In a bold move to protect conservative values, the Montana Republican Party has taken decisive action against nine Republican state senators who have strayed from the party’s core principles. By collaborating with Democrats during the 69th Legislative Session, these senators have lost their recognition as Republicans.
Among the list of dissenters are Senators Jason Ellsworth, Wendy McKamey, Gayle Lammers, Josh Kassmier, Butch Gillespie, Gregg Hunter, Denley Loge, Russ Tempel, and Shelley Vance. Their actions, which include siding with Democrats on critical votes, disrupting committee assignments, and opposing crucial amendments, have sparked this severe response from the Montana GOP.
In a powerful statement from the Executive Committee of the Montana Republican Party (MTGOP), a clear message was sent:
The Executive Committee of the Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) has censured the nine Montana Senators as Republicans following their repeated alignment with Senate Democrats during the 69th Legislative Session. These Senators have undermined the Republican majority leadership and disregarded the will of Montana Republican voters.
This swift action underscores the party’s commitment to its principles and the constituents who elected them. Despite previous calls for unity, these senators have chosen paths that undermine Republican priorities, prompting the MTGOP to withdraw support and funding from their future campaigns.
The executive committee’s decision marks a significant stand in defense of Republican leadership, indicating that the party will not tolerate actions detrimental to its mission and the values of its voters.
The Montana Republican Party has kicked 9 Republican Senators out of the party… For continually voting w/Dems & “undermining Republican priorities & leadership.” They will not receive funding or recognition from the @MTGOP in the future
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer)
April 5, 2025
This isn’t the first time these nine senators have been called out. Back in March, they were rebuked for aligning with Democrats, a betrayal of the Republican majority that voters mandated in the last election.
The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) is strongly rebuking nine Republican state senators who have frequently aligned with Democrats, creating obstacles for the Republican majority in the Senate. Montana voters elected a strong Republican majority last November, expecting leadership that reflects their choices.
The behavior of these senators on the first day of the 69th Legislative Session was a clear signal of their departure from Republican leadership, creating an effective Democratic majority in the Senate. This betrayal of voter trust is a stark reminder of the importance of aligning with the values and expectations of Republican constituents.
- Jason Ellsworth, SD43
- Wendy McKamey, SD12
- Gayle Lammers, SD21
- Josh Kassmier, SD13
- Butch Gillespie, SD9
- Gregg Hunter, SD15
- Denley Loge, SD45
- Russ Tempel, SD14
- Shelley Vance, SD34
Montanans elected a Republican majority with the expectation of strong leadership. It’s imperative that elected representatives honor their commitments to the voters by standing firm on their campaign principles. The continued obstruction of Republican priorities by these senators has been noted, and the MTGOP stands ready to take further actions if necessary to safeguard the integrity of the party and the interests of Montana’s future.
