‘Most inaccessible, least transparent’ governor formally says no to MTN and MontanaPBS debates on October 1 and October 7
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KALISPELL, Mont. — Governor Greg Gianforte has officially canceled two televised, statewide debates with the Montana Television Network, MontanaPBS, Lee Newspapers, Yellowstone Public Radio, and Montana Public Radio—news organizations that have traditionally hosted debates among candidates for governor.
Because Gianforte has formally refused to participate, both debates are now “off” according to the news organizations.
Former firearms executive Ryan Busse, who outraised the “incredibly vulnerable” Gianforte in the most recent fundraising period, immediately accepted invitations to participate in both debates.
“Governor Gianforte is the most inaccessible, least transparent governor in the history of this state, and it’s no wonder why he doesn’t want to defend his disaster of a record in a public forum,” Busse said. “Look, I get why Gianforte doesn’t want to explain why he raised property taxes, how he made Montana the most unaffordable its ever been, why he’s locking up public lands and wildlife, why he kicked kids off of health care, and how he plans to keep yanking away women’s rights to freedom and privacy. But the people of Montana deserve to hear answers directly from him.”
Busse has called on Gianforte to accept at least two debates before October 17.
The Montana Television Network invited both Busse and Gianforte to participate in a debate on October 1. In early June, MontanaPBS—along with Lee Newspapers, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio—invited both candidates to participate in a live debate on October 7.
Gianforte also refused to participate in a debate sponsored by the Missoula City Club, proposed for August 12.
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.