MT Republican Party Gets New Executive Director, Plans to “Retake the Governor Seat”

This week, The Montana Republican Party chose a new Executive Director after former director Bowen Greenwood chose to step down after five years. Party chairman Will Deschamps appointed Carol College and University of Montana Law School graduate Chris Shipp to the position.

"He's got lots of experience in campaigns," said Deschamps. "He graduated from the law school here in Missoula. He's been communications director for several campaign, plus he's been communications director for the state party the last two cycles, in the heat of the cycle. I need someone that can write well and speak well for the party when I'm not available, and that's why I chose him."

New Executive Director Chris Shipp says that with majorities in the state legislature and all of the positions in the Public Service Commission in Republican hands, the Republican’s goal now is to take on the state land board.

"There's a big seat out there, and that is the governor's office," Shipp said. "We can do a lot from the legislature, but without the governor's office, a lot of it gets stopped or vetoed. That's going to be one of our main focuses going into 2016; working to take back that governor's seat, as well as focusing on increasing some of our seats on the state land board, whether that's Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, or State Auditor."

With Steve Daines in the Senate and Ryan Zinke in the house, the state Republican party will have more money and more staff to work with to get their message out.

Shipp says there is a "deep bench" of Republican candidates for Governor and whoever makes it to the ballot is sure to challenge governor Bullock on “his expanding of the state bureaucracy" and "his wanting to bring Obamacare into Montana through Medicaid expansion.”