2020 Primary Election Gubernatorial Voter Guide
Thank you for being a voter. This – and every – election has significant impacts on our public lands. Your vote makes a difference.
The gubernatorial race is particularly important because Montana’s governor can make decisions on how the state allocates state funding for public land and conservation projects and has the power to pass or veto bills that have made it through the state legislature. The governor also serves on the Montana Land Board, which makes decisions regarding the management of state trust lands and the acquisition of public lands. Moreover, the governor can use the power of his office as a bully pulpit to speak out on public lands issues at the local, state, and federal level.
Montana's primary election is June 2.
To best protect public health, this year each of Montana's 56 counties is conducting an all-mail election. It's important to note that while your normal polling place will be closed, you can still register to vote or cast your ballot in person. More information about this election, including how to register to vote, is included in the “Election Information” section below this guide.
About this Guide
In creating this guide, we sent a questionnaire to each of the candidates for governor. We did not receive responses from the Gianforte or Olszewski campaigns. To determine what their answers to our questions would be, we researched their positions using publicly available information, such as voting records and public statements. Where there was clear evidence of a position, we have answered the question and linked to the source. In cases where the candidate has been asked the question but not provided a clear answer as to their position, the guide reads “uncommitted,” and where there is no record of a candidate’s position, the guide reads “unknown.”
This guide was paid for by Wild Montana Action Fund
Kim Leighton, Treasurer
80 S. Warren
Helena, MT 59601
Kim Leighton, Treasurer
80 S. Warren
Helena, MT 59601
2020 Gubernatorial Candidates
Greg Gianforte/
Kristen Juras (R)
Kristen Juras (R)
Endorsements: Family Research Council, Gun Owners of America, and Susan B. Anthony List
Mike Cooney/
Casey Schreiner (D)
Casey Schreiner (D)
Endorsements: Governor Steve Bullock, Senator Jon Tester, former Senator Max Baucus
Tim Fox/
Jon Knokey (R)
Endorsements:
Former MT Governor Marc Racicot, Randy Newberg (public lands activist
and host of “Fresh Tracks”), Andrew McKean (former editor-in-chief of
“Outdoor Life” magazine)
Whitney Williams/
Buzz Mattelin (D)
Endorsements: Governor Brian Schweitzer, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, and Emily's List
Al Olszewski/
Ken Bogner (R)
Endorsements: Montanans for Limited Government, Major General Paul E. Valley, Former State Senator Ken Miller
Do you support the transfer of federal public lands ownership to the state?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – NO
Cooney/Schreiner – NO
Do you support the transfer of federal public lands management to the state?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – NO
Cooney/Schreiner – NO
Habitat Montana is a state program that uses out-of-state hunting and fishing license dollars and federal funding to purchase additional public lands and easements for fish and wildlife habitat and hunting access. Do you support using Habitat Montana funds to purchase additional public lands?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
Would you support using state funds to purchase additional lands to create new state parks, fishing access sites, and other recreation and conservation areas?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
Would you support a small increase in state taxes or fees in order to protect water, conserve wildlife habitat, and create more opportunities for outdoor recreation in Montana?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), fed entirely by offshore oil and gas royalties, provides federal funding for local outdoor recreation infrastructure (such as baseball and soccer fields and tennis courts), public land and water access, parks, and other conservation projects in Montana. Do you support full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
The Montana Water Rights Protection Act (S. 3019) is a piece of federal legislation that would ratify the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes' (CSKT) Water Compact that was passed by the Montana Legislature in 2015. Do you support the Montana Water Rights Protection Act?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
In 2017 and 2018, Sen. Daines and Rep. Gianforte both introduced legislation (S. 2206, H.R. 5148, and H.R. 5149) that together would have eliminated 29 of Montana’s 44 wilderness study areas. Do you support this legislation?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – NO
Cooney/Schreiner – NO
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) (S. 1765) is a collaborative proposal crafted by local community members representing timber, ranching, outfitting, conservation, recreation, and other interests. The act would create recreation areas for snowmobiling and mountain biking near Ovando, as well as enlarge the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Mission Mountains Wilderness areas. Do you support the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
Three years ago, Montana created an Office of Outdoor Recreation to work with businesses to help grow the outdoor recreation economy and to support the public lands, wildlife habitat, and waters on which these jobs depend. Do you support funding the Office of Outdoor Recreation to continue this work?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
Noncompetitive oil and gas leasing is a practice that enables oil and gas companies to pay $1.50 an acre for leases to public land parcels by bypassing regular Bureau of Land Management bidding processes. Do you support the practice of noncompetitive oil and gas leasing?
Republicans
Gianforte/Juras – UNKNOWN*
Fox/Knokey – YES
Olszewski/Bogner – UNKNOWN*
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – NO
Cooney/Schreiner – NO
Do you support increasing mitigation and reclamation requirements on oil and gas producers to ensure that development does not impact critical wildlife habitats?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
In recent years, governors have used the veto power to protect access to public lands and water from bad legislation. Would you veto any bills that negatively impact the access rights of Montanans, including any that threaten the funding or authority of Habitat Montana?
Democrats
Williams/Mattelin – YES
Cooney/Schreiner – YES
Election Information
Ballots were mailed to voters on May 8. If you believe you are registered but did not receive your ballot the following week, you should check your registration status on the Secretary of State's My Voter Page to ensure both your voter registration and mailing addresses are current.
If you need to register to vote or update your address or other information, there is still time. You can complete your voter registration application online through the Secretary of State website and mail a printed copy to your county's elections office. For the primary, your mailed form must be received by May 26. After that, you must visit your county's designated location in person. A list of in-person registration locations is available here. Every eligible Montanan has the right to register to vote up to – and even on – Election Day.
Once you receive and complete your ballot, simply return it in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope. If you prefer to vote in-person, or if you need a replacement ballot, visit your county elections office. Click here for a county-by-county list. You can track your ballot on My Voter Page to see when the county receives it and confirm that it has been accepted. It's important to note that whether you vote by mail or in person, all ballots must be received by your county elections office by 8 p.m. on June 2.
If you have any questions about ballot delivery or the registration process, do not hesitate to call your county election administrator. They are ready to serve Montanans in these unprecedented times.
To stay in-the-know about upcoming elections and legislation that will affect our public lands, please sign up for our email list.
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