Ler will become Montana’s Speaker of the House, while Fitzpatrick will serve as majority leader

Rep. Brandon Ler, R- Savage, speaks on the House floor on February 15, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan)

The Montana House Republican Caucus on Tuesday voted Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage, as Speaker of the House for the 69th Legislative Session.

"We have an express mandate from Montanans to roll up our sleeves and begin correcting the 16 years of Democratic administration destruction," Ler said in a speech before the vote. "Because of the huge accomplishments we've had in the last few sessions, I believe it's time for us to dig deep into some difficult issues and work together to provide good outcomes for all Montana."

Ler, who was selected over Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, is a third-term legislator who served as a majority whip during the 2023 session. He replaced former Speaker of the House Matt Regier, who won election to the Montana Senate and was elected President of the Senate on Tuesday. Ler said the state's governing majority should focus on reducing government spending, decrease the tax burden, and protecting families and individuals' constitutional rights. He also spoke about holding his own against the co-equal judicial branch of government.

"With the radical overreach of the judicial branch, as Speaker, I will not be afraid to flex the power we hold," he said, alluding to numerous rulings handed down against the 2023 Legislature by Montana courts during the last two years. "The judicial branch has nothing over me."

Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, was voted House Majority Leader. One of the legislature's longest serving members, Fitzpatrick was first elected to the state House in 2010, serving for three terms before moving to the state Senate for two terms. He served as Senate Majority Leader during the 2023 session.

In his nominating speech for Fitzpatrick, first-time lawmaker Greg Overstreet, R-Florence, lauded Fitzpatrick's 14 years of experience as a legislator and expertise on legislative rules, a boon to a caucus with 19 freshman lawmakers.

Fitzpatrick told lawmakers they were part of a top-quality team sent to Helena to serve the people of Montana and enact the policies their constituents expect them to pass year.

"There's no better feeling than walking out of here and saying, 'Look at all the things we did,'" Fitzpatrick said. "That's the best feeling in the world."

For Speaker Pro Tem, Republicans selected Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, one of the legislature's youngest members, over Jodee Etchart, R-Billings, and Brad Barker, R-Red Lodge.

The caucus also elected five House Majority Whips during the course of three ballots — Reps. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls; Amy Regier, R-Kalispell; Marta Bertoglio, R-Montana City; Steve Gist, R-Cascade; and Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade.

House Democrats elected Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, to replace 2023 House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, who termed out after the 2023 session. The caucus will have more negotiating power with the majority after breaking the Republican supermajority by picking up at least nine seats in the recent election due to redistricting. The Republicans maintain a strong 58-41 majority with one house race, HD 57, still to be called.

"I am honored that my colleagues have chosen me as House Minority Leader," Sullivan said in a statement. "Montana's House Democrats will bring a package of legislation to protect freedom, promote fairness, and advance affordability for Montanans, and I am looking forward to leading our caucus as we work to get Montana back on track."

Reps. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, SJ Howell, D-Missoula, Melissa Romano, D-Helena and Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula, will serve as House Minority Whips. Rep. Jennifer Lynch, D-Butte, will serve as the caucus chair.

The 2025 legislative session will begin on Jan. 6 and last approximately 90 days.