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HELENA, Mont. — The campaign of former firearms executive Ryan Busse today reported another record fundraising haul, outraising tax-hiking billionaire Greg Gianforte by more than $75,000.
Busse and his lieutenant governor running mate Raph Graybill raised a total of $525,533.03 during the State of Montana’s campaign finance reporting period between June 16 and August 15. Public records show Gianforte’s campaign, “Greg” for Montana, raised only $449,707.56 during the same period.
“Gov. Gianforte raised property taxes, gave himself a tax cut, then lied about it,” said Busse for Montana campaign manager Aaron Murphy. “Gianforte attacked women’s freedoms and he waged war on public land and wildlife—making it more difficult for ordinary Montanans to live, work, hunt and fish in our state. No wonder so many folks—Republicans, Democrats and Independents—are fired up to show him the door in November.”
Busse for Montana has raised $1,695,429.79 between January 1 and August 15, shattering the period’s previous fundraising record for a non-incumbent Democratic candidate for governor (Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney raised $1,384,640.61 during the same period in 2020).
Busse has raised nearly $2.15 million since announcing his candidacy on September 14, 2023.
Montana law limits contributions to a gubernatorial campaign to $1,120 per individual, though “self-funding” is allowed. In 2020 Gianforte gave his own campaign $7.5 million.
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.