Paul Tuss
Paul Tuss | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 28th district | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 or 1965 (age 59–60)[1] Anaconda, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Pam Hillery |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Havre, Montana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Montana |
Paul Tuss (born 1964/1965) is an American Democratic politician serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives for the 28th district. Elected in November 2022, he assumed office on January 2, 2023.
Personal life
[edit]Tuss, the youngest of five children of Mary Jane and Walter Tuss, was born in Anaconda, Montana, and grew up in nearby Opportunity.[2][3] He graduated from Anaconda High School and received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Montana (UM) in 1988.[3] Tuss was a member of Alpha Tau Omega, UM Advocates, and the College Democrats, and was named one of the 1986 Outstanding Young Men of America.[2]
Tuss met his wife, Pam Hillery, while studying at UM.[3] They were married for 27 years before her death in 2016.[3] The couple had a son named Dolan and a daughter named Caroline.[3]
Career
[edit]Tuss worked in economic development in rural northern Montana.[1][3] He was the executive director of the Bear Paw Development Corporation for over 20 years and chaired organizations like the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education and the Montana Economic Developers Association.[4][3] Tuss also served on boards for the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Montana Hospital, the Montana Cooperative Development Center and the Evergreen Chapter of the ALS Association.[3]
Tuss ran for Secretary of State of Montana in 2000, losing in the Democratic primary to Hal Harper.[4] During the 2000 presidential election, Tuss was a Montana state co-chair of GoreNet.[5] GoreNet was a group that supported the Al Gore campaign with a focus on grassroots and online organizing as well as hosting small dollar donor events.[6]
In 2018, Tuss challenged Republican incumbent Russel Tempel for his Montana Senate seat representing the 14th district, losing the race by 132 votes.[7] After conceding the race, Tuss said he "certainly [did not] have any interest in running in the near future."[8]
In February 2022, Tuss announced his candidacy in the 2022 election to represent the 28th district in the Montana House of Representatives.[4][7] Tuss was elected to the seat in November, defeating Republican incumbent Ed Hill by ten points.[9] Arren Kimbel-Sannit of the Montana Free Press called his win the "biggest surprise victory for Democrats" in the House.[10]
Electoral history
[edit]2000
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Hal Harper | 51,969 | 63.02 | |
| Democratic | Paul Tuss | 30,494 | 36.98 | |
| Total votes | 82,463 | 100.0 | ||
2018
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Paul Tuss | 1,987 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 1,987 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Russel Tempel (incumbent) | 4,526 | 50.74% | |
| Democratic | Paul Tuss | 4,394 | 49.26% | |
| Total votes | 8,920 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2022
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Paul Tuss | 755 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 755 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Paul Tuss | 1,793 | 54.53% | |
| Republican | Ed Hill (incumbent) | 1,495 | 45.47% | |
| Total votes | 3,288 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Democrat Tuss wants to put economic development, education experience to work in Montana Senate". Great Falls Tribune. November 3, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Hubbell, Kathryn D. (October 29, 1986). "Paul Tuss proud of Anaconda/Butte Upbringing - and one of nation's Outstanding Young Men of 1986". University of Montana Office of University Relations. Retrieved April 24, 2023 – via ScholarWorks at University of Montana.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hann, Derek (October 9, 2018). "Tempel, Tuss face off in Senate District 14 race: Paul Tuss, Democrat". Havre Daily News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c Leeds, Tim (February 15, 2022). "Tuss files for House seat". Havre Daily News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "GoreNet State Co-Chairs". Gore 2000. 15 August 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "GoreNet: A Network of Young Americans Dedicated to Al Gore President". Gore 2000. 15 August 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ a b Vigliotti, Tony (February 14, 2022). "Tuss Enters Race to Represent Havre in State Legislature". Hi-Line Today. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Vigliotti, Tony (November 12, 2018). "Tuss Concedes to Tempel in Senate District 14". Hi-Line Today. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "Montana Election Results". KRTV. November 8, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (November 15, 2022). "Montana Republicans get their supermajority, but not without ceding some seats". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "2000 Statewide Primary Canvass - June 6, 2000" (PDF). Secretary of State of Montana. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2023.