by Rep. David Bedey, HD 86, Hamilton
I’ve been honored since 2019 to serve the citizens of Hamilton in the Montana House of Representatives. But per our state’s constitution, my time in the House must come to an end. So after careful consideration, I’ve decided to run to represent Senate District 43, which ranges from Corvallis and Hamilton south through Darby and extends beyond Sula and up the West Fork. The primary election for this seat will be held on June 2, 2026.
Many of you know my background. For those who don’t, the short story is that I was born and raised in Hamilton, returned home after serving 30 years in the U.S. Army, and have engaged in public service ever since—first on the Hamilton school board and now in the state legislature. I am a traditional conservative and a “big tent” Reagan Republican.
The reason I’m running for the Senate is to continue being a voice for the many Montanans in Ravalli County and beyond who are weary of the vulgar hyper-partisanship that is infecting politics in our state. Citizens expect good government from legislators who do the hard work necessary to solve problems instead of striking ideological poses. That’s what I bring to the table.
Throughout my tenure in the legislature, I have been among the most effective legislators in terms of getting bills passed into law, with 50 bills to my credit. Among these are bills that provided funding for the Ravalli County Veterans Service Center, protected your right to worship during a state of emergency, ensured that vote-counting machines are secure and accurate, removed bureaucratic restrictions on how schools like Darby can expend funds bequeathed to the district, strengthened the financial stability of rural hospitals, and increased parent choice within the public school system. I stand ready to continue doing this work.
If these were ordinary times, I would not have written this letter until next spring. But these are not ordinary times. Already, misleading anonymous television ads and robocalls are attacking traditional conservative legislative candidates across Montana. This is undoubtedly part of a scheme hatched by the far-right fringe of my party to purge the party of those who don’t conform to its narrow definition of “conservatism.”
There is more at stake here than intra-party politics. In today’s toxic political environment, citizens increasingly view each other as enemies rather than as neighbors who simply disagree on some issues. When one’s political opponents are branded as hated enemies, finding any common ground becomes increasingly difficult, if not impossible. Under these circumstances, the constitutional order put in place by our nation’s Founders cannot long survive.
I will neither compromise my conservative values nor neglect my duty to represent all of my constituents just to please party bosses who presume to be empowered to define what it means to be a conservative and to determine what counts as “conservative” policy—and who expect legislators to slavishly follow their orders.
We can restore civility to our politics and govern ourselves in a way envisioned by the Founders. It can be done. It starts here at home. If you agree, please support my candidacy.
David Bedey is a representative of the Montana House for District 86. He is also a candidate for Senate District 43.
Bruce Gillespie says
Very glad to hear you are moving foreword for a run in the Montana Senate. I appreciate your knowledge base in many areas that affect us in our daily lives. Thank you for helping me be a better Senator.
helen sabin says
HOORAY! A huge thank-you to DAVID BEDEY for stepping up to run for Senate District 43!
Your record in the Legislature is nothing short of outstanding. Every bill you’ve carried has put the people of Montana first — our kids, our communities, and the folks right here in the Bitterroot Valley.
And thank you for your service as a U.S. Army officer. Every veteran should appreciate a man who not only took an oath to the Constitution, but actually understands it — and keeps it. That alone puts you miles ahead of most politicians especially Kathy Love.
As Chair of the House Education Committee, you’ve taken school safety and educational improvement seriously, not as talking points but as real, measurable work. The valley knows it, parents know it, and teachers know it.
The Bitterroot Star did voters a favor putting your article next to Kathy Love’s. The contrast was… let’s just say illuminating. Love was one of the least effective representatives Corvallis, Darby, Conner, Sula, the West Fork, and parts of Hamilton have ever had. I’ve talked to at least twenty people in the district, and the most common response was: “Who?” That tells you everything. She did nothing for her constituents — including me.
You, on the other hand, know this valley, its people, its challenges, and how to get things DONE in Helena. Love can’t hold a candle to your experience, your work ethic, or your understanding of the issues that actually matter here.
Thank you, DAVID, for stepping up. I’ll be working for your election, and I know many others will too once they see your record. You are exactly what a legislator should be — knowledgeable, grounded, effective, and genuinely committed to the people you serve.
And unlike Love and Manzella, you didn’t have to bribe folks with “three free raffle tickets for a gun” just to get yard signs put up. That alone is refreshing.
SD43 deserves honesty. It deserves competence. It deserves someone who actually cares.
It deserves YOU.