The Montana Republican Celebration has formally censured 9 Republican state senators for betraying the desire of GOP voters and aligning themselves with Democrats throughout the 69th Legislative Session.
The state social gathering’s Government Committee has made it clear: these lawmakers are not acknowledged as Republicans.
The 9 rogue senators—Jason Ellsworth, Wendy McKamey, Gayle Lammers, Josh Kassmier, Butch Gillespie, Gregg Hunter, Denley Loge, Russ Tempel, and Shelley Vance—have repeatedly offered out conservative priorities, voting with Democrats on key points, disrupting committee assignments, and opposing very important amendments to Senate guidelines that might have preserved Republican management and integrity.
Extra from the press launch:
The Government Committee of the Montana Republican Celebration (MTGOP) has censured the 9 Montana Senators as Republicans following their repeated alignment with Senate Democrats throughout the 69th Legislative Session. These Senators have undermined the Republican majority management and disregarded the desire of Montana Republican voters.
The 9 Senators in question-Jason Ellsworth, Wendy McKamey, Gayle Lammers, Josh Kassmier, Butch Gillespie, Gregg Hunter, Denley Loge, Russ Tempel, and Shelley Vance-have persistently voted with Democrats, betraying the core values of the Republican Celebration.
Regardless of a number of requires unity and adherence to Republican ideas, the Senators have chosen to align with Democrats, undermining Republican priorities and management. Their actions embody voting to disrupt committee assignments, opposing vital modification to Senate Guidelines, and failing to help the expulsion of Senator Ellsworth after an ethics investigation.
The MTGOP Government Committee has decided that these Senators not symbolize the values or pursuits of Montana Republicans.
Because of this, the MTGOP will not help or fund their campaigns. The Celebration can also be urging the media and the general public to chorus from referring to those Senators as Republicans.
The MTGOP is dedicated to making sure that its elected officers uphold the belief of their constituents and the Celebration’s ideas, and can proceed to advocate for a united Republican voice in Montana.
The Montana Republican Celebration has kicked 9 Republican Senators out of the social gathering…
For regularly voting w/Dems & “undermining Republican priorities & management.”
They won’t obtain funding or recognition from the @MTGOP sooner or later
The MTGOP asks the media & public not… pic.twitter.com/AMb3aDa2Rt
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) April 5, 2025
This marks the second time the state social gathering has rebuked the 9 Senate Republicans, following an announcement issued in March.
The Montana Republican Celebration (MTGOP) is strongly rebuking 9 Republican state senators who’ve continuously aligned with Democrats, creating obstacles for the Republican majority within the Senate. Montana voters elected a robust Republican majority final November, anticipating management that displays their selections.
On Jan. sixth, 2025, the primary day of the 69th Legislative session, and persevering with to at the present time, 9 Republican Senators have partnered with the Democratic minority to overrule Republican management. These actions have undermined the desire of the folks and created a de facto 27-23 Democratic majority within the Senate. The 9 Republican Senators concerned are:
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 voted for Republican governance, not compromises that shift energy away from their elected majority. We consider these 9 senators, at occasions, prioritized private and political concerns over the broader priorities of their constituents. Their actions have contributed to a shift in affect that doesn’t align with the platform they campaigned on. We encourage all elected leaders to remain true to the commitments they made to Montana voters.
The MTGOP calls on these senators to stop obstructing key Republican priorities and return to the trustworthy illustration of their constituents and the Republican platform. If their actions proceed to break the integrity of the Republican majority, the social gathering will take into account extra steps to deal with the scenario. The MTGOP urges all members to uphold the belief of the voters who elected them and to work collectively in help of Montana’s future.
