Russ Cleveland is a father, coach, finance professional, and child care expert who grew up on a small farm in Stevensville, Montana. He is also a proud U.S. Navy veteran who deeply values the oath he once took to defend our constitution. He has since dedicated a life in service to others both through career and community, driven most recently by the loss of his oldest daughter Madison to leukemia at the age of thirteen. It was her passing that redefined the legacy Russ aims to leave behind to the next generation, advocating strongly for healthcare reform in her honor.

Russ announced his candidacy to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Montana’s First Congressional District in April 2025, running a truly grassroots campaign, refusing Corporate PAC, AIPAC and other special interest money in an effort to revitalize a corrupt political system. Russ considers himself an independent democrat, represented by a white buffalo, staking claim on remaining beholden only to the people of Montana, not a broken national party or political system. After nearly a year on the road listening to tens of thousands of Montanan’s, Russ proudly represents a platform based on the needs of everyday Montanans, not wealthy corporations or their lobbyists. Russ is committed to fixing healthcare, improving affordability, and ending corruption.

Raised in the days of a purple Montana, Russ knows what it means to work hard, care for your neighbors, and fight for the community you love through balance and respect. “The fight ahead isn’t left versus right, it is top versus bottom. It is time to reclaim our state, protect what is ours, and build a Montana that truly works for us all.” As a veteran, a successful entrepreneur, and a father to seven who has faced life’s most unforgiving challenges, Russ’s diverse lived experience shows he is the right leader for this moment in Montana’s next chapter.