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SJ Howell

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SJ Howell
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 95th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
Preceded byDanny Tenenbaum
Personal details
Born (1980-07-03) July 3, 1980 (age 44)[1]
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationPolitical organization executive director
Websitewww.howellformontana.com

SJ Howell (born July 3, 1980) is an American politician who represents Missoula in the 95th district in the Montana House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Howell was elected in the 2022 election, making them[2] the first non-binary person to be elected to the state legislature in Montana. Howell was sworn in as a representative on January 2, 2023.[3]

Howell is also the executive director of Montana Women Vote, an organization that has the stated goal "to engage low-income women in the democratic process as informed voters, policy advocates, and community leaders."[4][5]

Career

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SJ Howell has been the executive director of Montana Women Vote since 2013, and has been an activist and lobbyist for women and the LGBTQ+ community. In 2021, they lobbied and spoke publicly against bills that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights saw as discriminatory.[6][7]

Howell was announced to run for the 95th district in February of 2022. Howell ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, guaranteeing their spot to run against Republican opponent Lauren Subith.[8] In the general election, Howell would manage to win over Subith by almost 2,000 votes, therefore being elected to the 95th district.[9] With this victory, Howell, along with 100th district member Zooey Zephyr, became the first two openly transgender people to ever be elected to the Montana Legislature.[10]

2023 legislative session

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In January of 2023, Howell introduced their first piece of legislation, House Bill 238, which would have expanded the eligibility requirements for Montana's Best Beginnings program, a child care scholarship program.[11][12] They introduced four bills total, one of which passed out of committee, but all were ultimately voted down by the Republican party’s supermajority.[13]

In April of 2023, Zooey Zephyr, a transgender woman elected to the Montana House of Representatives along with Howell, was criticized on the floor by Republican majority leader Sue Vinton after speaking out against Senate Bill 99, a bill that would prohibit gender-affirming medical and surgical care for transgender minors. After protests in support of Zephyr on April 24, Howell publicly expressed support for Zephyr. In response to comparisons made by Republican House Speaker Matt Regier between Howell and Zephyr, Howell rejected the role of "barometer of the trans community", saying that "I will not be the ‘good’ trans person" compared to Zephyr.[14][15] After a group of House Republicans demanded Zephyr be censured, the House introduced a motion to ban Zephyr from the floor and other parts of the Capitol under the control of the House. Howell was one of the three Democrats permitted to speak in support of Zephyr on the motion, which nonetheless passed on a straight party line vote.[15][16]

Electoral history

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2022 Montana's 95th House district election[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic SJ Howell 3,117 74.96%
Republican Lauren Subith 905 21.77%
Libertarian J. C. Windmueller 136 3.27%
Total votes 4,158 100%
Democratic hold

Personal life

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Howell is non-binary and uses "they/them" pronouns.[2][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Missoula County House District 95". Missoulian. October 13, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Girten, Nicole. "SJ Howell on delivering for Missoula and being the 'last transgender voice' on the House floor". KTVQ News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Girten, Nicole (January 2, 2023). "'Organized and ready to do business': Montana's 68th Legislature begins with supermajority poised". Daily Montanan. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Hansen, Jordan (February 16, 2022). "Nonprofit director Howell seeking HD 95 seat (Part 1)". Missoulian. pp. A9. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Hansen, Jordan (February 16, 2022). "Nonprofit director Howell seeking HD 95 seat (Part 2)". Missoulian. pp. A10. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Schubert, Keith (March 16, 2021). "Hundreds gather at Montana Capitol to oppose GOP's transgender bills". The Missoula Current News. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Silvers, Mara (February 24, 2023). "'A punch in the gut when we were already down'". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Silvers, Mara (June 9, 2022). "Montana poised to elect first openly transgender lawmakers". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "Missoula County election results roundup". Missoulian. November 10, 2022. pp. A4. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ Hanson, Amy Beth (December 25, 2022). "Transgender lawmaker hopes her presence increases understanding". Missoulian. pp. A14. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ Michels, Holly K. (January 21, 2023). "Bill would expand access to child care scholarships". The Montana Standard. pp. A3. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ Howell, SJ (February 16, 2023). "SJ Howell: Lowering the cost of childcare". Missoulian. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  13. ^ "Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula | 2023 Montana Capitol Tracker". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Girten, Nicole (April 25, 2023). "'Let her speak': Protesters scream, arrests follow after speaker doesn't recognize Zephyr". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Szpaller, Keila (April 27, 2023). "Republicans say Montana 'deserves better,' but Zephyr said 'decorum' used as 'tool of oppression'". Daily Montanan. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  16. ^ "Montana transgender lawmaker barred by GOP from House floor". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "2022 Legislative General Election Canvas". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
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