Bulwark Takes Montana’s GOP Leaders Suddenly Bailed (w/ Ryan Busse)
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Mar 8, 2026 Ryan Busse, a former firearms industry executive turned Democratic candidate for Montana’s 1st District, shares his take on the sudden retirements reshaping Montana politics. He discusses why the race may be wide open now. He explains his break with the gun industry, Montana’s gun culture, and why economic populism and cultural moderation could matter in statewide races.
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Montana Political Shakeup Made The Seat Wide Open
- Montana's sudden Republican retirements created a wide-open political landscape that upended local democracy.
- Ryan Busse says Steve Daines slipped a little-known U.S. attorney onto the ballot four minutes before filing closed, which discouraged many Democrats from filing earlier.
What Two Years Of Nationalized Politics Felt Like
- Two years ago political discourse in Montana was overheated and nationalized, dominated by culture war topics on talk radio.
- Busse recounts doing 187 events in 2024 and hearing nonstop calls about trans kids in sports and bathrooms on right-wing radio.
Voters Are Shifting From Culture War To Economic Anger
- Voter concerns shifted from culture war issues to economic and corruption grievances within a short time.
- Busse contrasts a recent right-wing radio hour where callers talked about corruption, crypto, Epstein files, and unaffordable health care instead of culture topics.