Former firearms exec raises $46k more than unpopular governor
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KALISPELL, Mont. — Former firearms executive and candidate for governor Ryan Busse has outraised tax-hiking incumbent Greg Gianforte for the second public campaign finance reporting period in a row.
Public records show Busse raised $272,975.13 between August 16 and September 15. Gianforte raised only $226,776.90 during the same period.
This means Busse outraised Gianforte by $46,198.23 in a single month.
Busse also outraised Gianforte by more than $75,000 during the fundraising reporting period between June 16 and August 15, prompting Montana State University-Billings political science professor Paul Pope to describe Gianforte as “incredibly vulnerable.”
QUICK FACTS:
- Pronunciation: Ryan BUSS’-ee
- Home: Kalispell, Mont.
- Office Sought: Governor of Montana
- Affiliation: Democrat
- Website: busseformontana.com
- X (Twitter): @ryandbusse
- DOB: 2/23/70 (53)
- Occupation: Writer, Consultant, Firearms Expert and Former Executive (Vice President of Sales, Kimber America: 1995-2020)
- Family: Married to Sara for 24 years; two sons: Lander (18) and Badge (15)
- Alma Mater: Bethany College (Kansas)
- Chevy Odometer: 280,000 miles
- Hunting Dogs: Aldo and Teddy
- Bio: Ryan Busse is an author and former firearms executive who helped build the gun company Kimber from Kalispell between 1995 and 2020. Over his 25-year career Busse directed the sales of nearly three million Kimber firearms. His memoir, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, was published by PublicAffairs (Hachette) in 2021. Busse was born near the Kansas cattle ranch homesteaded by his great-grandfather. He is an avid hunter, angler and champion of public lands, and has held leadership positions with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Montana Conservation Voters. Busse and his wife Sara live in Kalispell and have two teenage sons.