On Nov. 3, voters in Senate District 38 will choose between two very different candidates. Democrat incumbent Edie McClafferty of Butte is a school teacher who has advocated for increased state spending on education and mental health. Republican challenger Jim Buterbaugh, a longtime Whitehall resident, is a conservative who once led rallies in opposition of relocating refugees to Montana without stronger vetting.
The Monitor spoke with Buterbaugh and McClafferty in separate interviews about their lives, their work, their ideals, and their politics. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Videos of the full interviews are available at boulder-monitor.com.
—Keith Hammonds, publisher
