Opportunity for Democrats in Alaska and Montana?
Pundits’ bleary eyes may focus on the Pacific Northwest and Alaska this November in the national slugfest for control of Congress. If Democrats win, they could wrestle the nation’s agenda from the small hands and outsized ego of President Donald Trump.
An A-list House race appeared this week on political radar screens with news that U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, is calling it quits. A big swath of the Big Sky state is in play. Zinke served as U.S. Interior Secretary in the first Trump Administration, blocking sale of public lands but wanting to kill just about every creature that lives on them. Also this week, Senator Steve Daines at the very last minute — literally — announced he wouldn’t run for re-election.
Zinke represents western Montana, stirring country scenery plus an interesting populace. Its electorate embraces a liberal college town, Missoula, along with conservative Kalispell-Whitefish and trendy Bozeman, a college town. It’s one spot in America where reintroduction of grizzly bears and wolves will be on minds of voters. A quartet of Democratic contenders for Zinke’s seat will draw attention as far distant as The New York Times.
There is also a hot House race locally. In Washington state, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, a moderate-conservative Democrat (political species on the endangered list) will seek to hold her seat. She represents Republican-trending Southwest Washington, far from the land of “Seattle liberals.” Already, GOP challenger State Sen. Jon Braun is papering the district with press releases.
https://www.postalley.org/2026/03/07/opportunity-for-democrats-in-alaska-and-montana/