Voting Rights

We will fight back against attempts to cut back an essential right of our democracy - the right to vote. After the 2016 election, the fight for voting rights remains as critical as ever. Politicians across the country continue to engage in voter suppression, including additional obstacles to registration, cutbacks on early voting, and strict voter identification requirements.

Agriculture & Rural Development

The family farm and ranch is the backbone of our small-town, rural way of life. Hard-working ranchers and farmers have been pressed to the breaking point, and deserve legislation that protects and supports their lands, crops, animals, and business. Farming and ranching is the cornerstone of our heritage and economy that must be preserved.

Climate Change

The last decade have seen record-breaking natural disasters, from storms, to floods to wildfires all around us. Our landowners and farmers have suffered economic losses. Our unique Montana air quality is becoming unhealthful during both the summer and the winter due to smoke.

Natural Resources and Scenic Quality

We are blessed to live in a county surrounded by the Bitterroot National Forest and bisected by the Bitterroot River. Our quality of life benefits from the clean water it gives us, the jobs it creates, and the access we have to unlimited recreational opportunities and beautiful scenery. We will fight to keep it in public hands and to promote it’s stewardship.

Native Americans

We recognize that Montana’s Native Americans are not only Montanans, but also members of their own tribal nations with the sovereignty to govern themselves and maintain their cultural integrity. Following the Election in 2020, a record number of Native Americans won seats in the House of Representatives and Senate. We welcome these long overdue increases.

Equal Justice

We champion equality regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We support the LGBTQ+ community, standing with them and all people in the continuing fight for equality and a the pursuit of a better life.

Quality Healthcare

We are proud to be the party of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. People with pre-existing conditions are now secure in the knowledge that insurance companies can no longer discriminate against them.

Ravalli County Democrats will keep up the fight until all of us can access secure, affordable, high-quality health insurance—because as Democrats, we fundamentally believe healthcare is a right for all, not a privilege for the few.

Education

Public education is the town square of America. It is the great equalizer. It teaches our children how to get along with others, cope with the challenges we face as adults, and be responsible citizens.

Providing lifelong opportunities for public education should be a high priority for our elected leaders. The Bitterroot Valley must invest in all levels of public education if we hope to successfully diversify our local economy, grow a skilled competitive workforce, and help keep America globally competitive.

Protecting Workers & Families

Americans deserve an economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy and the well-connected. It is a moral and an economic imperative that we support working families by rebuilding the American middle class for the 21st century, making sure this time that everyone can make it and thrive, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, national origin, age, or ZIP code.

The Arts

Schools tend to focus on teaching our children analytical skills, such as math, science, reading and writing. To be successful, our children also need to learn how to be free in expressing themselves. Supporting visual and performing arts create a well rounded community.