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SJ Howell (born July 3, 1980) is an American politician who represents Missoula in the 100th district in the Montana House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Howell was elected in the 2022 election to the 95th district, making them the first non-binary person to be elected to the state legislature in Montana. Howell was sworn in as a representative on January 2, 2023. Due to redistricting, they ran for the 100th district in the 2024 Montana House of Representatives election. They were elected to this seat in the election.

Howell is also the executive director of Montana Women Vote, an organization that has the stated goal "to engage low-income women in the democratic process as informed voters, policy advocates, and community leaders."

Career

SJ Howell has been the executive director of Montana Women Vote since 2013, and has been an activist and lobbyist for women and the LGBTQ+ community. In 2021, they lobbied and spoke publicly against bills that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights saw as discriminatory.

Howell was announced to run for the 95th district in February of 2022. Howell ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, guaranteeing their spot to run against Republican opponent Lauren Subith. In the general election, Howell would manage to win over Subith by almost 2,000 votes, therefore being elected to the 95th district. With this victory, Howell, along with 100th district member Zooey Zephyr, became the first two openly transgender people to ever be elected to the Montana Legislature.

2023 legislative session

In January of 2023, Howell introduced their first piece of legislation, House Bill 238, which would have expanded the eligibility requirements for Montana's Best Beginnings program, a child care scholarship program. They introduced four bills total, one of which passed out of committee, but all were ultimately voted down by the Republican party’s supermajority.

In April of 2023, Zooey Zephyr, a transgender woman elected to the Montana House of Representatives along with Howell, was criticized on the floor by Republican majority leader Sue Vinton after speaking out against Senate Bill 99, a bill that would prohibit gender-affirming medical and surgical care for transgender minors. After protests in support of Zephyr on April 24, Howell publicly expressed support for Zephyr. In response to comparisons made by Republican House Speaker Matt Regier between Howell and Zephyr, Howell rejected the role of "barometer of the trans community", saying that "I will not be the ‘good’ trans person" compared to Zephyr. After a group of House Republicans demanded Zephyr be censured, the House introduced a motion to ban Zephyr from the floor and other parts of the Capitol under the control of the House. Howell was one of the three Democrats permitted to speak in support of Zephyr on the motion, which nonetheless passed on a straight party line vote.

Electoral history

Personal life

Howell is non-binary and uses "they/them" pronouns.

See also

• List of transgender public officeholders in the United States

References

1. "Missoula County House District 95". Missoulian. October 13, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
2. ^ Girten, Nicole. "SJ Howell on delivering for Missoula and being the 'last transgender voice' on the House floor". KTVQ News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024.
3. Girten, Nicole (January 2, 2023). "'Organized and ready to do business': Montana's 68th Legislature begins with supermajority poised". Daily Montanan. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
4. Hansen, Jordan (February 16, 2022). "Nonprofit director Howell seeking HD 95 seat (Part 1)". Missoulian. pp. A9. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [REDACTED]
5. Hansen, Jordan (February 16, 2022). "Nonprofit director Howell seeking HD 95 seat (Part 2)". Missoulian. pp. A10. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [REDACTED]
6. Schubert, Keith (March 16, 2021). "Hundreds gather at Montana Capitol to oppose GOP's transgender bills". The Missoula Current News. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
7. Silvers, Mara (February 24, 2023). "'A punch in the gut when we were already down'". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
8. ^ Silvers, Mara (June 9, 2022). "Montana poised to elect first openly transgender lawmakers". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
9. "Missoula County election results roundup". Missoulian. November 10, 2022. pp. A4. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [REDACTED]
10. Hanson, Amy Beth (December 25, 2022). "Transgender lawmaker hopes her presence increases understanding". Missoulian. pp. A14. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [REDACTED]
11. Michels, Holly K. (January 21, 2023). "Bill would expand access to child care scholarships". The Montana Standard. pp. A3. Retrieved April 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [REDACTED]
12. Howell, SJ (February 16, 2023). "SJ Howell: Lowering the cost of childcare". Missoulian. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
13. "Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula | 2023 Montana Capitol Tracker". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
14. Girten, Nicole (April 25, 2023). "'Let her speak': Protesters scream, arrests follow after speaker doesn't recognize Zephyr". Idaho Capital Sun. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
15. ^ Szpaller, Keila (April 27, 2023). "Republicans say Montana 'deserves better,' but Zephyr said 'decorum' used as 'tool of oppression'". Daily Montanan. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
16. "Montana transgender lawmaker barred by GOP from House floor". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
17. "2022 Legislative General Election Canvas". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved April 28, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• 1980 births
• Living people
• American non-binary politicians
• Democratic Party members of the Montana House of Representatives
• LGBTQ state legislators in Montana
• University of Montana alumni
• Politicians from Missoula, Montana
• 21st-century American LGBTQ people
• Non-binary politicians
• 21st-century members of the Montana Legislature