Reilly Neill — Candidate Profile

Party: Democrat

Running in: Montana Senate Race

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsAll StoriesUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyCommunity PicksAbout
← US Map>Montana>Senate Race>Reilly Neill

Reilly Neill

DemocratMontana Senate Race
Campaign Website →

Summary

Reilly Neill (born 7 September 1973) is an American politician from Montana. A member of the Democratic Party, she is a candidate for Montana's US Senate seat, currently held by Republican Steve Daines. Neill served in the Montana House of Representatives for one term, from 2013 to 2015. Neill founded and published Livingston Current, a weekly newspaper that covered the arts, entertainment, and culture of Park County, Montana. from 2003 until 2012. She also published The Montana Press, a statewide arts and entertainment journal, from 2019 until 2021, which won numerous Society of Professional Journalism awards.

Background

Neill, 52, came to Montana in the late 1990s. She ran a weekly newspaper in Livingston for about ten years, and then published a free statewide publication called the Montana Press until the COVID pandemic. She was elected to the Montana House in 2012 and served one term. In 2019, she announced a campaign for governor, but she withdrew before the 2020 primary.

Campaign Platform

Economy
Cost of Living Relief
"Rent, groceries, cost of living are all sky-high in the least affordable state to live in the country. I'm tired of the status quo nationwide and in my own party. I'm focused on issues like supporting our agricultural economy, funding public education, and addressing cost of living and government overreach."
Healthcare
Family Insurance Act
Neill Proposes Family Insurance Act to Strengthen Montana Families and Rural Healthcare, legislation that would allow children to remain on their parents' health insurance
Environment
Environmental Stewardship
"Staring us in the face is the need to tackle the tough issues of persistent drought, deluges, and wildfire across the state and continue work within our state agencies to identify, manage, adjust and prepare for projected impacts in order to fortify Montana's economy and make it strong and sustainable in the face of climate change."

Key Issue Positions

Agricultural Economy

Support for farmers and ranchers

"I'm focused on issues like supporting our agricultural economy, funding public education, and addressing cost of living and government overreach."

Voting History: N/A as she is running in Democratic primary

Voting Rights

Protect voting access

Neill says Montana voters are increasingly frustrated by impacts from tariffs, rising costs and threats to health care and public assistance. She says one of her top concerns is protecting the right to vote.

Voting History: N/A as she is running in Democratic primary

Voting Record

Neill (Democratic Party) was a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 62. She assumed office on January 7, 2013. She left office on January 5, 2015.

Social Media Activity

Neill emphasizes grassroots, personal connection with voters rather than extensive digital media presence.

Recurring Themes
Ground-game focused campaigningIn-person voter engagementCommunity trust building

Contradictions

Claim: Neill claims she doesn't take corporate or dirty money
Reality: "And I think my campaign has done that, on what some might call limited resources. We don't take any corporate money, we don't take any dirty money."
Source: KTV (Montana news)

What Opponents Say

Seth Bodnar (Independent)

Neill is critical of independent candidacy

She's also been the Democratic candidate most vocally critical of Bodnar, saying no independent has successfully won a congressional election in Montana and arguing Bodnar will only split the vote and allow a Republican to win.

Endorsements

Mayor Wilmot Collins (Helena)individualAt noon today I filed for U.S. Senate at the Montana Capitol in Helena. My friend Wilmot Collins, Helena's two-term mayor, joined me along with members of our team.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia - Reilly Neill
  2. Reilly Neill for U.S. Senate Official Site