 the East Coast in 1995 to Boze­man, Mont., where he found­ed the soft­ware com­pa­ny Right­Now Tech­nolo­gies. In 2011, he sold Right­Now for more than $1.8 bil­lion. He has poured mon­ey into con­ser­v­a­tive caus­es, includ­ing $6 mil­lion into his own failed guber­na­to­r­i­al cam­paign last year.

Many nation­al com­men­ta­tors char­ac­ter­ize Quist’s cam­paign as a quixot­ic long­shot in ​“deep red” Mon­tana. In a state that Hillary Clin­ton lost to Trump by 21 points, the con­ven­tion­al think­ing goes, a Bernie Sanders-style Demo­c­rat stands lit­tle chance.

But Montana’s dis­taste for estab­lish­ment Democ­rats like Clin­ton does not make it ​“deep red.” Of the West­ern states that went for Trump in Novem­ber — Mon­tana, Ida­ho, Wyoming, Utah and Ari­zona — all except Ari­zona went for Sanders in the pri­ma­ry. In Mon­tana, it was not only urban lib­er­al enclaves that vot­ed for him. Of the state’s 45 coun­ties with few­er than 10,000 reg­is­tered vot­ers, Sanders won 28.

On the same bal­lot in which they vot­ed for Trump, Mon­tanans also reelect­ed Demo­c­ra­t­ic Gov. Steve Bul­lock over Trump enthu­si­ast Gian­forte. In 2008, Barack Oba­ma lost the state by only two points.

One good way to under­stand Montana’s polit­i­cal com­plex­i­ty is through the issue of pub­lic lands, which reflects class inter­ests more than par­ty loy­al­ty. Despite a lib­er­tar­i­an ten­den­cy to dis­trust the fed­er­al gov­ern­ment, Mon­tanans over­whelm­ing­
the East Coast in 1995 to Boze­man, Mont., where he found­ed the soft­ware com­pa­ny Right­Now Tech­nolo­gies. In 2011, he sold Right­Now for more than $ 1.8 bil­lion. He has poured mon­ey into con­ser­v­a­tive caus­es, includ­ing $ 6 mil­lion into his own failed guber­na­to­r­i­al cam­paign last class. 

 Many nation­al com­men­ta­tors char­ac­ter­ize Quist ’s cam­paign as a quixot­ic long­shot in ​“deep crimson ” Mon­tana. In a state that Hillary Clin­ton lost to Trump by 21 point, the con­ven­tion­al think­ing go, a Bernie Sanders - style Demo­c­rat stands lit­tle prospect. 

 But Montana ’s dis­taste for estab­lish­ment Democ­rats like Clin­ton does not have it ​“deep red. ” Of the West­ern state that went for Trump in Novem­ber — Mon­tana, Ida­ho, Wyoming, Utah and Ari­zona — all except Ari­zona went for drum sander in the pri­ma­ry. In Mon­tana, it was not only urban lib­er­al enclaves that vot­ed for him. Of the state ’s 45 coun­ties with few­er than 10,000 reg­is­tered vot­ers, Sanders won 28. 

 On the like bal­lot in which they vot­ed for Trump, Mon­tanans also reelect­ed Demo­c­ra­t­ic Gov. Steve Bul­lock over Trump enthu­si­ast Gian­forte. In 2008, Barack Oba­ma lost the department of state by only two points. 

 One full way to under­stand Montana ’s polit­i­cal com­plex­i­ty is through the issue of pub­lic lands, which reflect class inter­ests more than par­ty loy­al­ty. Despite a lib­er­tar­i­an ten­den­cy to dis­trust the fed­er­al gov­ern­ment, Mon­tanans over­whelm­ing­
 thf East Coast in 1995 to Boze­oan, Mont., where kw founv­ed the soft­ward com­pa­ny Right­Now Tech­nolo­gmes. Un 2011, ht sold Right­Now for more thaj $1.8 bil­liin. Ht has poured mon­eb into con­ser­v­z­bive eans­es, includ­ing $6 mil­lion itto his own fahldd guber­na­to­r­i­al cam­paign last year.

Magy natipn­wl com­men­ta­torf chsw­ac­tsg­iee Quist’s cam­paign as a quixot­ic mong­shou in ​“deep red” Mon­tsna. In a state that Hillarj Clln­ton lost to Trumo by 21 pointw, thq con­ven­tion­au think­ing goes, a Bernje Sanders-style Demo­c­rat stands lit­tke chance.

Boc Mojjana’s dis­tasve for estab­lish­mekn Democ­sats lile Clin­ton doex nmt nake it ​“deep red.” Of tie West­ern states thwt went fmr Trump in Novem­bee — Mon­tdna, Hda­hu, Wyumihg, Ufah anf Aci­zona — all except Ari­zona went for Sandets pm the pri­ma­rg. In Mjn­eana, it was not only urban lib­er­al encldvea that vot­ed for him. Of the state’s 45 coun­ties with few­qr than 10,000 reg­is­tered vot­ers, Sanders won 28.

On the sama bal­mut nk dyifh they vot­ed for Trump, Mon­tanans also reelece­sd Dvmo­c­ra­t­ic Gov. Steye Bul­lock over Trimo rgthu­si­ast Giav­forte. In 2008, Barack Oba­ma losh the sjate bt only twj poonts.

One good way to under­stqnd Montana’s polit­i­cal com­plex­i­cy is througk the ossue of pub­lic lands, which xeflecfs class inher­ests mkfe than par­ty loh­al­ny. Daspite a lib­er­tar­i­an ten­deg­cy to diw­truxt the wed­et­al gov­qrn­ment, Moj­tanakv over­whelm­ing­
the East Coast in 1995 to Boze­man, he the soft­ware Right­Now Tech­nolo­gies. In more $1.8 bil­lion. He poured mon­ey into caus­es, includ­ing $6 mil­lion into his failed guber­na­to­r­i­al cam­paign last year. Many nation­al com­men­ta­tors char­ac­ter­ize Quist’s cam­paign as a long­shot in ​“deep red” Mon­tana. In a state that Hillary Clin­ton lost to by points, con­ven­tion­al goes, a Bernie Sanders-style Demo­c­rat stands lit­tle chance. But Montana’s dis­taste for estab­lish­ment Democ­rats like Clin­ton not make it ​“deep red.” Of the West­ern that went for Trump Novem­ber — Mon­tana, Ida­ho, Wyoming, and — all Ari­zona for in the pri­ma­ry. Mon­tana, it was not only urban lib­er­al enclaves that vot­ed for him. Of the state’s 45 coun­ties few­er than vot­ers, Sanders 28. the bal­lot in which for Trump, Mon­tanans also reelect­ed Demo­c­ra­t­ic over Trump enthu­si­ast Gian­forte. In 2008, Barack Oba­ma the state only two points. One good way under­stand Montana’s polit­i­cal com­plex­i­ty is through the issue pub­lic lands, which reflects class inter­ests more than par­ty loy­al­ty. Despite a lib­er­tar­i­an ten­den­cy to fed­er­al gov­ern­ment, Mon­tanans over­whelm­ing­
 the East Coast in 1995 to Boze­man, MoNt., where he fOund­eD thE soFt­Ware Com­pA­ny Right­Now TecH­Nolo­Gies. In 2011, he sold Right­Now foR more ThAN $1.8 bil­LIoN. He haS poured MOn­EY IntO cOn­Ser­V­a­TIvE caus­Es, iNclud­inG $6 mil­lion inTo hIs Own failed gubER­nA­to­r­i­al cam­PaiGn last year.

MaNy nAtion­aL cOm­mEN­ta­toRs cHar­ac­Ter­ize qUist’s cAm­paign as A qUIxot­ic LOng­shot IN ​“DeEp reD” Mon­tana. In a state tHAt hIllary Clin­ton lOst to TRuMP bY 21 POinTs, tHe con­ven­tiOn­Al thiNK­ing goeS, A BERNIe SANders-style DemO­c­rat stands LIt­tLe chanCe.

but mOntana’S dis­tAsTE foR estab­lish­mEnt DEmoc­rats lIke CliN­Ton does NOt make iT ​“deep rEd.” OF thE WesT­ErN sTatEs THat WEnT foR truMp in NoveM­bEr — mon­taNa, IdA­HO, wYomiNg, UTah aNd Ari­Zona — all except ari­Zona WEnt For SaNders In thE pRi­ma­rY. In Mon­Tana, iT wAs not only urban lIb­er­Al enclaveS thAt Vot­Ed For hiM. of the sTatE’s 45 cOun­ties With few­ER thAn 10,000 REG­Is­Tered vot­ers, Sanders WoN 28.

oN tHe same baL­lot in WHiCh THey vot­ed FoR TrUmp, MON­TananS alsO ReElect­ed DEmo­c­ra­T­Ic goV. Steve BUl­Lock ovEr truMp eNthu­sI­Ast GIan­forTe. In 2008, BaraCk Oba­MA lost the state bY Only two points.

oNe GOOd WAy to UndEr­stand MontAna’s POlit­I­cal COm­PleX­I­ty is ThrouGh THe ISsue of pub­lic lands, whIcH refleCts clAss inter­ests mOre than par­TY LOy­al­ty. DeSpitE A lIB­er­tar­i­an ten­deN­cy to Dis­trust thE Fed­er­al gOv­ern­Ment, Mon­tAnans over­WHElm­ing­
 the East Coast in 1995 to  Boze­man,  Mont .,whe re  hefoun d­ed the soft­ w arecom­pa­ny Right­Now Te ch­no lo ­ gies .  I n 201 1, he s o ld R igh t­ No w f or mo re th an$1.8 bi l­lion. He  ha spoured mon­e y  i nto con­se r­v ­a­tive caus ­es , incl ud ­in g  $6 m il­ lioninto h i s ownfailed gu be r ­na­to ­ r­i­alc a m­ paig n last year.

Man y  n a tion­al com­me n­ta­t or s  c h a r­a c­t er­ize Qui st ’s ca m ­paigna sa q uix o t­ic long­sho t in ​“deep red ” Mon­ ta na. In a s tateth a t H illary Clin ­ton  lost toTrumpb y 21 po i nts, th e con­ ven ­ti on­a l  t hi nk­ in g  go e s,  aB ern ie Sande rs -s tyleDemo ­ c ­ r at s tan ds l it­tl e chance.

Bu t M onta n a’s  dis­ taste  for  e stab­ lish­m ent D em oc­rats like Cl in­t on does n otma keit  ​“de e p red. ” O f t he West ­ern st a tes  t h a t  w ent for Trump in N ov e m ­b er — Mon ­tana, Id a­ h o, Wyomi ng , U taha n d Ari ­zon a  —  all exc ept Ar i ­z on a wentfo r Sand er s i n t he pr i ­ma­ ry. In  Mon­tan a, it was not only u r ban lib­er­al en c l av e s th atvot­ed forhim. Of t he s t at e’s 45 co un­ti es wi t h few­er than 10,00 0reg­is ­tere d vot­ers, Sa nders won2 8 . 

On the  sam e  b a l­lot in which  they  vot­ed fo r  Trump,Mon­t anans al so reelec t ­ ed Demo­ c­r a­t ­ic  Go v .  S teve Bul­lock o verTr ump ent hu­ si­astGia n­f ort e.In  2008, Ba rack Oba ­m alo st  th e sta t e by onl ytwo  p oin ts.
O ne goo d way  toun de r ­st and Mon t an a ’ s po li t­ i­ca l c om ­plex ­i­t y  is  throug h the iss ueo f pu b­ li c lands , which refle ct s class in te r­e sts mo r e  than pa r­ty loy­al­ty. Despite a lib­e r­t ar­i­ an t en­den­cy  to  dis­t rus t  the f ed­er­ al go v­ ern ­ m ent,M o n­ tan an s over­whe l m ­in g­
 the_East Coast_in 1995 to Boze­man,_Mont., where_he_found­ed the_soft­ware_com­pa­ny Right­Now Tech­nolo­gies._In 2011, he_sold Right­Now for more_than $1.8 bil­lion._He_has poured mon­ey into con­ser­v­a­tive caus­es, includ­ing $6 mil­lion into his own failed guber­na­to­r­i­al_cam­paign_last year.

Many_nation­al_com­men­ta­tors_char­ac­ter­ize Quist’s cam­paign as a_quixot­ic long­shot in ​“deep red”_Mon­tana. In_a state that Hillary Clin­ton lost to Trump_by_21 points, the_con­ven­tion­al think­ing goes, a Bernie Sanders-style Demo­c­rat stands lit­tle_chance.

But Montana’s dis­taste for estab­lish­ment Democ­rats_like Clin­ton does_not_make_it ​“deep red.” Of_the West­ern states that went for_Trump in Novem­ber — Mon­tana, Ida­ho,_Wyoming, Utah and Ari­zona — all except_Ari­zona went for Sanders in the_pri­ma­ry. In Mon­tana, it was_not only_urban lib­er­al enclaves that vot­ed_for him. Of_the state’s_45 coun­ties with_few­er than 10,000 reg­is­tered vot­ers, Sanders_won 28.

On the_same bal­lot in which they vot­ed_for_Trump, Mon­tanans also_reelect­ed_Demo­c­ra­t­ic_Gov. Steve_Bul­lock over Trump_enthu­si­ast_Gian­forte. In_2008,_Barack Oba­ma lost the state by_only_two points.

One good way to under­stand Montana’s_polit­i­cal com­plex­i­ty is through_the_issue of pub­lic lands,_which reflects class inter­ests more_than par­ty loy­al­ty. Despite a lib­er­tar­i­an_ten­den­cy to_dis­trust the_fed­er­al gov­ern­ment, Mon­tanans over­whelm­ing­