PABLO — Busse introduced himself and met with Tribal Council to discuss issues important to tribal members as he campaigns.
Growing up on a farm in a small town in rural Kansas and living in Kalispell for the past 30 years have given him an appreciation for Montana’s way of life.
“Montana has made me a better person,” Busse said. “I feel the state is being made into a playground for billionaires and taken away from everyday Montanans.”
Busse enjoys hunting and the outdoors with his family. Some of his favorite memories with family in the outdoors are at places on the reservation. He also enjoys spending time on the Blackfeet Reservation where he’s made several friends.
“I’m worried that all of our Montana kids aren’t going to be able to live and experience this place like we did,” Busse said.
For many years, he worked in the firearms industry and helped build one of the world’s top gun companies. Conservative politics, racism, and rampant fear-mongering motivated Busse to end his 30-year career in the firearms industry. Called a whistleblower, Busse turned his back on the gun industry and their questionable tactics.
Believing that decency and responsibility were no longer valued by the gun industry frustrated Busse. He wrote a book called “Gunfight-My Battle against the Industry that Radicalized America.” Busse appeared on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Al Franken’s Podcast, NowThis News, CNN, Vice News, Chris Hayes Podcast, and ABC News to talk about his battle against the gun industry’s tactics to increase profits.
On Sept. 14, Busse announced he was running for Governor. Although Busse has never held political office, he is known as an environmental advocate who served in leadership roles for conservation organizations.
“I’m worried that the Republican supermajority and this governor are imperiling many of the things that I think are sacred and special about Montana. I think one of those is our relationship with our Native populations. I think that some of the racist, ugly rhetoric that has come out of the Republican Party in the last two or three years is terrible. It’s embarrassing. It takes us back to a time when there wasn’t respect, and I’m deeply, deeply troubled about it,” Busse said when asked why he wanted to run for governor.
Seeing outright racism during the last legislative session appalled Busse. Seeing first hand how elected officials felt that it was okay to think the way they did and speak openly didn’t sit right with Busse.
So far on his campaign tour, he’s traveled hundreds of miles and visited the Flathead and Blackfeet Reservations. With plans to visit every reservation and rural towns, in addition to the larger cities in Montana, Busse hopes to engage with the real Montanans.
He told Tribal Council that representing all of Montana, including rural and tribal communities, is a priority. “I’m going to spend a lot of time in the rural areas of the state because they’re important,” Busse said.
Tribal leaders expressed support for Medicaid expansion and ensuring tribal consultation on policy decisions that impact Native communities. Tribal leaders requested that Busse maintain liaison positions to continue communication between the state and tribes on policy issues. Busse said he is committed to maintaining or strengthening those positions.
Education was also a key topic. Tribal members emphasized the importance of the Indian Education for All program and ensuring curriculum taught the history and culture of Montana tribes from an indigenous perspective. “Education should be provided through your lens, not through somebody else’s lens,” Busse agreed.
Economic development on reservation was another priority discussed. CSKT operates businesses to be self-sufficient and fund tribal government services without taxation. Busse pledged cooperation on economic development as governor.
Busse criticized the Republican supermajority in the state legislature and current Gov. Greg Gianforte for policies he says are making the state unaffordable for working people. He cited rising housing costs, underfunding of public schools and a lack of respect for scientific wildlife management.
“My point here is that the governor and the state are instituting policies that are making this stuff worse, not making it better.”
If elected, Busse said his top priorities would be improving public education by fully funding public schools and teachers, implementing a fairer tax system and housing policies for working Montanans to be able to afford to live here, implementing scientific management of wildlife and agencies, and rural health care accessible to everyone.
“If anything, we should make life easier on Montana residents,” Busse said.
Busse will continue campaigning across Montana in the lead-up to the 2024 election. At this point, he’s running unopposed in the primary and is set to run against current Republican Gov. Gianforte.