Comments

1
Growing up in Montana, I always wished that I lived in Missoula, rather of the podunk town that I did. This article exemplifies many of the reasons why.
2
Montana gets two senators, dc and puerto rico, none.
3
I <3 Missoula.
4
Missoula is a tiny bubble surrounded by Montucky's vast expanse. College towns in Red and Purple states often provide a space for progressive ideas (the same could be said for many Blue states as well).

It's a stretch to propose that a counternarrative to neoliberal austerity is gaining traction outside these enclaves.
5
Great for Montana, which I like very much, but young voters have consistently been progressive by large margins pretty much everywhere. Older ones, who tend to vote more for midterm elections, not so much. To what extent are older demographics rejecting free-market religion and the need for austerity affecting the 99%?
6
One of my profs at U of MT in 1990 spent part of his summer running across the state and in class recounted an exchange with a rancher who explained that Missoula was "where all the fags and communists live." True that.
Lawrence and KU are the equivalent in Kansas: most every punk/alt band ever played there, most skipping Kansas City only thirty miles away. (circa 1998 when I left)
7
What's interesting is that this is very similar to the arguement me great-grandfather made on why he was a Democrat. He was born in the 1880s in Townsend, MT and died in Helena in the early 1970s. He advocated that government actually allowed Montanans to live there - and was why they had things like electricity. His influence can be seen in his many descendants in Montana and elsewhere who still vote D. Irony - the only one of his 5 children who became an R lives in Missoula
8
@7, Montana used to be an FDR-liberal hotbed and more. In fact, Plentywood, in far NE Montana Sheridan County, used to be governed by honest-to-god communists. Farmers and ranchers used to know which side their butter was breaded on.
9
Good Morning Charles,
My, you have an extraordinary prejudice against rural folk in America. Why such contempt? Rural does not equal stupid. There plenty of stupid people in the city.

Most, if not all college towns/cities are liberally predisposed. That's not surprising. Been that way for several decades. Sure this might be a trend in Missoula, MT. But, I hardly think it significant. According to the Pew Center just 19% of US voters between 18-30 y/o were accounted for in last year's election. When 25% or more of that cohort vote then I'll think it a significant trend. That they're liberal or Democrat or both surprises me not at all.
10
If anyone posting here knew anything about Montana, they'd comment on the divide between people who live in the Mountain areas and the Flatlanders.

Since you didn't, you have no idea why Montana values are so different in different places.
11
@10. A similar geographical divide exists here in Washington State. Which is comparable to the urban/rural divide generally. Which can be compared to the notable ideological divide between individuals with college degrees and those without. An so on.

The point being that Missoula is does not represent Montana. And even outside of Missoula [but within the Mountain areas] there is a difference in their politics, their views of sexuality, etc. Libby and Kalispell seems light-years away from Missoula.
12
@8 - a great point. Rural populism was a potent, and at times progressive political force. 50 years of consolidation and corporate capture have taken their toll. The organic movement has potential, but I don't see an urban progressive agenda garnering much attention soon.
13
@8 - that is correct. You also have the history of unions in Butte and the legacy that has left on the state - even with the demise of most of the mining.

@10 - well, I was born to Democrats in Billings. One parent was mainly raised in Helena, the other was mainly raised in Wheatland County. Yes, there is a divide, but there are nuances to it.

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