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Christine Kaufmann (Montana politician)
Encyclopedia
Christine Kaufmann is a Montana
politician
. A member of the Montana Senate
since January 2007, she previously served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives
. She represents the 41st senate district, based in Helena
.
from Goshen College
and a Master's degree
from the University of Montana.
A Democrat
, she was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000 from the state's 53rd district in Helena
, winning a four-way primary election with 49% of the vote. She then went on to win the general election (in a district considered safe Democratic) by more than two-to-one. She was re-elected in 2002 before the district was renumbered the 81st in time for the 2004 elections. She was re-elected with little opposition in 2004 and 2006.
In November 2006, Senator Ken Toole, halfway through his second term representing the 41st senate district, was elected to the Montana Public Service Commission
causing him to resign his senate seat. The following month, Kaufmann, who was about to enter her fourth and final term in the House (the result of term limit
s), was chosen by the county commission
ers of Lewis and Clark County
to replace him in the senate. The seat was up for election in 2008 and, on June 3, 2008, she faced a spirited primary challenge from termed out
state representative Hal Jacobson (D–Helena). Kaufmann defeated him by 2,889 votes to 2,436 – roughly 54-46%.
A lesbian
, she is the first ever openly gay Montana state senator, although she was not the first LGBT member of the legislature – Rep. Diane Sands
(D–Missoula
) first entered the House in 1996. She is today one of three LGBT members of the Montana legislature, alongside Sands and Rep. Bryce Bennett
(D–Missoula). Her election campaigns have won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
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,...
politician
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...
. A member of the Montana Senate
Montana Senate
The Montana Senate is the upper house of the Montana State Legislature, the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Montana. The body is composed of 50 senators.-Composition of the Senate:-Officers:*Majority Whip: Greg Barkus...
since January 2007, she previously served three terms 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:...
. She represents the 41st senate district, based in 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...
.
Biography
Raised on a small family farm with 11 siblings, Kaufmann earned a Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Goshen College
Goshen College
Goshen College, is a private Mennonite liberal arts college in Goshen, Indiana, USA with an enrollment of around 1,000 students. The college is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities...
and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Montana.
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...
, she was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000 from the state's 53rd district in 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...
, winning a four-way primary election with 49% of the vote. She then went on to win the general election (in a district considered safe Democratic) by more than two-to-one. She was re-elected in 2002 before the district was renumbered the 81st in time for the 2004 elections. She was re-elected with little opposition in 2004 and 2006.
In November 2006, Senator Ken Toole, halfway through his second term representing the 41st senate district, was elected to the Montana Public Service Commission
Montana Public Service Commission
The Montana Public Service Commission is a quasi-judicial regulatory tribunal in the U.S. state of Montana.-Jurisdiction:The PSC generally regulates private, investor-owned natural gas, electric, telephone, water and private sewer companies doing business in Montana. In addition, the PSC regulates...
causing him to resign his senate seat. The following month, Kaufmann, who was about to enter her fourth and final term in the House (the result of term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s), was chosen by the county commission
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
ers of Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...
to replace him in the senate. The seat was up for election in 2008 and, on June 3, 2008, she faced a spirited primary challenge from termed out
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
state representative Hal Jacobson (D–Helena). Kaufmann defeated him by 2,889 votes to 2,436 – roughly 54-46%.
A lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, she is the first ever openly gay Montana state senator, although she was not the first LGBT member of the legislature – 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
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...
) first entered the House in 1996. She is today one of three LGBT members of the Montana legislature, alongside Sands and Rep. Bryce Bennett
Bryce Bennett
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.-Early life and education:...
(D–Missoula). Her election campaigns have 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...
.