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Senate President Matt Regier Keynote Speaker at Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner
Author: mt43news staff reporter

Senate President Matt Regier Keynote Speaker at Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner

MT43 News Staff Reporter

Matt Regier, President of the Montana State Legislative Senate, headlined the Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner for Broadwater County Republicans Saturday at the Watson Center.

Regier served as Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives for one term, having been a member between 2017 to 2023. He later ran for the Senate and won. The Kalispell resident graduated from University of Montana and now owns Stillwater Sod Company as well as working in real estate, according to his website.

A talented speaker, Regier praised Montana’s all Republican-led national administration credit for giving taxpayers the largest cut in history, enhancing border security, and cleaning up the Department of Education, moving its administration to individual states. "Our leader gets things done,” he said, “because this president doesn’t care about critics.”

In a nod to barring transgender boys from playing in girls’ sports and using girls’ bathrooms, Regier pointedly noted that liberals do not give a straight answer on the subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. “The Left doesn’t know the difference between a sports bra and a jockstrap.” He suggested.

He railed against the nine Republican Senators who voted with Democrats in the 2025 Montana legislature to change rules, reshape committees and generally votes against their own party, thus weakening Republican power in the legislature.

In the next legislature he vowed to fix the property tax situation, eliminate tax on Social Security, push for school choice and declared, once again, there would be no sales tax in Montana.

Regier ended his speech admonishing people to vote saying the primary election will decide how the general election goes. “The primary election matters. We must demand that all voters be vetted before they are allowed to vote,” he said.

County conservatives heard from most of the Republican candidates who are running for office. Candidates who spoke ranged from those running for US Senate District 2 and Montana Supreme Court down to the local Sheriff’s office candidates.

Kurt Alme, who has resigned as United States Attorney for the District of Montana, will run in the Eastern District Senate race in Montana after Senator Steve Daines resigned the day before filing closed. Born in Great Falls, Alme graduated from Miles City High School. His degree is from University of Colorado and he has a law degree from Harvard University. He served as budget director during Governor Gianforte’s first term. The former district attorney has been endorsed by President Trump and Gregg Gianforte as the man to hold the Republican seat for US Senate in the 2025 election.

Spokesperson Eliza McLaughlin gave a short statement from Senator Steve Daines. Dan Wilson who is running for State Supreme Court was not present. Others who touted their credentials to either run for office or rerun for office were Commissioner of Insurance, State Auditor James Brown, House District 77 delegate Jane Gillette, Broadwater County Clerk and Recorder, Elections Administrator and County Surveyor Angie Paulsen. Senator from District 39 Wylie Galt of Martinsdale also spoke. He is currently not up for re-election.

Those challenging incumbent County Commissioner Debi Randolph were Tim Ravndahl and Audrey Walleser. Commissioner Lindsey Richtmyer read Debi Randolph’s statement. Randolph was not present.

Two candidates are vying for the Broadwater County Sheriff and Coroner’s office: Those who spoke were deputy Luis Espinoza, formerly of Gallatin County Sheriff’s office and recently promoted to Staff Sargeant in the Army National; and Mark Wood, recently appointed interim Sheriff after the resignation of Sheriff Nick Rauser.

Tri County Republic Women’s Club president Joy Navota ended the evening by congratulating Broadwater County Republic Women for their successful meet and greet this month at the Mint for Republic Candidates.

The evening was emceed by Precinct Committee President Ed Regan.

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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Keynote Speaker Matt Regier at the Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner Saturday. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer