Missoula County Republican Central Committee

This op-ed was originally published in the Helena Independent Record.

Jon Tester recently referred to the toxic effect of having a (D) next to his name on his failed re-
election campaign as “poison,” implying that he would have won if he was not a Democrat. As
always, Democrats like Tester, and liberal-progressives in general, view words as mere tools to
get political power, not as a way to communicate meaning or ideas. Montana voters cut through
the word games and correctly identified Democrat ideology and policies as poisonous for
Montanans and Americans more broadly.

It was not the letter (D) that was toxic, but rather, what that letter next to a candidate’s name
represents. The (D) is toxic because of the policies supported by people who share that letter, and
Tester’s cynical word-game observation is truer than he likely meant it. A former Senate page
quoted by UM’s own student newspaper put it well: “Seeing the word Democrat behind your
name is already a loss.”

Tester is not the only Democrat who views their party as a hindrance; now, former UM President
Seth Bodnar is eyeing a run as an “INO” – an Independent in Name Only, like Bernie Sanders.

The word “Democrat” carries baggage, just like “liberal” and “progressive” (which the liberal-
progressives change out like soiled clothing every decade or so). Montanans know the impact of
Democrat policies, especially here in Missoula: high taxes, high crime, and high government
salaries. This is part of the reason why I have been against “non-partisan” elections.

Democrats know that the game is up if they have to place a (D) next to their name, so in 1972,
they made many elected offices “non-partisan,” allowing them to avoid that toxic letter. Making
elections “non-partisan” does not remove the partisanship from politics. It simply removes
information from voters – information that the Democrats know poisons their chances of
winning elections. Bodnar wants to run as an “Independent” for the same reason that Democrats
pushed “non-partisan” elections; to avoid the baggage of the Democrat label.

This year, do not be deceived by the left’s cavalier use of words. Words have meaning, and
“Democrat” means bad policies; but a Democrat running as an “Independent” means bad policies
and deceit. Voters know that the quickest indicator of whether a candidate will be a benefit or a
detriment to them and their family is whether there is an (R) or a (D) next to their name. That’s
why the Montana Republican Party is working hard to protect the meaning of its label.

Montanans won’t be fooled by “INOs” like Sneaky Seth or by Democrats masquerading as
Republicans in our legislature. We’ve had enough of leftist, relativistic word-smithing. In 2026,
Montanans will vote for prosperity over poison.