Debate between Gianforte and Busse will air live online on October 16, and will be rebroadcast statewide on October 17
Contact: [email protected]
KALISPELL, Mont. — Montana voters and reporters will have several opportunities to watch the one and only debate with former firearms executive Ryan Busse that Gov. Greg Gianforte has agreed to.
After cancelling his participation in two traditional debates (sponsored by MTN and MontanaPBS), Gianforte agreed to an October 16 debate hosted by NonStop Local. NonStop Local operates the ABC/FOX affiliates in Missoula/Kalispell (KTMF), Bozeman/Butte (KWYB) and Great Falls/Helena (KFBB), and the NBC affiliate in Billings (KULR).
The debate between Gianforte and Busse will take place at 2 p.m. on October 16, and will air live online on nonstoplocal.com, as well as on the broadcast channel SWX.
MontanaPBS will rebroadcast Wednesday’s debate at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 17. NonStop Local will rebroadcast the debate over its air at 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 20.
The debate will take place in a TV studio with no live audience. It will be moderated by NonStop Local anchor Ben Wineman and paneled by NonStop Local anchor Bradley Warren and veteran Montana political reporter Mike Dennison.
DETAILS:
WHEN: Wednesday, October 16, 2-3 p.m. MDT
HOST: NonStop Local
WHO:
• Gov. Greg Gianforte
• Ryan Busse
• Mike Dennison, Panelist
• Bradley Warren, Panelist
• Ben Wineman, Moderator
LIVE (Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. MDT):
• Online: nonstoplocal.com
• Broadcast: “SWX” broadcast channels statewide
REBROADCASTS:
• Thursday, October 17, 7-8 p.m. MDT: MontanaPBS
• Sunday, October 20, 9-10 a.m. MDT: NonStop Local Affiliates (KTMF, KWYB, KFBB, KULR)
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.