Bryce Bennett
Encyclopedia
Bryce Bennett is an American politician
from Montana
. A Democrat
, he serves in the Montana House of Representatives
, representing the 92nd house district, based in Missoula
.
, Bennett is a fifth-generation Montanan. At a young age, his family moved to Hysham, Montana
then, when Bennett was aged eight, to the Missoula Valley. He attended Lolo Elementary and Big Sky High School, before enrolling at the University of Montana.
While at U of M, Bennett was heavily involved in political activities, serving in elected positions with the Student Senate (ASUM), the Lambda Alliance and the College Democrats
. As a college senior, he served as president of the Montana College Democrats Federation, a statewide group.
in western Montana. Following the 2008 election, Bennett moved to Helena to take a job with the Montana House Democrats.
When Rep. Robin Hamilton
(D–Missoula) announced that he would not be seeking re-election in 2010, Bennett declared his candidacy for the seat. He was one of five candidates to run: two Democrats, two Republicans
and a Libertarian
. In the Democratic primary election held on June 8, Bennett won 85% of the vote, defeating his opponent by more than five-to-one. In the general election held on November 2, Bennett won narrowly: he took 50.4% of the vote while the Republican nominee won 46.9% and the Libertarian 2.7%. He took office in January 2011.
Bennett is openly gay. He is the first openly gay man to serve in the Montana legislature, where he joins two lesbians: Sen. Christine Kaufmann (D–Helena
) and Rep. Diane Sands
(D–Missoula). His 2010 campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he serves in the Montana House of Representatives
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
, representing the 92nd house district, based in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
.
Early life and education
Born in BillingsBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, Bennett is a fifth-generation Montanan. At a young age, his family moved to Hysham, Montana
Hysham, Montana
Hysham is a town in and the county seat of Treasure County, Montana, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hysham is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.It is bordered to the north by the Yellowstone...
then, when Bennett was aged eight, to the Missoula Valley. He attended Lolo Elementary and Big Sky High School, before enrolling at the University of Montana.
While at U of M, Bennett was heavily involved in political activities, serving in elected positions with the Student Senate (ASUM), the Lambda Alliance and the College Democrats
College Democrats
The College Democrats of America is the official youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party. It consists of over 100,000 college and university students from across the United States. The organization has served as a way for college students to connect with the Democratic Party and Democratic...
. As a college senior, he served as president of the Montana College Democrats Federation, a statewide group.
In politics
After graduating in 2007, Bennett went to work for the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
in western Montana. Following the 2008 election, Bennett moved to Helena to take a job with the Montana House Democrats.
When Rep. Robin Hamilton
Robin Hamilton
Robin Hamilton was a former Democratic Party member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 92 from January 2005 to January 2011. He did not seek re-election in 2010 and was succeeded by Democrat Bryce Bennett.-External links:...
(D–Missoula) announced that he would not be seeking re-election in 2010, Bennett declared his candidacy for the seat. He was one of five candidates to run: two Democrats, two Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and a Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
. In the Democratic primary election held on June 8, Bennett won 85% of the vote, defeating his opponent by more than five-to-one. In the general election held on November 2, Bennett won narrowly: he took 50.4% of the vote while the Republican nominee won 46.9% and the Libertarian 2.7%. He took office in January 2011.
Bennett is openly gay. He is the first openly gay man to serve in the Montana legislature, where he joins two lesbians: Sen. Christine Kaufmann (D–Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
) and Rep. Diane Sands
Diane Sands
Diane Sands is an American politician from Montana. A Democrat, she serves in the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 95th house district, based in Missoula.-Biography:Born in St. Ignatius, Montana, Sands obtained a B.A...
(D–Missoula). His 2010 campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
.