Legislative Republicans Excited to Get to Work Following the Election
Author: MT Senate Majority
Legislative Republicans Excited to Get to Work Following the Election
MT Senate Majority
HELENA, MT— Republicans are excited to get to work advancing conservative policies for the people of Montana following yesterday’s general election in which the GOP won commanding majorities in the state Legislature. The 68th Montana Legislature will convene on January 2, 2023.
“Now that it’s known who will be serving in the Legislature, Republican lawmakers are ready to ramp up their efforts to provide Montanans with financial relief, strengthen our economy, protect our freedoms, and preserve the Montana way of life in the upcoming session,” said Kyle Schmauch, a spokesperson for legislative Republicans.
Republicans are on track to secure a historic supermajority in the state Legislature. As of midday Wednesday, Republicans had won a minimum of 98 legislative seats. If ongoing vote tallies hold, voters will have elected 34 Republicans to serve in the Senate and 69 Republicans to serve in the House, for a total of 103 Republican legislators, three above the supermajority threshold. A handful of races could come down to provisional ballots and one is flagged on the Montana Secretary of State’s website for a potential recount.
No political party has had a legislative supermajority under the current 100 representatives and 50 senators makeup of the Legislature, which was established in 1975. Between 1975 and 2021, the Republicans’ record was 99 seats in the Legislature in 1997 and the Democrats’ biggest total was 97 in 1975.
The record in each chamber was 68 House Republicans in 2011 and 34 Senate Republicans in 1997.
“Voters spoke loudly and clearly that they want Republican lawmakers to build on the historic successes of the last legislative session and they’re excited to get to work,” Schmauch said.
Schmauch also highlighted the broad diversity of experience within the incoming Senate Republican caucus.
“The Senate Republican caucus includes eight senators with careers in agriculture, three teachers, at least 10 who are primarily business entrepreneurs, a boilermaker, an attorney, and a horse trainer,” he said. “Senate Republicans’ professions also include forest products, social services, financial planning, construction and carpentry, public service, land use planning, law enforcement, and journalism and public relations."
“The caucus is also proud to have five military veterans who will serve as Senate Republicans as well as one senator who was in the Peace Corps. Further, the caucus has a strong sportsman and conservation ethic, with 94% of Senate Republicans having been hunters and fisherman during their lives and many who are currently very avid hunters and fishermen.”
The next major milestone for legislators will come next week when they gather to caucus and elect their leadership teams on November 16. Following leadership elections and committee appointments, legislative leaders will start outlining their priorities and goals in more detail as they prepare to gavel in the upcoming session.
Tax relief, handling Montana’s budget surplus, and red tape relief are early priorities that legislative Republicans expect to address during the 68th Legislature.
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