Montana gains second US house seat.

[MontanaMama]

https://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/montana-gains-second-u-s-house-seat/article_96782d3d-b936-5285-8e7a-745dd5667737.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

For my fellow citizens of Big Sky Country, I see this as a blessing or a curse. Representation is wonderful if you’re represented. From my vantage point in Missoula, I feel overrun with people from other places...our home prices are insane, we have a labor shortage and wages are low in general. I worry about the influx of folks from places with politics far more conservative that what I’m used to in blue Missoula. I hope this is good news but in the current Daines/Gianforte environment, I am skeptical.

Where are you all with this news?

[msongs]

1. another seat for klan wannabee? hope not nt

[2naSalit]

2. I'm right there with you...

A six hour drive away but still in Montana. I am just heartsick about what we have for a legislative body and the gov. This is the same shit that made me move out of Idaho. And now Montana is turning into fucking Wyodaho.

I hope we can get a real representative for that seat.

[LaMouffette]

3. I'm both scared and hopeful.

I'm scared because the Republicans are going to do everything possible to make sure that a Republican fills that seat. But I'm hopeful because I think many of the newcomers that are increasing Montana's population are from California. I have no evidence of this, . . . wait! Here's something:

Californians moving to Montana outpace Montanans moving to California

MISSOULA, Mont. — According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more people moving out of California each year than there are moving in. The main reason cited is the cost of living is too high in California.

Between 2016 and 2018, 15,611 Californians moved to Montana. Some 6,562 Montanans moved to California in those three years.

According to U-Haul’s website, it’s actually more expensive to move to Montana from California than vice versa.

To compare, on one day in December, the cost to rent a 20-foot truck, if you pick it up in Missoula to move to San Francisco, is $653. The same size truck costs $3,336 to pick up in San Francisco en route to Missoula.

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/californians-moving-to-montana-outpace-montanans-moving-to-california

So what with the high cost of living in California, plus the devastating wildfires, this trend might continue. Fingers crossed that a lot of them will be Democrats.

[MontanaMama]

4. I live in Missoula.

I'm hopeful the influx of people will bring some Democrats...but I can tell you there are plenty of out of state license plates from TX, GA, MO and more. If we get more democratic voters it might take the edge off the negative aspects of so many people coming here. It feels like an invasion, let me tell you. And, if the folks coming in from CA are trying to escape wildfires...they've got another thing coming.

[LaMouffette]

5. I'm just down the road from you, and I would put up with a dozen new subdevelopments just to

turn my red county blue!

Okay, a dozen new subdevelopments would suck badly. I wouldn't want that in reality. But it's so depressing. I have pretty much decided not to shop at any place of business in my county because about 100 businesses actually took out a full-page ad in the paper listing all the businesses that would PROUDLY refuse to require their customers or employees to wear a mask. But I was in one of the little towns today to get my 2nd Covid shot (woo-hoo!) and when that was done, it struck me that I really wanted to buy some sunflower seeds to plant, it being such a plant-sunflower-seeds kind of day.

So I donned my mask and some gloves and thought I would just duck in real quick, get my seeds, and split. But when I saw the grumpy old guy behind the counter not wearing a mask and giving me the stink eye because I had one on, I turned around and left in disgust.

Hopefully, we will get more Dems, even from the red states you list, but as a trickle, not an onslaught, so that we can turn MT blue before the Repubs realize it's happening. I mean, if AZ could turn blue in 2020, anything is possible!

P.S. Love, love, love Missoula! We lived there for the first two years we were here, on Pine Street. It was wonderful being able to just walk to the Farmer's Market on the weekend and visit all the great stores and restaurants downtown. Still go there at least once a week, and will be going there a lot more to do all my shopping, once my two-week waiting period is up.

[MontanaMama]

6. Well hello neighbor!

Nice to have another Montanan here on DU. So I live just up the hill from Pine Street. I ride my bike down to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s. I didn’t go to the market once last summer however. Downtown has so much to offer...and it is changing...no doubt about it. My mom in law lives down in Stevensville and that place is full of Covid deniers and maskholes. She’s vaccinated and she still double masks everywhere she goes. People give her a hard time about it but she gives it right back. Good for you for doing the right thing by wearing a mask and protecting yourself.

[LaMouffette]

7. Hey, there, MontanaMama! The more Montana Dems, the better! I'm glad you're here, too!

Yes, the town I was alluding to in my earlier post was Stevensville, and it is indeed crawling with deniers and maskholes. I got my 2nd dose of Moderna at Super1 a couple of days ago and had to hang out for 15 minutes afterwards to make sure I didn't have a reaction. I just stayed in the pharmaceuticals aisle, thinking how many people could be shopping for Pepto Bismol at that time of day? But there were so many people cruising by in the main aisle, maskless, and one of them was coughing and hacking loudly, not to be a jerk, I think he was just sick, but oh, man, I just felt panicky—and angry. I don't understand how people can be that inconsiderate and feel so put out by the simple act of wearing a mask.

So that's my rant for today!

You're lucky to live so close to downtown. I miss it, but at least we're not too far away here in the Bitterroot. Looking forward to being able to visit the Farmer's Market this year, still masked, but feeling safer!

All the best! LaMouffette

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. Congratulations. Now you get to be gerrymandered. NT

[MontanaMama]

9. You're not kidding.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Somehow, Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman will all end up the same district.

The remaining 98% of the area of Montana will end up in the other.

[MontanaMama]

11. No doubt about it.

With the crew running the show now, all bets are off that this will end well.