ONE OF US,
FOR ALL OF US.
Russell Cleveland is a Montana rancher, father, business owner, coach, and Navy veteran who knows the value of rolling up your sleeves and looking out for your neighbors. He lives in the community year-round and believes Montanans deserve a Representative who truly understands their lives, not as a visitor just passing through, but as a neighbor living just down the road. Russ is running for Congress to fight for affordable healthcare, homes people can actually afford, strong public schools, jobs that pay a living wage, and a democracy that belongs to the people. His campaign is about working together, speaking up, and proving that Montanans are never afraid to take on a challenge.
FROM MONTANA, FOR MONTANA
Raised on a farm in Stevensville, Russell knows what it means to work hard, care for your neighbors, and fight for the community you love. As a husband and father, he is determined to leave the next generation a Montana that is strong, safe, and full of opportunity.
Big money and outside interests have turned Montana’s beautiful lands into a bargaining chip and treated our families like collateral, but Montanans never back down from a challenge and we are ready to fight back. Our public lands, local businesses, schools, and communities deserve leaders who fight for them every single day, and we will not settle for leaders who put profits and partisan politics ahead of people. It is time to reclaim our state, protect what is ours, and build a Montana that works for the working class.
Russell’s platform
I’ll be honest, I never dreamed of being a politician. But as a father who has faced the heartbreak of losing a daughter and a Navy veteran who swore to defend this country, I know what it means to take responsibility for something bigger than myself. When I saw the same political dysfunction that caused my family so much pain spreading through every corner of American life, I knew waiting for someone else to fix it was no longer an option. Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues wherever the country needs you most. That’s why I’m running for Congress: to protect families, fight for fair healthcare and affordable housing, defend our nation’s values, and give every American a fair chance at a future worth fighting for.
Healthcare is a Human Right
My family lived the nightmare of losing a child to cancer and nearly losing another when insurance denied lifesaving care. I’m running to make sure no American faces that pain again. Healthcare is a human right, not a profit source, and no one should go bankrupt to survive. I’ll cap prescription drug prices to stop corporate gouging, lower costs for working families, and restore rural healthcare by reopening clinics, expanding telemedicine, and ensuring every Montanan can access emergency care within an hour.
Affordable and Accessible Housing
Homes are for families, not hedge funds. I’ll fight to put Montanans back in control of their neighborhoods by expanding affordable housing, reforming zoning laws, and banning corporate ownership of single-family homes. Every Montanan deserves a fair shot at home-ownership, so I’ll push for creative lending solutions to lower costs and cap property taxes on primary residences, with lifelong reductions for disabled veterans.
Protecting Democracy and Privacy
Big money and mass surveillance are silencing Americans and undermining our rights. I’ll fight to restore power and privacy to the people by overturning Citizens United, banning dark money, and ensuring fair representation for all, including honoring tribal sovereignty and giving Indigenous communities real influence in federal decisions. I’ll also take on Big Tech and end the collection and sale of our personal data, protecting every American’s right to privacy.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Our commitment to human rights must be absolute; every person deserves dignity, equality, and freedom. I’ll defend personal freedom by protecting reproductive rights, safeguarding LGBTQ+ equality, and working to codify the Equal Rights Amendment so that all Americans are treated fairly under the law.
I’ll also stand with Indigenous communities by restoring federal funding, expanding access to education, healthcare, housing, and justice, and strengthening tribal sovereignty and economic opportunity. And I’ll fight for an immigration system that reflects our values—one that provides fair, efficient pathways to citizenship, recognizes immigrants’ contributions, and supports global partnerships so people can build better lives wherever they choose to call home.
Education and Family Support
Our kids deserve a fair shot, and parents shouldn’t have to choose between time with their families and putting food on the table. I’ll fight for affordable childcare, well-funded public schools, and family policies that truly support working Americans, starting with six weeks of fully funded parental leave and universal childcare and Pre-K. Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves the time and support to give it to them.
Educators also deserve fair pay and respect for the vital work they do. I’ll push for living wages for teachers and childcare providers, modernize education to prepare students for college or skilled trades, and end the student loan debt trap by eliminating interest on federal loans and prioritizing investment in an educated, empowered workforce.
Environmental Stewardship
Our economy and environment are being exploited by the wealthy few, and it’s time to take them back. I’ll hold corporations accountable, protect public resources, and ensure every Montanan has access to clean air, water, and land. Our natural heritage is priceless, and I’ll champion policies that curb climate change, reduce pollution, and safeguard Montana’s landscapes for future generations.
I’ll keep public lands in public hands, defend wilderness protections, and fight to prevent corporate takeover or backdoor development. At the same time, I’ll work to restore Montana’s timber industry through sustainable practices and innovation, revitalizing local economies while preserving the forests that make our state home.
Future-Proof Economy
Our economy is rigged for billionaires and corporations while working families are left behind. I’ll fight to close tax loopholes, curb corporate greed, and ensure no American below the poverty line pays federal income tax. That means linking executive pay to worker wages, protecting Social Security by removing the income cap, and opposing reckless cuts to essential programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits. It’s time to put power and prosperity back in the hands of working Americans.
I’ll also push for a higher minimum wage, stronger unions, and a diversified energy economy that invests in renewables and keeps Montana’s communities strong and independent. By promoting fair pay, protecting workers, and preparing for the future, we can build a system that rewards hard work, not just wealth.
Foreign Policy and Defense
I will fight for a military that truly defends the nation, prioritizes veterans over defense contractors, and refuses to support atrocities at home or abroad. This means upholding international integrity by opposing genocide and supporting nations seeking independence, providing veterans with robust benefits and healthcare, and ending wasteful defense spending while keeping the military strong and ready for whatever the future holds.
