Episode 104: Ryan Busse & Raph Graybill: “Get Your Montana Back”

From 1995 to 2020, Ryan Busse worked in the gun industry as the vice president of sales for Kimber America. This sparked his 2021 book, ⁠Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America⁠, and a period in his life when he began to question his political beliefs. His sons were 2 of the 16 plaintiffs in Held v. Montana, a landmark climate lawsuit fought against the state government that alleged state agencies have implemented policy in violation of the right to a "clean and healthful environment," which was ratified into the 1972 Montana State Constitution. A state court sided with the plaintiffs and struck down two state laws preventing agencies from considering the climate impacts of proposed projects. 

Busse announced his candidacy for governor against incumbent Republican, Greg Gianforte in 2023 and tapped Raph Graybill as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Graybill is a lawyer based in Helena and has argued 12 lawsuits against the Gianforte administration. He’s won cases related to abortion and mail ballot access. He was former Democratic governor Steve Bullock’s chief legal counsel and ran for Attorney General in 2020. During his time with the Bullock administration, Raph worked at the Department of Military Affairs chairing the Montana State Emergency Response Commission.

Ezra
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