Both Gov. Greg Gianforte and his gubernatorial opponent Ryan Busse remain confident heading into their first and likely only debate next month.

Gianforte, the sitting Republican governor, will “take the case” to the people of Montana at the Oct. 16 debate, he said, highlighting the record of his current administration.  

“I’m proud of our record and I know that when we share our record people are really supportive of what we’ve done in Montana,” Gianforte said this week. “... We’re in better shape than we were four years ago.”  

Democrat Busse, from Kalispell, disagrees. Ahead of the upcoming debate, Busse said that he will continue to do what he’s been doing on the campaign trail: meeting with voters and answering questions.  

Busse criticized Gianforte for what he believes is a lack of public discourse over the length of his administration, claiming that Gianforte rarely hears from or speaks to voters and concerned citizens.  

“I’m running because Gianforte is dismantling the basic fabric of what we believe, what all Montanans believe is important about this state.... public lands, public education.... he has jacked up property taxes on almost every homeowner in the state while he gave himself tax breaks,” Busse said.  

Recent polling shows Gianforte well ahead of Busse, holding a 54% to 38% margin according to a September poll by AARP.  

The governor is up by 26 points for voters over age 50, but leads by four points among younger voters.  

The two candidates agreed to the Oct. 16 debate after Gianforte declined to participate in two other debates. The Oct. 16 showdown will be hosted by NonStop Local and moderated by Mike Dennison, a former statehouse reporter, and NonStop Local host Bradley Warren.  

As of last week, the two campaigns were still finalizing the details.  

Prior to agreeing to debate, Gianforte questioned Busse’s legitimacy as a credible candidate, referencing his lead in statewide polls and criticizing the language Busse has used when speaking about the current administration. Gianforte’s campaign also requested that Busse release his tax returns, which he did in early September. 

“There was no back and forth. We accepted the debate invitation from day one,” Busse said.  

Busse questioned whether Gianforte genuinely wanted to debate after two other proposed debates were declined by Gianforte.  

“I’ve always wanted to debate because we have a great record to run on,” Gianforte said. “That being said, every candidate for governor in recent history... has released their tax returns.” 

GIANFORTE SAID his platform consists of two points: creating more good paying jobs and protecting the Montana way of life. His administration has delivered on that point, he said, with more people working in the state than ever before. 

As of August, the unemployment rate in Montana was 3.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau ranks that as 16th in the nation. The national unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July, the bureau reported in August.  

Gianforte also pointed toward his efforts with Montana’s wage growth and increasing open access to public lands and block management as other highlights from his first term.  

Property taxes are a familiar issue for many Montanans across the state, after they spiked by 20% of more for many homeowners last year. 

Gianforte expressed goals of passing legislation that includes a homestead exemption, which would award tax breaks to primary residence owners while raising the rate on second homes and large commercial properties. The policy was developed through the statewide Property Tax Task Force, created by Gianforte’s administration. 

“I’m proud of the record we have, I wouldn't say the [housing] problem is solved... but we’ve been more active than any other state in the country,” Gianforte said this week.  

Busse criticized the governor’s stance on property taxes, referencing comments he and other Republicans made last year that property tax increases were the fault of counties and school districts that failed to budget correctly. 

“I'm sick of the lies being peddled out in the public by my governor and by other people writing letters to the editor who have no clue what it takes to run a city,” Kalispell mayor Mark Johnson said in response to the claims during a council meeting in December 2023. “ ... Once he finally understands [our budget], if he has some criticism or some opportunity to give us input, I will take it, but until that point the governor better shut the hell up.” 

Busse released a property tax plan in August that looks to cut the tax rate for all residential properties. Another idea is a sliding tax rate based on value.  

Gianforte criticized Busse’s platform, stating that it would raise taxes on small businesses, farms and ranches by 20% while giving a tax cut to out of staters. Busse called the statement “another lie cooked up by Gianforte.” 

The proposal would reduce the state tax rate on both homeowners and small businesses to the same level tit was in 2022; it would have almost no impact on agricultural property, Busse said.  

Specifically, the plan would lower Montana’s residential property rate from 1.35% to 0.94%, as suggested by the Montana Department of Revenue in 2022.  

WALKING AWAY from the debate, Gianforte hopes that Montana voters feel that the American dream is within closer reach for them if they vote to reelect the incumbent. 

Busse said he hopes voters realize that electing him means creating a Montana of equal opportunity. 

“This is a pretty basic, straight down the middle campaign for the very essence of what we think Montana is,” Busse said.  

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.

    Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks Thursday during the Governors’ Cup kick-off luncheon at Flathead Valley Community College. The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, along with the Montana Chamber of Foundation which is holding the Governors’ Cup golf tournament in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)