Elections 2026

Endorsements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2026

Indivisible Missoula Endorses Russell Cleveland for Congress

Missoula, MT--Indivisible Missoula issued the following statement announcing its endorsement of Russell Cleveland, a Democrat running for Montana’s First Congressional District.

“We are proud to support Russell Cleveland in his campaign to represent the people of the First Congressional District. Russ will be a champion for all Montanans in the district and exemplifies Indivisible Missoula’s values: tax fairness, affordability for all and environmental protection. He is committed to rebuilding our democracy, defending our freedoms, and holding the Trump administration accountable.”

“Raised in Stevensville, Russell Cleveland is a U.S. Navy veteran, a high school football coach, and an entrepreneur who founded and ran a successful child care company. Russ has traveled the district for more than a year, listening to voters in communities of all sizes about what matters to them. He’s got bold ideas for how to make our government work for everyone, not just the ultra wealthy. We’ve been impressed with his depth of knowledge on how public policy impacts real families, and by his clear passion for helping our community thrive.”

“Russell Cleveland’s platform resonates with us and fits with the values that matter to us. His key priorities are improving healthcare by enacting Medicare for All, lowering drug prices, strengthening rural clinics and funding cancer research; ending DC corruption by refusing corporate PAC money and banning dark money; investing in communities through universal child care, universal Pre-K, and ensuring our veterans receive the care they deserve.”

“Montana's First Congressional District is already on the national radar — the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has included it on its official list of "Districts in Play" for 2026. With Ryan Zinke's retirement, this is an open seat for the first time since the district was created, and an opportunity Democrats cannot afford to miss. We need to elect pro-democracy candidates who are willing and able to fight like our nation’s future depends on it, because it does. To win this seat, we need a candidate who can inspire a broad coalition of voters from every corner of our district. We believe Russell Cleveland has the vision it takes to be that candidate. Indivisible Missoula is ready to help mobilize this district and do the work to send him to Congress.”

Russell Cleveland responded to the endorsement: “I’m incredibly grateful to earn the endorsement of Indivisible Missoula. My campaign has never been about politics as usual, it’s about people stepping up, speaking out, and taking ownership of our future. Together, we’re proving that when a campaign truly belongs to the people, it becomes something powerful enough to change everything.”

To earn Indivisible Missoula’s first-ever endorsement, Russell Cleveland participated in a candidate forum and members were presented with his policy positions on a wide range of issues. Russell ultimately earned 63.6 percent of the vote in a ranked-choice voting system.

Indivisible Missoula members will be launching weekend canvasses for Russell and will be organizing evening phone banks with the goal of reaching out to voters in the district.

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About Indivisible Missoula: Indivisible Missoula is part of a nationwide grassroots movement of millions of everyday people organized at the local level to defend democracy. We fight back against authoritarianism and demand a political system that works for all of us. We're focused on dismantling the Trump administration, getting dark money out of Montana politics, protecting a nonpartisan judiciary, and keeping our elections free and fair.