monica Tranel officially launched the “Homeowners and Renters for Tranel” coalition, a key part of her campaign’s focus on addressing Montana’s housing crisis. Julie Barrett spoke alongside Tranel, who has lived the struggles of unaffordable housing firsthand.“I’m so excited and proud to be a member of Homeowners and Renters for Tranel. She is committed to fighting for affordable housing, protecting us renters and giving Montanans a chance to buy a home like myself. We need someone who listens to our stories and has the courage to push for real solutions and Monica is that person. She has our back, and she gets it. I want to thank you, and I am so honored to be a part of this. We need to vote for her,” said Julie Barrett, a member of Homeowners and Renters for Tranel.&nbsp;The "Homeowners and Renters for Tranel" coalition is mobilizing supporters across the state to back Tranel’s push for housing policies that increase accessibility and affordability for all Montanans, including rent stabilization, and preserve Montana’s heritage as a place where working people can put down roots and thrive.The launch event highlighted Tranel’s dedication to putting Montanans first, providing real solutions for the state’s housing challenges, and holding powerful interests accountable for driving up the cost of living. Tranel’s full housing plan can be found at <a href="http://monicatranel.com/housing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">monicatranel.com/housing</a>. Monica’s plan was developed after hosting community workshops in all 16 counties, and both tribal nations, where she heard from local groups about the work that was happening on the ground, and where they need partnership from the federal government.&nbsp;During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=4057cb984b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a><a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=2ac08cacee&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">,</a> including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel has set fundraising records this cycle by being the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=4caf309435&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fastest Montana house challenger to raise $4 million.</a> Tranel is the only candidate with an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8486a47918&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a> to address Montana's housing crisis. Recent <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=dccf95c173&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">polling</a> reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with the race now within the margin of error. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel gains momentum, putting the district firmly in play this November.###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Tranel Continues to be Only Candidate in the race Focused on Most Pressing Issue in Western Montana

ICYMI: Tranel Announced Homeowners and Renters for Tranel

MISSOULA, MT — Today, Congressional candidate Monica Tranel released a new campaign ad featuring Helen Weems, a nurse practitioner who <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=3fb3fd1387&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fought and won</a> a legal battle to expand abortion access in the state and one of only three abortion providers in western Montana, that spotlights the dire consequences of Ryan Zinke’s extreme stance on abortion rights. She shares her experience of sitting with families when pregnancy complications arise and having to make difficult choices, as well as how Ryan Zinke thinks politicians should be involved in those decisions.&nbsp;The ad focuses on Zinke’s extreme anti-choice voting record and underscores Tranel’s commitment to defending Montanans' fundamental freedoms.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/ba9d45ab-1f8a-4b62-bf84-9ed4fccc4b43/ba9d45ab-1f8a-4b62-bf84-9ed4fccc4b43.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1600%2C680&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="35" variant="base"><a href="https://x.com/MonicaTranel/status/1833475517233684588" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Click here to watch Tranel's Ad "Choices" &gt;&gt;</a>Ryan Zinke has repeatedly voted to restrict reproductive freedom both in Montana and across the country. He supported a <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=6d14430e28&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">near-total abortion ban in Montana</a>, and in Congress, he <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=7251df4755&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">co-sponsored</a> legislation to block funding for reproductive health care, force women off private health plans, and restrict access to mifepristone. Zinke also voted to <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8d6d887d84&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">punish</a> doctors, <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=fa9093b5a0&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">target</a> students' access to care, and <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=24e8e059e8&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">block</a> reproductive services for military members. He supports the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=0f67340a15&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Life at Conception Act,</a> a national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or a woman's life. Zinke and his allies unanimously <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=492ddfb7a6&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">blocked</a> the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill designed to codify Roe v. Wade's protections and safeguard women’s health rights, now severely threatened by recent rulings.During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=02854dd794&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel has set fundraising records this cycle by being the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=d214d16902&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fastest Montana house challenger to raise $4 million.</a> Tranel is the only candidate with an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=81ca6bdfab&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a> to address Montana's housing crisis. Recent <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=505dd42d25&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">polling</a> reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with the race now within the margin of error. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel gains momentum, putting the district firmly in play this November.<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>Helen Weems (<a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=3364aa2e51&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">founder and director of All Families Healthcare in Whitefish</a>): I’ve sat with women when pregnancy goes wrong. They face gut-wrenching decisions, but Ryan Zinke thinks it should be up to him. Ryan Zinke pushed to let politicians ban abortions with no exceptions for rape, incest, or to save a woman’s life. And he repeatedly voted to take away abortion rights here in Montana. Private medical decisions should be made between a woman and her healthcare provider, not Ryan Zinke.&nbsp; Monica Tranel: I’m Monica Tranel, and I approve of this message.&nbsp;### Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

New Ad Features Helen Weems Exposing the Impact of Zinke’s Anti-Choice Agenda

Tranel Releases Powerful New Campaign Ad Highlighting Ryan Zinke’s Extreme Anti-Choice Record

MISSOULA, MT — Congressional candidate Monica Tranel released her newest campaign ad, “Real Crisis.” The ad spotlights her commitment to securing the border, combating the influx of illegal drugs, and prioritizing the safety of Montana communities. “We need to secure the border, hire more border patrol agents, and go after the drug cartels to stop the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl,” said Monica Tranel. “I’ll stand up to any Democrat or Republican who gets in the way. Keeping Montana safe is more important than politics.” The ad will be backed by a six-figure buy on broadcast, satellite, and cable television in the Missoula and Butte-Bozeman media markets and digital platforms across the district. It continues Tranel’s robust media presence, including an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=6671010b5b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ad inside Ryan Zinke’s Airbnb</a> highlighting Montana’s housing crisis, as the campaign gains momentum.&nbsp;<img src="https://run.imgix.net/c3e14104-273d-4723-a9f8-ce90528951b5/8bc6bc07-6932-4c54-a052-80388e5ab848/8bc6bc07-6932-4c54-a052-80388e5ab848.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1600%2C681&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="35" variant="base"><a href="https://x.com/MonicaTranel/status/1832472292942868880" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Click here to watch Tranel's Ad "Real Crisis" &gt;&gt;</a>During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=688a0a2f4b&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel has set fundraising records this cycle by being the <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=8d79263a09&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fastest Montana house challenger to raise $4 million.</a> Tranel is the only candidate with an <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=550eff1946&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a> to address the housing crisis Montana faces. Recent <a href="https://monicatranel.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=eb678dd1824280eb2ed634406&amp;id=0b5aa844ac&amp;e=13a94f2f0f" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">polling</a> reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with the race now within the margin of error. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel continues to gain momentum, putting the district firmly in play this November.<h5>SCRIPT:</h5>Monica Tranel: I’m Monica Tranel and we have a real crisis at the border. Joe Biden is not doing enough to fix it, and Ryan Zinke is just playing politics.&nbsp;We need to secure the border, hire more border patrol agents, and go after the drug cartels to stop the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl.&nbsp;I’ll stand up to any Democrat or Republican who gets in the way.&nbsp;Keeping Montana safe is more important than politics. I’m Monica Tranel, and I approve this message.&nbsp;###Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Tranel Urges Bipartisan Action to Strengthen Border Security and Stop the Flow of Illegal Drugs

Tranel Unveils New Campaign Ad Focused on Border Security: “Real Crisis”

MISSOULA, MT - Recent polling in Montana’s 1st Congressional District (MT-01) reveals that Monica Tranel is closing in on incumbent Ryan Zinke, with the race now within the margin of error. As more voters focus on this critical election, Tranel continues to gain momentum, putting the district firmly in play for Democrats this November.The poll shows that a majority of voters in MT-01 have an unfavorable view of Zinke, a troubling sign for the incumbent. Despite being well-known in the district, Zinke's vote share remains significantly below 50%, indicating a vulnerability that Tranel’s campaign is poised to capitalize on.“This polling confirms what we’ve been hearing from voters across the district – that they are ready for a representative who shows up, listens to their hopes and concerns, and fights for Montana’s future,” said Monica Tranel.“Ryan Zinke has consistently put his own interests ahead of the people of Montana, and it’s time for a change.”Tranel trails Zinke by just 2 points in a current ballot test, which is well within the margin of error.<ul><li>Zinke holds 46% of the vote to Tranel’s 44%, with 4% going to the Libertarian candidate and 5% undecided. Critically, Tranel leads by 10 points among the swing voting bloc of Independents. Despite negative ads against Tranel in recent weeks, Zinke’s vote share has declined over the course of the campaign – starting at 52% and now eroding to 46%. Among the 76% of voters who are familiar with both candidates, Tranel narrowly leads Zinke (48% Tranel / 47% Zinke).</li><li>The small share of undecided voters are disproportionately comprised of subgroups that favor Tranel over Zinke. The 5% of undecided voters over-index among Independent voters (among whom Tranel leads by double digits) as well trend more female than male, under age 50, and in strongly Democratic Missoula County.</li><li>Tranel continues to grow her name identification in the district, and voters who know her rate her favorably, especially Independents. Tranel is viewed favorably by a net-3 point margin with voters overall (40% fav / 37% unfav) and by +15 favorable with Independents (48% fav / 33% unfav).</li></ul>Despite being the incumbent, Ryan Zinke remains deeply unpopular and still struggles to consolidate support.<ul><li>A majority of CD01 voters rate Zinke unfavorably. Zinke is 10 points in the red districtwide (41% fav / 51%), and he continues to be deeply unfavorable Independents (36% fav / 59% unfav).</li><li>Roughly half of CD01 voters don’t think Zinke looks out for the middle class or cares about them, and they think he’s out for himself. Continued majorities are sour on Zinke, as he is NOT seen as someone who looks out for the middle class (35% describes well / 52% not well), cares about them (35% describes well / 50% not well), and they think Zinke looks out for himself by an 11-point margin (49% describes well / 38% not well).</li></ul>During the campaign, Monica Tranel has driven tens of thousands of miles in her minivan, traveling to all 16 counties of this western Montana district and both Tribal Nations. She’s earned over <a href="/endorsements" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, including elected leaders, community leaders, and organizations. Tranel has set fundraising records this cycle by being the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/monicatranel/primarynight24-17853030" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fastest Montana house challenger to raise $4 million</a>. Tranel is the only candidate with a plan, an <a href="/housing" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Affordable and Accessible Housing Plan for Montanans</a>, to address the housing crisis Montana faces.Tranel most recently released a new ad titled “Inside,” which was filmed on location inside one of Zinke’s multiple Airbnb properties in Montana. The ad underscores how Zinke has profited from the very factors driving up housing costs in the state. Within 36 hours of releasing it, the campaign raised an impressive $100,000, about 10x the average daily amount raised this election cycle.####Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world championrower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middleclass, families, ranchers, and small businesses.

Momentum Shift: Tranel Closes Gap, Zinke on the Defensive in MT-01 Polls

MISSOULA, MT - Candidate for Montana's House of Representatives, Monica Tranel, has shattered another fundraising record, this time becoming the earliest House challenger in Montana's history to surpass $4 million raised.The campaign capitalized on this momentum with the release of a<a href="https://x.com/MonicaTranel/status/1828426369535242259" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> hard-hitting ad filmed inside Ryan Zinke's $16,000 per month Airbnb rental</a>, which highlights his role in exacerbating Montana's housing crisis. Within 36 hours of the ad's release, the campaign raised an impressive $100,000, about 10x the average daily amount raised this election cycle. The ad also received over 1 million organic views on social media in the first 24 hours. This milestone marks a significant moment in Montana's political landscape, underscoring the broad and growing support for Tranel's campaign.“I'm grateful for the support from Montanans to have our Montana voice representing us in Congress. Hitting this historic fundraising milestone is a testament to the strength of our campaign and a clear signal that the people of Montana are ready to have our voice heard”, said Monica Tranel. “The response to our showing Zinke’s housing profiteering shows that Montanans are tired of self-serving politicians and want leaders who will stand up against those who put personal profits before people. I’ve spent my entire career here in Montana, working for Montanans. I will continue that work in Congress and be a voice for every Montanan and the issues that connect our communities.”With over <a href="https://www.monicatranel.com/endorsements" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">70 endorsements</a>, Tranel's campaign continues to build on its strong grassroots foundation. Supporters from across the state are contributing to a historic effort to unseat an incumbent and bring real representation to Montana's House seat.&nbsp;Tranel’s campaign focuses on the critical issues affecting Montanans, including the housing crisis exacerbating short-term rental practices and real estate speculation. Tranel is the only candidate in the race with a comprehensive <a href="https://www.monicatranel.com/housing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">plan</a> to tackle the housing crisis. Tranel will be ready on day one in Congress to tackle this issue.####Monica Tranel was raised on a ranch in eastern Montana, went on to become a world champion rower and two-time Olympian, and has spent her 25-year career working for Montana’s middle class, families, ranchers, and small businesses.&nbsp;

Bolstered by Groundbreaking Ad and Grassroots Momentum, Tranel Continues to set Records this Cycle

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