Republican Senate candidates for Senate District 20, which includes Musselshell County, have registered for this office. Republican Representative Geraldine Custer currently represents House District 39, which encompasses a portion of Yellowstone County, Treasure County, Rosebud County, and Custer County.

Republican Representative Barry Usher represents House District 40, which encompasses the northern portion of Yellowstone County and all of Musselshell County. The current Republican State Senator representing Senate District 20 is Duane Ankney, who calls himself a 'responsible republican,' but more appropriately to all is a 'RINO' (Republican in name only). Thankfully, he is termed out of office at the end of this year!

So, we have a primary race between another 'responsible republican,' and Barry Usher, whom I think has done a pretty good job as a member of the house for the last three terms.

Whereas Geraldine Custer has voted and proposed legislation that would make any democrat blush. First, she is an adamant supporter of legislation that would make voting more ridiculously easy than it already is. In the 2015 legislative session, she proposed HB 48, "Establish online voter registration"; fortunately, it died. During the same session, she proposed HB 58, "Generally revise election laws," which failed. HB 70, "Revise vote by mail laws," also died. HB 86, "Revising the date absentee ballots are available in certain elections," died. HB 247, "Revise when ballots may be prepared for counting," died.

During the 2017 legislative session, Ms. Custer introduced HB 51, "Authorize online voter registration," died in committee. HB 397, "Revise polling place hours," failed in committee.

The 2019 session had Geraldine propose HB 536, "Secure voter registration when applying for Driver's License or ID card," died in committee.

Finally, in the 2021 session, Ms. Custer submitted HB 643, "Allowing a disabled voter to electronically return a ballot," which failed in committee.

She supported legislation proposed by Democrats such as; HB 27, "Authorize school districts to create "handle with care" programs"; fortunately, this died in process. Geraldine voted against HB 112, "Require interscholastic athletes to participate under sex assigned at birth," which passed despite her 'no' vote. She voted against HB 176, "Close late voter registration on Friday before the election," which passed despite her no vote.

She opposed the passing of HB 251, "Implement right-to-work law." Representative Custer supported HB 262, "Expand exemptions from collections to include student loans." She voted against HB 325, "Elect supreme court justices by districts," which Barry Usher had proposed. She did not support HB 356, "Prohibit anonymous reporting of child abuse and neglect cases."

She supported the defeated HB 441, "Revise age requirements for election judges." She failed to support HB 570, "Prohibit infringement of constitutional right to nullify certain fed legislation." She voted against SB 169, "Generally revise voter ID laws." Voted against SB 215, "Establish the religious freedom restoration act." Voted against SB 280, "Revise vital statistics laws regarding sex designation on birth certificate."

Ms. Custer is an opportunist and not a republican. In a democratic district, she could run as a Democrat and win. The Democrats look to those weak-kneed republicans to further their goals of government domination. Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney would welcome Ms. Custer into their faction of the Republican party. She will be well-financed by the party's 'responsible republican' wing, and the Democratic party will probably spend money on her campaign. So, beware Musselshell County; there are those Republicans that are wolves in sheep clothing.

Dave, Publisher