Party Staff - Montana Democratic Party

Monica Lindeen

Executive Director

Monica Lindeen is the Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party. Monica has spent her career fighting for Montanans. She was elected to statewide office in 2008 as the Commissioner of Securities & Insurance, Montana State Auditor, and was re-elected to a second term in 2012. Monica served as an officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for two years, until insurance commissioners across the country elected her to be president of the national association in 2016. Previously, voters in eastern Montana elected Monica four times to represent them in the Montana State House of Representatives, where she served in legislative leadership. In the legislature, she earned a reputation as a strong leader who reaches across the aisle to solve problems and forge consensus. Prior to serving in the Montana Legislature, Monica co-founded, grew and eventually sold a highly successful internet business – Montana Communications Network (MCN). Monica believes that everyday Montanans can – and should — have a voice in their government.

Justin Ailport

Operations Director

Justin Ailport grew up in Drummond and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman with his degree in Sociology. During his time in Bozeman he helped get Zach Brown elected into the state house. After graduation, he came to work at the Montana Democratic Party as the Gail Stoltz Fellow eventually becoming the Development Director.

Nick Lockridge

Program Coordinator for the Blue Bench Project

Nick Lockridge was born and raised in Missoula, where he graduated from Hellgate High and the University of Montana (twice). He used his undergraduate degree from the Journalism School during a 13-year career as a sportswriter at the Missoulian, covering everything from Little League tournaments to the Winter X Games in Aspen. Nick returned to UM to earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in 2014, after which he immediately entered the arena of campaign life as a field organizer with MDLCC. Nick worked at the Legislature in 2015, and with Planned Parenthood of Montana after that, before re-joining the Montana Democratic Party in 2017 to spearhead the Special Nominating Convention. He coordinates the Blue Bench program, which aims to build our party by supporting candidates for local-level positions across the Treasure State. Nick enjoys hunting & fishing, tinkering around the house, and puppy-parenting the shelter dog his fiance and he adopted this winter.

Sam Offerdahl

Communications Director

Sam Offerdahl is the Communications Director for the Montana Democratic Party, responsible for developing the Party's message for the 2020 elections, from statewide races to municipal elections. Sam worked as a press secretary for five years for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and previously the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. She started her career in politics working for U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and before that, she knocked doors for candidates on behalf of the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Luke Howard

Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (MDLCC) Director

Luke Howard is the Director of the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (MDLCC). As MDLCC Director, Luke leads the mission to elect more Democrats in both chambers of the state legislature and assists the Democratic legislative caucus with getting legislative accomplishments over the finish line during the biennial legislative session. Luke has been a field organizer on statewide and legislative races. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Montana State University. Luke enjoys fishing, camping, and road-tripping throughout the Rocky Mountain West.

Kiley Gage

Development Director

Kiley joined the Montana Democratic Party after serving YWCA Helena for nearly three and a half years. She has previously worked on committees and task forces focused on addiction, incarceration, and mental illness in Montana. Kiley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Montana. While in graduate school, Kiley focused on American Government and International Relations. She did an internship with the Montana World Affairs Council, judged the Undergraduate Research Conference, served as the Student Evaluation Committee Chairperson, and did a fellowship for the Project on American Democracy and Citizenship. She serves on the steering committee for the Meadowlark Music Festival. Kiley is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with her nieces, nephew, and the family dog George the Golden Retriever.

Liz Darnell

Data Director

Liz Darnell was born in Missoula and raised across the Mountain West. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Political Science from the University of Wyoming. Liz has worked in both finance and field on statewide and legislative races. She is passionate about helping campaigns run more effective and competitive races through the use of data. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and camping with her dog, Robert, and gardening.

Mike Boehm

Mike Boehm is MDLCC’s Candidate Services and Deputy Finance Director. In 2016, Mike sparked his passion for legislative campaigns while interning with MDLCC. Mike works closely with Luke Howard, the MDLCC Director, to win majorities in both chambers of Montana’s state legislature. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Mike enjoys spending time outdoors exploring the Last Best Place, reading, telling stories and eating good food.