Ballotpedia, SJ Howell

Sj grew up in Billings, Montana where he attended public school. He moved to Missoula to attend University of Montana. Today, Sj and his family continue to live in Missoula.

Sj is a community organizer and advocate. He is the current executive director at Montana Women Vote and has worked with this nonprofit for a decade. Sj has worked on issues dealing with healthcare access, living wages, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice reform, and revenue

Sj Howell currently serves District 95 and was elected in 2022.  

Wants to build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including SNAP, housing support, paid sick days, and more, saying, "I will work to ensure that low-income Montanans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Supports and advocates for policies that impact tax & revenue and the economies of the state and of Tribes.

Supports policies eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including workplace protections against discrimination.

- Wants to build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including SNAP, housing support, paid sick days, and more, saying, "I will work to ensure that low-income Montanans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
- Supports and advocates for policies that impact tax & revenue and the economies of the state and of Tribes.
- Supports policies eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including workplace protections against discrimination.

Economy

As of April 10, 2024, Sj Howell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Wants to continue investing in Medicaid, mental health care, and reproductive health care, ensuring access to quality and affordable care.

Will support and advocate for healthcare policies that will positively affect the state and Tribes.

- Wants to continue investing in Medicaid, mental health care, and reproductive health care, ensuring access to quality and affordable care.
- Will support and advocate for healthcare policies that will positively affect the state and Tribes.

Healthcare

Intends to reform the current criminal legal system, saying, "I will support economically smart public safety policies that will reduce our reliance on incarceration, while simultaneously increasing access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.

- Intends to reform the current criminal legal system, saying, "I will support economically smart public safety policies that will reduce our reliance on incarceration, while simultaneously increasing access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.

Public Safety

Plans to support policies that will "expand satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration, as well as fighting back continued attempts at voter suppression.”

Supports state-tribal policy that upholds and protects Tribal sovereignty and will advocate for strong communication with Tribal and Indigenous leaders regarding legislation.

- Plans to support policies that will "expand satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration, as well as fighting back continued attempts at voter suppression.”
- Supports state-tribal policy that upholds and protects Tribal sovereignty and will advocate for strong communication with Tribal and Indigenous leaders regarding legislation.

Voting & Elections

Education

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Sj Howell

Sj Howell is running for the Montana House of Representatives District 100. He currently serves District 95 and was elected in 2022.  

From the candidate’s website, “I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including SNAP, housing support, paid sick days, and more…I will work to ensure that low-income Montanans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Supports policies eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including workplace protections against discrimination. Supports equal pay for equal work

- From the candidate’s website, “I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including SNAP, housing support, paid sick days, and more…I will work to ensure that low-income Montanans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
- Supports and advocates for policies that impact tax & revenue and the economies of the state and of Tribes.
- Supports policies eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including workplace protections against discrimination. Supports equal pay for equal work

Wants to continue investing in Medicaid, mental health care, and reproductive health care. Wants to ensure access to quality and affordable care.

- Wants to continue investing in Medicaid, mental health care, and reproductive health care. Wants to ensure access to quality and affordable care.
- Will support and advocate for healthcare policies that will positively affect the state and Tribes.

From the candidate’s website, “Our criminal legal system is in serious need of reform.  There are too many… crimes related to poverty, mental illness, substance use, or homelessness…I will support economically smart public safety policies that will reduce our reliance on incarceration, while simultaneously increasing access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.

- From the candidate’s website, “Our criminal legal system is in serious need of reform.  There are too many… crimes related to poverty, mental illness, substance use, or homelessness…I will support economically smart public safety policies that will reduce our reliance on incarceration, while simultaneously increasing access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.

From the candidate’s website, “I will support policies that will expand satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration, as well as fighting back continued attempts at voter suppression.”

- From the candidate’s website, “I will support policies that will expand satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration, as well as fighting back continued attempts at voter suppression.”
- Supports state-tribal policy that upholds and protects Tribal sovereignty and will advocate for strong communication with Tribal and Indigenous leaders regarding legislation.

REP. SJ HOWELL (D) - HD95

Ballotpedia: SJ Howell

SJ is from South Carolina and grew up in Billings, Montana. They received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Montana. SJ currently lives in Missoula with their partner and son.

SJ is the executive director of the non-profit Montana Women Vote.

SJ Howell is currently State Representative for House District 95. SJ was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

Said, "I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], housing support, paid sick days, and more."

Plans to work on economic policy with tribal leaders and said, "I will support state-tribal policy that upholds and protects tribal sovereignty."

Supports increasing taxes for corporations and the very wealthy.

Supported the creation of an Earned Income Tax Credit.

- Said, "I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], housing support, paid sick days, and more."
- Plans to work on economic policy with tribal leaders and said, "I will support state-tribal policy that upholds and protects tribal sovereignty."
- Supports increasing taxes for corporations and the very wealthy.
- Supported the creation of an Earned Income Tax Credit.

As of April 10, 2024, SJ Howell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to expand access to healthcare, especially for mental health, and invest in Medicaid.

Advocates for policies that support the LGBTQ+ community, specifically regarding access to healthcare, education, sports, housing, and employment.

- Wants to expand access to healthcare, especially for mental health, and invest in Medicaid.
- Advocates for policies that support the LGBTQ+ community, specifically regarding access to healthcare, education, sports, housing, and employment.
- Supports abortion.

Supports reforming the criminal legal system and decreasing reliance on prison, especially for "crimes related to poverty, mental illness, substance use, or homelessness."

- Supports reforming the criminal legal system and decreasing reliance on prison, especially for "crimes related to poverty, mental illness, substance use, or homelessness."

Supports expanding satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration.

Opposes "voter suppression laws under the pretext of preventing voter fraud or safeguarding election integrity."

- Supports expanding satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration.
- Opposes "voter suppression laws under the pretext of preventing voter fraud or safeguarding election integrity."

Supports fully funding public education from pre-K to higher education.

- Supports fully funding public education from pre-K to higher education.

SJ Howell

SJ Howell on delivering for Missoula and being the ‘last transgender voice’ on the House floor

Sj received an undergraduate degree from Montana State University. They are transgender and nonbinary and reside in Missoula with their partner and son.

Sj is currently the Executive Director of the statewide non-profit organization, Montana Women Vote. 

Sj Howell is currently the State Representative in State House District 95. They were elected in 2022 and have served one term.


Worked to create a state Earned Income Tax Credit.

Said, "I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing support, paid sick days, and more."

Said, "I will support policies that eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, including workplace protections against discrimination and equal pay for equal work."

- Worked to create a state Earned Income Tax Credit.
- Said, "I believe we should build and maintain systems that support low-income Montanans, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing support, paid sick days, and more."
- Said, "I will support policies that eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, including workplace protections against discrimination and equal pay for equal work."

Supports policies that uphold tribal sovereignty and said, "It is essential that we work alongside the twelve tribal nations in Montana to pass policies that [support] and [honor] Indigenous communities both within and outside of Montana’s seven reservations."

- Supports policies that uphold tribal sovereignty and said, "It is essential that we work alongside the twelve tribal nations in Montana to pass policies that [support] and [honor] Indigenous communities both within and outside of Montana’s seven reservations."

Opposed Senate Bill 458 which would define sex in a binary of male and female.

- Supports abortion.
- Worked to pass Medicaid expansion.
- Opposed Senate Bill 458 which would define sex in a binary of male and female.

Wants to "make our criminal justice system more fair for people living in poverty."

Said, "Attacks on LGBT Montanans and especially LGBT youth have no place in our state and I will always stand against that bigotry and hate."

Wants to reduce reliance on incarceration and increase access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.

Said, "I stand with the millions of people around the country and the world calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The first step toward any future I believe in is an end to violence now."

- Wants to "make our criminal justice system more fair for people living in poverty."
- Said, "Attacks on LGBT Montanans and especially LGBT youth have no place in our state and I will always stand against that bigotry and hate."
- Wants to reduce reliance on incarceration and increase access and availability to jobs, services, and housing.
- Said, "I stand with the millions of people around the country and the world calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The first step toward any future I believe in is an end to violence now."

Said, "Policy makers passed voter suppression laws under the pretext of preventing voter fraud or safeguarding election integrity. Montanans deserve to have access to the ballot without cumbersome barriers."

- Said, "Policy makers passed voter suppression laws under the pretext of preventing voter fraud or safeguarding election integrity. Montanans deserve to have access to the ballot without cumbersome barriers."
- Supports expanding satellite voting offices for rural communities and same-day voter registration.

Co-sponsored House Bill 648, the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program, which would have required state investment in childcare for low income families. This bill did not pass.

Said, "It’s not just for queer and trans kids, but for everybody– to see their future and role models in the state."

Said, "I will fight to protect access to health care, education, sports, and housing and employment protections for LGBTQ Montanans."

- Co-sponsored House Bill 648, the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program, which would have required state investment in childcare for low income families. This bill did not pass.
- Said, "It’s not just for queer and trans kids, but for everybody– to see their future and role models in the state."
- Said, "I will fight to protect access to health care, education, sports, and housing and employment protections for LGBTQ Montanans."

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 100 members of the Montana House of Representatives. The Montana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Montana State Legislature (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. Individuals can serve no more than 8 years in a 16-year period.