Dems vow fight for Bullock, against dark money

Democrats are already mounting an all-out offensive to win state and local elections in 2016.

Nancy Keenan, the Montana Democratic Party's executive director, was in Havre Tuesday night for a Hill County Democratic fundraiser. She vowed the party would fight vigorously to re-elect Gov. Steve Bullock and to put Democrats in the state's other elected offices.

"We're going to win everything from the courthouse to the White House," she told the party loyalists.

Democrats are keeping an eye on Greg Gianforte, founder of RightNow Technologies and contributor to conservative causes, to see if he will challenge Bullock, Keenan said.

She said he would have his own money plus dark money from conservative special interest groups in an effort to oust Bullock.

Keenan said dark money is likely to be directed to other statewide GOP candidates.

"That is not the Montana way," she said, and predicted the effort might backfire.

"Montana is not for sale," she said.

An impressive slate of Democratic candidates is shaping up, she said. Monica Lindeen, who has served the maximum two terms as state auditor, is running to replace Secretary of State Linda McCullough, who is also termed out.

Jessie Laslovich, who has served in high positions in Lindeen's administration, is seeking to replace her.

Melissa Romano, a Helena teacher, is hoping to replace retiring Denise Juneau as superintendent of public instruction.

Keenan said she has heard nothing about primary challenges to those candidates.

She said the party is hoping to pick up seats in the state Legislature from the Hi-Line.

Hill County Democratic Chair Brenda Skornogoski said several people in her party are looking at the idea of challenging Hess, who, she said, represented the conservative wing of the GOP.

"People are looking at it, though not to the point of announcing," she said. She said there was a possibility of a primary for the opportunity to challenge Hess, who represents the Democratic-leaning city of Havre.

Skornogoski said she would not discourage a primary, saying it would open up debate within the party and give the winner momentum.

"From afar, it seems that she doesn't represent Havre values," Keenan said of Hess.

Keenan served in the Montana House and was later elected superintendent of public instruction. She then went to Washington, D.C., as executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League, before returning to Montana to retire.

But she said she was lured back into politics to handle the upcoming Democratic campaign.

Tuesday was something of a homecoming, as she reunited with several old colleagues, especially longtime Democrat Antoinette "Toni" Hagener, who served with her in the Montana House.