This is a hard email for me to write.

Over 2,000 Montanans have died of COVID-19 -- and leaders in Helena refuse to do anything.

My heart aches for the thousands of families grieving the loss of their loved ones to this pandemic, for our healthcare workers desperately trying to take care of a growing number of patients.

These are preventable tragedies, but in the last several weeks, COVID cases are surging across our state because of Gianforte’s refusal to protect Montanans from COVID-19.

Republican state leaders have politicized the pandemic to such a point that they are willfully and actively harming our friends, families, and neighbors by banning mask mandates and providing little to no resources to get vaccinated.

Republicans in Congress have spent the last year and a half spreading deadly misinformation to advance their own cruel party line. And Ryan Zinke is no exception.

I’m committed to putting the health and safety of Montanans first. Because our families -- our children -- deserve better.

Thank you,

Monica Tranel