In a move that has liberal publications like The Montana Post hopping mad, Greg Gianforte (R-Bozeman) has chosen an advocate for civil rights as his running mate. With some calling Kristen Juras an “extremist,” the Great Falls attorney has demonstrated her willingness to fight for both property rights and traditional values.
Announcing his selection of Juras at Pub Station in Billings on Sunday evening, Gianforte said of his new running mate,”She’ll be a partner in cleaning up Helena, a partner in protecting the Montana way of life, a partner in making our communities safer from drugs and crime, a partner in defending our Second Amendment rights, a partner in protecting life, a partner holding the line on government spending, a partner cutting taxes of hardworking Montanans, a partner in jump-starting our economy and growing opportunities for Montanans in every corner of the state.”
What has Montana progressives stirred up is Juras’ 2016 bid for the Montana Supreme Court, in which she was regularly attacked for believing that marriage should be traditionally defined as between one woman and one man.
In an email to a fellow professor at the University of Montana, Juras said, “After lots of prayer I decided to run for an open seat on the Montana Supreme Court. I think there are going to be a lot of cases affecting religious freedom that arise over the next several years, and I’d like to be part of the decision-making body that will be addressing those issues. What I covet is prayer. Please pray that during my campaign I would always act in a way that honors God, for His favor, for opportunities, for wisdom in my campaign strategies.”
Liberals immediately sought their safe-spaces after the email was released and attacks on Juras based upon her religious beliefs were soon seen in the press and on social media. Those complaints have reemerged in the last 24 hours.
Additionally, some opposition to Juras exists due to what is reportedly her advocacy for private land-owners and their right to protect their land from trespassers.
In the meantime, Juras remains popular among those who value faith and property rights in Montana. Juras received the endorsement in 2016 of the pro-family and pro-life Montana Family Foundation.
