Missoula Democratic state Sen. Bryce Bennett is resigning from the Montana Legislature to take a job in Washington D.C.
Effective Aug. 2, Bennett will leave his seat to work with a national group that helps voters cast their ballots early.
He says he’s grateful to have earned the trust of Missoulians for six consecutive legislative terms.
“And to get to be their advocate in the halls of the Capitol. I will deeply miss Missoula and Montana and the place that I’ve called home for my entire life so far,” Bennett says.
Bennett says his greatest achievement was voting to expand Medicaid in 2015. He also touts efforts to preserve voting access, reign in dark money in politics and protect the rights of LGTBQ+ Montanans.
Bennett was initially elected to the state House of Representatives in 2011, becoming the first openly gay man to serve in the Montana Legislature, according to a news release.
Bennett also ran for state secretary of state last year, losing the race to Republican Christi Jacobsen.
The term for Bennett’s Senate seat runs until 2023. The Missoula County Democratic Central Committee will identify three potential replacements for the Missoula Board of County Commissioners to review and ultimately choose a new senator.
Kevin Trevellyan is Yellowstone Public Radio's Report for America statehouse reporter.
