Montana House Democrats picked SJ Howell, a nonbinary and transgender lawmaker, as their minority leader and named Zooey Zephyr, the lawmaker barred from the House floor in 2023, as one of their whips in an uncontested caucus vote.
Story Snapshot
- House Democrats elected Rep. SJ Howell of Missoula as minority leader, and Howell was the only person nominated.
- Rep. Zooey Zephyr, also of Missoula, was elected one of the caucus whips, the members who count votes and keep the party together on the floor.
- Zephyr was barred from the House floor in 2023 after telling colleagues they would have “blood on your hands” over a bill on medical care for transgender minors.
- Republicans keep control of the House with a 56-44 majority and elected Katie Zolnikov as the first woman to serve as Montana House speaker.
- In 2023, when Zephyr refused to apologize for her “blood on your hands” remark, the Republican-led House barred her from the floor; now Democrats have made her one of their whips.
Democrats Pick Their Leaders Without A Contest
On Wednesday, November 11, House Democrats met in Helena and elected Rep. SJ Howell of Missoula as minority leader for the 2027 session. A caucus is the group of all of one party’s members in a chamber, and it chooses its own leaders. Howell was the only Democrat nominated for the top job, so the race was uncontested. Local reports described the Democrats as presenting a “united front,” while House Republicans split over their own picks.
Democrats in the Montana House have elected a transgender/nonbinary state representative as their minority leader and a well-known trans advocate to a top leadership post. https://t.co/5bC23nlb9j
— East Idaho News (@EastIDNews) November 12, 2026
Howell, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, was elected in 2022 as Montana’s first nonbinary legislator. Before that, Howell worked as a lobbyist and activist on women’s and LGBTQ issues. Howell put the focus on living costs: “We’re going to address affordability first, and affordability second, and likely third, and maybe fourth.” Howell added, “And we’re here to get the job done.”
Zephyr Joins The Leadership Team
The caucus also elected Zephyr as a minority whip, along with Reps. Tom France of Missoula, Shelly Fyant of Arlee and Josh Seckinger of Bozeman, according to reports. Rep. Denise Baum of Billings was chosen as caucus chair. Zephyr announced her new role online: “We have an incredible leadership team, and are ready to get to work for Montana!” She also said Howell is the first transgender and nonbinary party leader in the country.
Zephyr, a university program manager, was elected in 2022 as Montana’s first openly transgender lawmaker. In 2023, during debate on a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors, she told colleagues who backed it that they would have “blood on your hands.” Gender-affirming care means medical treatment, such as puberty blockers or hormones, that helps a person live as the gender they identify with. When she refused to apologize, the Republican-led House voted to bar her from the floor for the rest of that session.
No Republican response to the Democratic picks has been reported.
What The Jobs Actually Do
Under Montana’s legislative rules, the minority leader is elected by the party caucus with the second-most members. The leader develops the minority party’s position, negotiates with the majority and directs the caucus on the House floor. Whips help the leader on the floor by counting votes and making sure members are present for key votes.
These are real jobs, but they come with limits. With 44 of the 100 House seats, Democrats cannot pass bills on their own. Their influence depends on working out deals with Republicans and on how well they hold their own members together on close votes.
Republicans Set The Agenda In Helena
House Republicans held their own leadership vote the same day. They chose Rep. Katie Zolnikov of Billings as speaker, making her the first woman elected to the post in Montana. Rep. Mike Vinton of Billings was picked as speaker pro tempore, the member who runs the House when the speaker is away, and Rep. Tom Millett of Marion was chosen as majority leader.
Zolnikov said lowering taxes is among her top goals and promised a House where work gets done “on the record, not in the shadows.” Republicans hold a 56-44 majority after Democrats gained two seats in the November election. The full House will vote to confirm the speaker when the 2027 Legislature opens in January.
What Comes Next
When lawmakers return to Helena in January, Howell will speak for Democrats in talks with the Republican majority, and Zephyr will help count votes on the floor of the chamber that once barred her. Both parties have named affordability as a top concern, which may shape where the two sides find common ground and where they clash.
Sources:
apnews.com, dailymontanan.com, helenair.com, ktvh.com, thepinknews.com, leg.mt.gov
