Daines joins other GOP candidates for Libby rally

In a final push to raise support before Election Day, Republican candidates from up and down the ballot rallied the rank-and-file during a last-minute Nov. 1 stop in Libby.

“Lincoln County may decide this election,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines told the crowd gathered at the Libby Memorial Events Center.

Daines cited the 2006 Montana senatorial race when U.S. Sen. Jon Tester defeated Republican incumbent Conrad Burns. Had Burns secured roughly 30 extra votes in each of the state’s counties, he might still be in Washington, Daines said, urging those few thousand residents with outstanding ballots to cast their votes.

Daines is in a neck-and-neck race with Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, the Montana contest generating outside interest as both parties vie for control of the Senate. Republicans currently hold a 53-45 majority in the upper house, though five GOP senators, including Daines, are viewed as vulnerable in this election cycle.

Although Donald Trump has not visited Montana to campaign with or on behalf of Daines, the senator highlighted his close ties with the president. He also touted GOP successes under the Trump Administration, including the appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court and seven judges to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

If reelected, Daines said he would push for forest management reform and support the mining industry. By reducing lawsuits brought against the timber industry, the senator said that he hoped to increase logging jobs in Lincoln County and throughout the state. Daines also promised to “fight through the red tape and litigation” to get mines, like the Montanore Mine, permitted.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Daines deemed passing another relief package aimed at helping small businesses a priority for Congress. He pledged to continue supporting the development of vaccines and drugs to fight the virus.

During his speech, the senator spoke at length on the threat he perceived from Democratic candidates.

Daines said Bullock would work in the Senate to expand the U.S. Supreme Court, promote statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, and tighten restrictions on gun ownership.

“This senate seat, right here in Montana, is the firewall for freedom for our nation,” Daines said.

Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck (D-1), who is running unopposed for reelection, used his time at the podium to enumerate how Daines has supported the county while in Congress. Peck cited Daines’ voting record as proof of his commitment to conservation.

Peck also said Daines gave the county a leg up in addressing the coronavirus pandemic, by putting Dr. Brad Black, public health officer, in touch with a top official in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“This man here is a friend of Lincoln County and a friend of mine,” Peck said, gesturing to the senator.

Like Daines, Peck also cautioned voters against complacency in the general election.

“The main thing I want you to understand is that this fight is not about Republicans versus Democrats,” Peck said. “This fight is about the very ideals, the constitution, everything that this country stands for and why it was founded.”

State Rep. Neil Duram (R-Eureka), who is running for reelection against Democrat Lori Ramesz, said he would parse through often overlooked nuances in bills if voters returned him to Helena. As a whole, Duram regarded the general election as a war for America’s icons.

“[Democrats] want to tear down John Wayne, Sean Connery, they want to tear down all our heroes,” Duram said. “At some point, everyone that has a belief in God just has to stand on their feet with a straight spine, know what you believe in and go forth.”

Matt Rosendale, who is running for Montana’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, similarly billed the election as a showdown between two diametric factions.

“This is about supporting people that love our country, or supporting people that hate our country,” he said. “[Democrats] are going to fundamentally transform our nation into something that none of us would recognize, nor would we be able to bring back again.”

Rosendale crudely acknowledged on which side of the divide he thought Lincoln County voters would fall.

“I know that when the national anthem was playing, if somebody was on their knee, they would probably get their attitude adjusted pretty quick,” he said. “That’s why we love Lincoln County.”

Highlighting his record as the current Montana state auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance, Rosendale said he cut insurance rates, eliminated regulations and reduced spending. If elected to Congress, he promised to continue working to justify any additional government spending. Rosendale is running against former Democratic State Rep. Kathleen Williams.

Christi Jacobsen, who is running for secretary of state, said she would fight for Montana resident’s rights to vote in-person, support voter identification laws and oppose online automatic voter registration, which she alleged is a gateway for illegal immigrants to vote.

As deputy secretary of state, Jacobsen said she had helped cut the call wait time for businesses in need of assistance from two hours to 30 seconds or less and reduced 50,000 errors in business filings a year. By increasing the efficiency of the secretary of state’s office, Jacobsen said she helped cut staff from 60 to 40 employees.

Jacobsen described her opponent, Democrat State Sen. Bryce Bennett (D-Missoula) as a “socialist” who had support legislation that would allow candidates to give out alcohol and tobacco at polling locations.

“He must be stopped and I’m the candidate to do that,” she said.

Elsie Arntzen, who is running for reelection as state superintendent, promised to continue fighting for traditional education if returned to office. She said she would move to put flags and copies of the Constitution in classrooms and would increase the presence of military recruiters at schools. Under her plan, U.S. History courses would be offered to all grade levels.

In the race for Montana Public Service Commission, State Sen. Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls) presented herself as the candidate who would honor God and the Constitution. While she noted she was familiar with the utilities offered by the PSC thanks to her background in the landscaping business, Fielder said her most important qualifications were her faith and honesty.

“We got to discern who’s giving us the straight story and I guarantee you the Democrats are expert twisters,” she alleged.

Following the event, Libby resident Jeanne Linn said she was glad she took the time to attend the rally and the parade down Mineral Avenue that preceded it. Although previously unsettled by negative ads aimed at Daines, Linn said the senator’s speech had reassured her.

“I really felt good after listening to him,” she said.

Mark Lauer, Libby resident, said he appreciated the efforts Republican candidates had made to address local voters in this year’s election.

“It’s actually great they took the time to come here,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like in the past Lincoln County has really mattered.”