HELENA, Mont. — Montana state Representative Zooey Zephyr is running for reelection, aiming for a comeback in the House after facing sanctions and silence from her Republican counterparts nearly two years ago.
As a Democrat representing a district in the college town of Missoula, Zephyr is anticipated to win against Republican candidate Barbara Starmer. The Republican Party continues to maintain a stronghold in Montana, holding the governorship and a two-thirds majority in the Legislature.
Zephyr, who is in her first term, last spoke in the legislative chamber in April 2023 after she declined to apologize for a statement claiming that some lawmakers would bear “blood on their hands” for endorsing a prohibition on gender-affirming medical treatment for minors.
Republicans characterized her comments as inciteful, attributing a protest that interrupted proceedings to her actions before they voted on her expulsion from the chamber. Some Republicans drew parallels between the peaceful protest and an insurrection attempt.
Although her formal exile ended with the adjournment of the 2023 session, Zephyr must secure reelection in order to re-enter the House in 2025, as the Legislature didn’t convene this year.
Looking ahead, Zephyr expressed hopes that the forthcoming legislative session will shift focus away from politically charged discussions surrounding transgender issues, including her own experiences. Instead, she wants to prioritize broader concerns affecting residents in Montana, such as housing costs and healthcare access.
“Missoula is a city that has supported me through the hardest times. I deeply love this community,” she explained. “Having the opportunity to advocate for the people I represent is both a joy and a privilege.”
Her confrontation with the Montana Republican Party drew national attention during a period when Republican-led state legislatures were considering a multitude of measures aimed at restricting transgender rights in various facets of life, including sports and education.
Since then, Zephyr has emerged as a prominent advocate for transgender rights nationwide, working against a surge of anti-trans discourse that has surfaced during the presidential electoral season, particularly from Donald Trump and his supporters. Her campaign travels have included time spent in Montana while addressing competitive races in other states.
She perceives her situation as part of a larger pattern where influential Republicans have sought to undermine democratic principles to silence dissent. Zephyr has cautioned voters about the dangers a potential Trump presidency could pose to democracy across the country, referencing the former president’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, has also reflected similar sentiments by affirming that he believes Trump did not lose the 2020 election, reinforcing the former president’s unfounded assertions regarding election integrity.
Zephyr’s expulsion followed closely after Tennessee Republicans ousted Democratic Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for participating in chants with gun control advocates following a tragic shooting incident in Nashville that resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including three children. Both Jones and Pearson were later reinstated.
In a related context, Oklahoma Republican lawmakers also took measures to censure a nonbinary Democratic colleague, with state troopers alleging the lawmaker obstructed an investigation into an activist accused of assaulting a police officer amid protests against legislation restricting gender-affirming care for minors.