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Growing number of Democrats file for Montana's eastern congressional district

Billings Gazette, Eastern district candidate Kevin Hamm focused on taxes, housing

The candidate's website says, "Workers need solidarity so that their labor doesn’t become stolen and hoarded wealth by billionaires. Unions are the best way to do this... every benefit we enjoy today, from safe working spaces, to weekends, to eight-hour days were hard fought battles that the Unions lead. And won."

Supports unions as a way for worker solidarity, safe working spaces, safety at work, and a livable wage.

The candidate's website says, "We need to prioritize investments in improving rural roads and bridges... Additionally, expanding public transportation options, such as high-speed rail, will enhance mobility for rural Americans, ensuring they have access to... jobs, and education."

Plans to improve rural roads and bridges, repair existing indrastructure, and expand public transportation options to ensure access to jobs and services.

Supports investing in infrastructure and services for Montana's outdoor tourism, a key economic and employment sector, advocating for its growth and equitable access to public lands for all income levels and backgrounds.

Wants to invest in outdoor tourism as a way to grow the economy.

The candidate's website says, "Expanded and reliable rural broadband access is critical for ... economic growth ... We need to promote competition and set policies to ensure rural Montanans have access to the digital era..."

Believes expanded and reliable rural broadband access is critical for economic growth.

Said, "We need to reduce the wage gaps at businesses because there’s no reason that a CEO makes a thousand or more times what a front-line worker makes."

- Supports unions as a way for worker solidarity, safe working spaces, safety at work, and a livable wage.
- Plans to improve rural roads and bridges, repair existing indrastructure, and expand public transportation options to ensure access to jobs and services.
- Wants to invest in outdoor tourism as a way to grow the economy.
- Believes expanded and reliable rural broadband access is critical for economic growth.
- Opposes taxing Social Security payments.
- Said, "We need to reduce the wage gaps at businesses because there’s no reason that a CEO makes a thousand or more times what a front-line worker makes."

Economy

The candidate's website says, "INCREASED RURAL HEALTHCARE AND BROADBAND ACCESS"

Supports telehealth initiatives to reduce travel burdens and improve rural health.

The candidate's website says, "The need for more access to quality healthcare in rural areas is growing every day... Rural hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers need worker incentives, financial support, and reduced administrative burdens. Telehealth initiatives must play a role, to reduce travel burdens and improve rural health."

Believes rural hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers need worker incentives, financial support, and reduced administrative burdens.

Supports abortion rights, and wants to pass an amendment to add them to the state constitution.

Said, "Abortion is healthcare. It’s 2024. We shouldn’t still be fighting this fight we won in 1972."

- Supports telehealth initiatives to reduce travel burdens and improve rural health.
- Believes rural hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers need worker incentives, financial support, and reduced administrative burdens.
- Supports abortion rights, and wants to pass an amendment to add them to the state constitution.
- Said, "Abortion is healthcare. It’s 2024. We shouldn’t still be fighting this fight we won in 1972."

Healthcare

Supports promoting hunter and firearm safety, advocates for secure gun storage to prevent access by criminals and children, and seeks accountability for gun owners, dealers, and manufacturers to ensure responsible gun ownership and usage.

Supports promoting hunter and firearm safety.

Advocates for secure gun storage to prevent access by criminals and children and accountability for gun owners, dealers, and manufacturers to ensure responsible gun ownership and usage.

- Supports promoting hunter and firearm safety.
- Advocates for secure gun storage to prevent access by criminals and children and accountability for gun owners, dealers, and manufacturers to ensure responsible gun ownership and usage.

Public Safety

Said, "I have no qualms about the fact that Hamas has been a terrorist organization; that does not justify the genocide of the Palestinian people."

- Said, "I have no qualms about the fact that Hamas has been a terrorist organization; that does not justify the genocide of the Palestinian people."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Supports sustainable land use, including responsible resource management, prioritizing soil, water, and biodiversity, and advocates for inclusive, science-driven decision-making to foster healthy ecosystems and robust rural economies.

The candidate's website says, "Recognizing and respecting the sovereign rights of Indigenous peoples is vital... This involves collaborating with Indigenous communities on land management... and implementing traditional ecological knowledge. Supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts and recognizing the historical and cultural significance of public lands is crucial."

Advocates for collaboration with Indigenous communities on land management and implementing traditional ecological knowledge to supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

Supports bolstering Montana's economy by promoting the shift to sustainable energy, advocating for renewable energy in rural areas, and enhancing energy independence, small-scale production, and storage to improve reliability and lower costs for Montanans.

Believes the shift to sustainable energy and renewable energy in rural areas will bolster Montana's economy and reduce energy costs.

Said, "We need to protect the natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and sensitive habitats within public lands. This involves establishing and maintaining protected areas, national parks, and wildlife refuges to safeguard the environment for future generations."

Wants to protect natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and sensitive habitats within public lands by establishing and maintaining protected areas, national parks, and wildlife refuges.

Supports Montana's fossil fuel communities and advocates for diversification of industry in Central and Eastern Montana, criticizing Republican leaders for hindering such development despite changing global demand for fossil fuels.

Supports Montana's fossil fuel communities and advocates for diversification of industry in Central and Eastern Montana.

Said, "Most of us recognize the urgent need to address climate change. Energy infrastructure projects can accomplish a lot. We must also invest in carbon sequestration, reforestation, and sustainable land management."

- Supports sustainable land use, including responsible resource management, prioritizing soil, water, and biodiversity, and advocates for inclusive, science-driven decision-making to foster healthy ecosystems and robust rural economies.
- Advocates for collaboration with Indigenous communities on land management and implementing traditional ecological knowledge to supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts.
- Believes the shift to sustainable energy and renewable energy in rural areas will bolster Montana's economy and reduce energy costs.
- Wants to protect natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and sensitive habitats within public lands by establishing and maintaining protected areas, national parks, and wildlife refuges.
- Supports Montana's fossil fuel communities and advocates for diversification of industry in Central and Eastern Montana.
- Said, "Most of us recognize the urgent need to address climate change. Energy infrastructure projects can accomplish a lot. We must also invest in carbon sequestration, reforestation, and sustainable land management."

Energy & the Environment

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

Voting & Elections

Education

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Kevin Hamm

Ballotpedia, John Driscoll

KTVH, John Driscoll Democratic candidate for Montana's eastern US House seat

Montana Public Radio, John Driscoll 2020 Election Questionnaire

Wants to address the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor.

- Wants to address the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "(Glendive) Last night Democrat Congressional Candidate, John B Driscoll gave three reasons for some to not vote for him. If elected from Montana’s Eastern District, he intends to re-establish Roe vs Wade standards as a national statute... “We’ve no business imposing religious preferences on other Americans...”"

Supports abortion and wants to re-establish Roe v. Wade.

Supports "universal access to quality healthcare."

- Supports abortion and wants to re-establish Roe v. Wade.
- Supports "universal access to quality healthcare."

Said, "I am most concerned with the safety of gun owners and their families... I choose to keep the people I love in a clean and healthful environment, and therefore have no weapons around my house."

Said, "I am most concerned with the safety of gun owners and their families."

- Said, "I am most concerned with the safety of gun owners and their families."

Supports a nuclear risk reduction program urging the U.S. to adopt no-first-use policy, de-alert nukes, restrict presidential launch authority, halt arsenal modernization, and seek global nuclear disarmament through negotiations.

Supports a nuclear risk reduction program urging the U.S. to adopt no-first-use policy, de-alert nukes, restrict presidential launch authority, halt nuclear weapons modernization, and seek global nuclear disarmament through negotiations.

Opposes sending weapons and ammunition to Israel.

- Supports a nuclear risk reduction program urging the U.S. to adopt no-first-use policy, de-alert nukes, restrict presidential launch authority, halt nuclear weapons modernization, and seek global nuclear disarmament through negotiations.
- Opposes sending weapons and ammunition to Israel.

Supports EPA's cleanup efforts in Butte over 35 years, appreciates environmental improvements, but urges local leadership to responsibly manage future decisions regarding resource prices, clean water credits, and innovative energy projects like solar-powered green hydrogen production.

Supports EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) cleanup efforts in Butte, appreciates environmental improvements, but urges local leadership to responsibly manage future decisions about resource prices, clean water credits, and innovative energy projects like solar-powered green hydrogen production.

Believes that U.S. utilities' net-zero emissions goals require nuclear power, but stresses the responsibility of addressing nuclear waste for future generations.

Supports establishing a second trust for coal and mineral extraction in Montana, arguing it benefits future generations and has safeguards against political corruption due to stringent legislative voting requirements for accessing funds.

Supports establishing a second trust for coal and mineral extraction in Montana, arguing it benefits future generations and protects against political corruption due to strict legislative voting requirements for accessing funds.

- Supports EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) cleanup efforts in Butte, appreciates environmental improvements, but urges local leadership to responsibly manage future decisions about resource prices, clean water credits, and innovative energy projects like solar-powered green hydrogen production.
- Believes that U.S. utilities' net-zero emissions goals require nuclear power, but stresses the responsibility of addressing nuclear waste for future generations.
- Supports establishing a second trust for coal and mineral extraction in Montana, arguing it benefits future generations and protects against political corruption due to strict legislative voting requirements for accessing funds.

Opposes term limits, believes in voter power over money in elections, and is running for office without meeting the FEC's $5,000 filing minimum.

Believes Montana's U.S. Senate election lacks fairness due to financial influence from the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and Donald Trump, undermining voter power and free election integrity.

- Opposes term limits, believes in voter power over money in elections, and is running for office without meeting the FEC's $5,000 filing minimum.
- Believes Montana's U.S. Senate election lacks fairness due to financial influence from the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and Donald Trump, undermining voter power and free election integrity.

As of April 10, 2024, John B Driscoll’s website did not contain information on this issue.

John B Driscoll

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

Said, "As an advocate for affordable and high-quality healthcare... I strongly support policies that prioritize both affordability and excellence in Montana’s healthcare system... The worrying closures of nursing homes, rural hospitals, and the lack of mental healthcare access across the state highlight the critical need for immediate action... We must work together to ensure access to essential services in underserved areas and to expand Medicare prescription drug coverage right now."

Said, "We must work together to ensure access to essential services in underserved areas and to expand Medicare prescription drug coverage right now."

Opposes government intrusion into private medical records and moralizing women's healthcare; supports women's autonomy in reproductive choices; plans to protect and enshrine the right to choose in legislation.

Supports access to abortion and "a woman's right to choose" and would support legislation to codify this right. 

Said, "It is important that we untie the hands of healthcare providers and finally empower them to make diagnostic decisions in the best interest of their patients... Upholding these principles requires concrete policy initiatives aimed at improving access, affordability, and quality of care statewide..."

- Said, "We must work together to ensure access to essential services in underserved areas and to expand Medicare prescription drug coverage right now."
- Supports access to abortion and "a woman's right to choose" and would support legislation to codify this right. 
- Said, "It is important that we untie the hands of healthcare providers and finally empower them to make diagnostic decisions in the best interest of their patients... Upholding these principles requires concrete policy initiatives aimed at improving access, affordability, and quality of care statewide..."

Supports balancing constitutional gun rights with public safety by advocating for enhanced firearm safety education, mental health programs, and measures to prevent dangerous individuals from accessing guns.

Supports balancing "constitutional gun rights" with public safety by advocating for enhanced firearm safety education, mental health programs, and measures to prevent dangerous individuals from accessing guns.

Supports Second Amendment rights for recreation and self-defense, emphasizing the importance for rural Montanans to protect themselves due to delayed emergency services, and values the cultural connection to land and heritage through gun ownership.

Promises to "oppose legislation that threatens the LGBTQ+ community."

- Supports balancing "constitutional gun rights" with public safety by advocating for enhanced firearm safety education, mental health programs, and measures to prevent dangerous individuals from accessing guns.
- Supports Second Amendment rights for recreation and self-defense, emphasizing the importance for rural Montanans to protect themselves due to delayed emergency services, and values the cultural connection to land and heritage through gun ownership.
- Promises to "oppose legislation that threatens the LGBTQ+ community."

Supports evidence-based decision making, renewable energy investment, and incentives for lower emissions to ensure sustainable living and environmental stewardship for future generations in Montana.

Supports renewable energy investment, and incentives for lower emissions.

Believes in honoring Montana's energy communities' contributions by investing in their prosperity, using coal severance funds to support towns like Colstrip, ensuring economic growth and respect for their historical role.

Believes in using coal severance funds to support towns like Colstrip, ensuring economic growth and respect for their historical role.

Supports equitable investment in diverse energy and vocational training for communities, mirroring wealthy officials' portfolios, to maintain Montana as an energy leader with sustainable union jobs, committing to use all power to provide necessary resources.

Supports equitable investment in diverse energy and vocational training for communities to maintain Montana as an energy leader with sustainable union jobs.

Supports protecting Montana's public lands, vital to the state's identity, outdoor activities, cultural heritage, and economy, and advocates for policies ensuring access for all, recognizing their diverse value.

Supports protecting Montana's public lands, believing it is vital to the state's identity, outdoor activities, cultural heritage, and economy, and advocates for policies ensuring access for al.

Supports engaging with and listening to fossil fuel-dependent communities in Montana, valuing their economic contributions and advocating for their inclusion in discussions on a sustainable future, while balancing environmental conservation with their well-being.

Supports engaging with fossil fuel-dependent communities in Montana and advocating for their inclusion in discussions on a sustainable future in order to balance environmental conservation with their well-being.

- Supports renewable energy investment, and incentives for lower emissions.
- Believes in using coal severance funds to support towns like Colstrip, ensuring economic growth and respect for their historical role.
- Supports equitable investment in diverse energy and vocational training for communities to maintain Montana as an energy leader with sustainable union jobs.
- Supports protecting Montana's public lands, believing it is vital to the state's identity, outdoor activities, cultural heritage, and economy, and advocates for policies ensuring access for al.
- Supports engaging with fossil fuel-dependent communities in Montana and advocating for their inclusion in discussions on a sustainable future in order to balance environmental conservation with their well-being.

Plans to tackle Montana's early childhood education shortage, advocating for more resources and supporting initiatives to ensure access for all children, viewing it as crucial for individual and community success.

Opposes defunding public schools and supports educators, advocating unity to ensure equitable education access for all students, and commits to safeguarding public education funding.

Opposes defunding public schools and hopes to support educators.

- Plans to tackle Montana's early childhood education shortage, advocating for more resources and supporting initiatives to ensure access for all children, viewing it as crucial for individual and community success.
- Opposes defunding public schools and hopes to support educators.

Ming Cabrera

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

KTVH, Steve Held, Democratic candidate for Montana's eastern US House seat

- Supports "a woman’s right to choose."

Explore Big Sky, REGIONAL NEWSSteve Held announces bid for US House seat in Montana’s second congressional district

Wants to "solv[e] the immigration crisis."

- Wants to "solv[e] the immigration crisis."

Believes more should be done to combat climate change.

Hopes to advocate for tribal nations and Native American communities.

- Believes more should be done to combat climate change.
- Hopes to advocate for tribal nations and Native American communities.

Steve Held

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Montana currently has 2 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills which become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain areas of policy, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. In order to hold this office, candidates must be a legal resident of Montana for at least seven years prior to their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.