Zephyr, barred from the floor in 2023, was voted a House whip
Democrats in the Montana House have elected state Rep. SJ Howell of Missoula as their minority leader and voted state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, also of Missoula, to serve as one of three minority whips. Zephyr announced the leadership results in a post on social media Wednesday.
“We have an incredible leadership team, and are ready to get to work for Montana!” Zephyr wrote on Bluesky.
In announcing the results, Zephyr said Howell is the first trans/nonbinary party leader in the United States.
Howell and Zephyr were each elected to the Montana House in 2022, when Howell became the state’s first nonbinary legislator and Zephyr became its first openly transgender lawmaker. Both now hold places in the Democratic leadership team.
Howell worked as a lobbyist and activist for women’s and LGBTQ+ issues before their election.
Zephyr is a university program manager.
Zephyr gained attention in 2023 when other lawmakers barred her from the House floor after she refused to apologize for telling colleagues who supported a ban on gender-affirming care for youths that they would have “blood” on their hands.
Republicans dominate the state Legislature and hold all six statewide offices.
House Republicans elected Katie Zolnikov of Billings as House speaker, Mike Vinton of Billings as speaker pro tem and Tom Millett of Marion as majority leader.