I support Erin Farris-Olsen for Senate District 41. Over the course of this spring, Erin has knocked on countless doors to better understand the concerns and priorities of her neighbors throughout the district. She is a thoughtful listener and an effective communicator, and she has made herself accessible to voters through informal public visiting sessions.

Erin Farris-Olsen understands the challenges working families face.

Although I no longer live in Helena, I keep close track of what's happening in my hometown. Something that excites me is Erin Farris-Olsen, who is running for the Montana Legislature and would have been my representative. And a darn good one.

Erin Farris-Olsen will make our legislature stronger.

Helenans living in Senate District 41 have an opportunity to make history on June 2 by voting for Erin Farris-Olsen.

Erin and her two children are part of Helena’s urban Indigenous community and enrolled members of the Brothertown Indian Nation, headquartered in and recognized by the state of Wisconsin. If elected, Farris-Olsen has pledged to join Montana’s American Indian Caucus, an influential, bipartisan group of legislators that delivers results for both native and non-native communities.

Right now, SD 41 is one of 14 legislative districts where a Native American is running for the state legislature. If Native American are ultimately elected to each of these 14 districts then they would comprise 9.3 percent of all lawmakers in the House and Senate. That mark would not only set a record for Native American representation in our state capitol, it would also match, exactly, the percentage of Native Americans in Montana’s population as a whole.

In addition to Erin’s experience as a statewide non-profit leader, conservationist, and lawyer, she’s also been a valuable member and partner of the Last Chance Community Powwow. Her leadership and energy have made Helena’s Powwow committee stronger, and I have no doubt she would make our legislature stronger, too.

Please vote Erin Farris-Olsen for SD 41.

Erin Farris-Olsen will make Montana better.

In the Democratic primary for Senate District 41, I am proud to recommend Erin Farris-Olsen.

To borrow an analogy from track and field season in Montana, Erin is the leader who will “explode off the blocks” in the Capitol. She possesses the rare ability to master complex rules, build meaningful coalitions, and lead from day one.

While she has been a dear friend for years, I saw her political leadership and tenacity firsthand during the 2024 election. Erin took on a challenge no one else would: running for Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court. She campaigned with intelligence, creativity, and deep humanity. Since then, she has stayed in the trenches as a Montana State Senate aide, successfully helping to defeat some of the most extreme legislative proposals despite lopsided majorities favoring the other party.

That is the grit and experience Democrats need in a Senator. Erin is a future standout who will make our party proud and our state better. We need her leadership in the Capitol, and I urge my fellow Democrats to cast their vote for her in the upcoming primary.

Erin stands out as the highly qualified, deeply committed, and energetic choice for Senate District 41. She understands the challenges facing Montanans statewide and here in Helena, along with the importance of balancing competing needs through consensus and compromise.

Erin is a lawyer, mom, wife, administrator, and advocate who is committed to preserving Montana values for the long term. Her conservation background is especially notable, and her work to protect public access to public lands and support water conservation has been impressive.

Erin understands that property taxes and school funding are among the biggest challenges affecting affordability in Montana, and she is focused on developing thoughtful, long-term solutions. She listens, works hard, and is committed to making sound decisions that benefit SD 41 families and communities across Montana.

Erin is genuine, candid, and ready to make a difference in the state Senate. Please vote for Erin Farris-Olsen!

I’m a student at Capital High School. I’m writing this letter to ask readers to vote for Erin Farris-Olsen for Montana Senate District 41 because I can’t.

My reason for this is simple: Erin listens. This sets her apart from other politicians. She’s willing to listen to students who have no say in her race, whereas many in office can’t even be bothered to listen to their own voters. This comes from a deep humility and kindness that allows her to recognize she doesn’t have all the answers, and she isn’t afraid to admit that.

In a world where, more than ever, big egos collide in politics, we need her calm, responsive, and responsible leadership guiding our state. She represents a new kind of leader, capable of stabilizing the state when the world around us changes more quickly than we can understand.

She is also a mother who cares about the quality of education for children in this state. She supports the construction of affordable housing and fair taxation to prevent Montana residents from being priced out. Above all, Erin will keep our government honest and accountable.

I believe Erin Farris-Olsen deserves your vote for Montana State Senate District 41 because she is a competent leader who will fight to keep prices down, provide a quality education for Montana’s children, and keep our government honest.

I think we have a chance to elect greatness in this primary and I hope we grab it.

Helena deserves a senator who gets it. Erin Farris-Olsen has already done the work. Now Helena needs her at the Capitol.

I know Erin as a neighbor and fellow public school parent. Most weekday mornings, we greet each other on the trail as we walk our kids to school. In those conversations, Erin shows up as curious, energetic, and deeply committed to making Montana a place where all people can thrive. Those qualities, paired with her experience, are exactly what we need in our state legislature.

Erin Farris-Olsen Will Be There For Us.

I am excited to support Erin Farris-Olsen in the primary election for Montana Senate District 41.

I have seen Erin at work in our community and know she brings the kind of smart, practical, people-focused leadership we need in Montana. She listens, builds connections, and is running to create positive, meaningful change, from working for fair taxes to investing in affordable housing, funding public education, and protecting our public lands.

Erin also has the right temperament and skills to get things done. She is a community builder who collaborates with others and speaks up when it matters most. That combination of strength and cooperation is exactly what we need right now.

Erin Farris-Olsen has skill set to serve us well

Helena’s Senate District 41 is lucky to have two really smart, capable women vying to serve. But given the sophistication of the legal attacks on the third leg of the democratic stool — the judicial branch — we will benefit more if we have a lawyer serve.

Our current legislature and executive want to strip as much authority from the judicial branch as possible to enforce their political agenda. Dense, tricky bills hide efforts to significantly restrict the Judicial Branch's authority. We need to lawyer up to stop them from prevailing. Courts are the backstop to legislative and executive overreach. Knowing the rules that control courts and how they work is critical to protecting our functional Democracy. Erin Farris-Olsen has that skill set and will serve us well. Please support her with your vote.

Senate District 41 has a fantastic candidate running to serve our Helena community in the Montana legislature. Montana’s Legislature needs new energy and new ways of thinking about complex issues — such as housing affordability, school funding, and real tax reform that addresses the needs of working Montanans. Erin Farris-Olsen is just the candidate to do it, and she deserves our vote.

Erin Farris-Olsen leads with character, courage, and empathy.

Twenty years ago, I was leading a group hike and, as usual, wandered us off trail into a ravine. After a moment of uncertainty, I asked the group, “Where should we go from here?” Erin was on that hike. As the group discussed possibilities, she listened, summarized the conversation, and suggested a route based on consensus. It turned out to be the right path. That moment has stayed with me because it captures how Erin leads: she understands real leadership begins with listening.

Erin is a generation younger than me and has two children under 10 attending Helena public schools. She’s devoted her professional life to public service and nonprofit leadership, and cares about you and me. Erin will pick up the torch for a new generation, while fighting for so many things I care about — affordability, public education, public lands, and Montana’s Constitution, to name a few.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Erin on issues important to Montana, including water policy, where I’ve seen firsthand her ability to bring diverse voices to the table and find practical, durable solutions.

Erin listens carefully, respects differing viewpoints, and works collaboratively to protect the resources that sustain our communities and economy.

Being a lawmaker is a complicated job, and experience matters. Erin Farris-Olsen has been involved with the legislature for several years. She worked with constituents, helping them bring their concerns to lawmakers. She knows how to work across the aisle. During the last session, she and other partners helped defeat more than 30 bills aimed at undermining Montana's courts.

Moving forward, we will need qualified, compassionate leaders at the state and local level who will ensure that all people — citizens and immigrants alike — are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect under the law.

Erin Farris-Olsen is that leader. She is a licensed attorney with experience in public policy and law, and she understands how decisions made in Helena affect real families.