Not since 2012 has a Democrat been elected to the Montana State Legislature from House District 75. Incumbent since 2020, Representative Marta Bertoglio (R) ran against exactly no one in 2022’s general election, after winning her primary with over 70 percent of the vote.
This year, she faces off against HD-75 hopeful and Whitehall resident Nancy Jane Lien (D), who, after raising significant donor and community support, may, for the first time in almost a decade, be making HD-75 a competitive race.
“I see Nancy,” said Rep. Bertoglio in an interview with The Monitor. “She’s out there working hard, and I appreciate her passion. But I feel quite strongly that I’m the best candidate, and I would love to continue my work. Over my past two terms, I’ve built relationships with legislators across the state, and have come to really understand the legislative process. It takes a while once you’re in there, and it’s an extremely important part of the job.”
In a potential third term, Rep. Bertoglio hopes to continue her focus on education, property tax reform, and rural municipal services. She has served on the state Administration and Education Committees, and was vice chair on the Local Government Committee last session. During previous interims between sessions, she served on the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committees.
Lien, should she win this fall, hopes to join the Appropriations and Natural Resources Committees, which she feels would align well to her interests and skill set.
“After three decades in business, I’m ready for real, information-dense work at the Capitol,” said Lien. “The Legislature conducts a great deal of work in a short amount of time, and there is an incredible amount to process. I’m not saying that my opponent can’t, or, even, hasn’t, done that. But I am saying that I believe I’m the best choice for this district, and that I will be the next representative for Jefferson County.”
Lien has raised $4,875 from more than 30 unique donors, which she intends to use to bolster her advertising campaign and host additional community outreach events before the Nov. 5 election. Bertoglio’s campaign has, however, slightly outspent Lien’s, according to data from the Secretary of State’s Office, including investments in digital advertising and website design.
“I’m out there meeting people, and I’m going to get out even more over the next six weeks,” said Bertoglio. “I work full-time [she is co-owner of Uncommon Ground, a real estate firm], but my door is always open to people who want to speak with me on policy, or much anything, really.”
While Bertoglio is focusing on door-to-door engagement and digital advertising, Lien has pursued her community messaging through large-scale public events, and through securing endorsements. At an event held at Tings Bar in Jefferson City this past June, she received a public endorsement from former Governor Brian Schweitzer. She has also been endorsed by Planned Parenthood of Montana; Diane Sands, a former state senator and the first openly gay member of the Legislature; and by the Montana Ambassadors, a state-wide business advocacy group.
Bertoglio says she likewise will pursue endorsements and additional campaign marketing as November approaches.
“I think this is a competitive race,” she said. “I’ve been in Jefferson County since 2007, and have always followed the races whether I was in them or not. Nancy Jane is very different from me ideologically, but she’s made herself known. I’m confident I’ll win in the general, but this is still an exciting year.”
