HD 80 Hopeful Questions Whether Reservation Votes Should Count

Drew Zinecker, an aide to Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, made the comments during a meeting of the Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee. by Arren Kimbel-Sannit Montana Free Press

A legislative aide with aspirations of representing House District 80 in the 2023 Legislature questioned in public remarks Tuesday whether members of tribes living on reservations in Montana should be able to vote in state elections. “If the reservations want to say they are independent countries … but they want a lot of handouts, why are we counting their ballots?” said Drew Zinecker, who will this session serve as a staffer for Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, during a meeting of the Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee.

Mitchell did not respond to a request for comment.

The committee was gathered to advance potential appointees to HD 80, a district including parts of Lewis and Clark and Powell counties that was recently vacated by Rep. Becky Beard, R-Elliston, who herself was appointed this month to represent Senate District 40, a seat made vacant by the retirement of Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena. Zinecker, one of several candidates who stood for questioning by committee members Tuesday last week, made the comment to mixed applause during a conversation about election...