A campaign by Montanans, for Montanans — because if you live here — you are one!

A Platform for the people

When elected in 2026, Russell Cleveland will focus his first term in Washington, D.C., on five core priorities — Youth Development, Affordability, Stewardship, Public Health, and Financial Reform — represented by the five stars in his campaign logo and shown as interconnected points in a Venn diagram. These pillars reflect the needs and values of Montanans and are designed to work together to strengthen our economy, protect our way of life, and ensure opportunity for generations to come. Each priority will be supported by detailed, results-driven policies aimed at solving real problems, not serving political agendas.

From empowering the next generation through education and childcare, to making housing and daily living more affordable, to protecting Montana’s public lands and natural resources, Russ’s vision addresses the challenges our state faces while building a stronger foundation for the future. By improving access to healthcare, safeguarding public health, and pursuing financial reforms that put fairness and fiscal responsibility first, these five interconnected priorities will help create a Montana where families can thrive, communities can prosper, and our heritage is preserved for those yet to come. Together, we can chart a course toward a brighter, more resilient future for all Montanans.

 Financial reform

  • Russ is committed to advancing aggressive, common-sense legislation to reduce the national deficit and pay down our debt — without placing the burden on working families. This begins with cutting excessive and wasteful government spending, ensuring every taxpayer dollar is used efficiently and with accountability. It also means closing tax loopholes that allow the ultra-wealthy and large corporations to avoid paying their fair share, restoring fairness to our tax code.

    To generate new, sustainable revenue, Russ supports implementing a modest tax on stock trades to curb speculative market behavior while raising billions in annual revenue, reinstating a strengthened inheritance tax on the largest estates to ensure generational wealth contributes to the public good, and legalizing cannabis nationwide with a federal excise tax to create a robust new revenue stream. By combining responsible spending cuts with targeted revenue growth, Russ’s plan will shrink the deficit, protect essential services, and invest in America’s long-term economic stability.

  • Russell is committed to putting the power of American democracy back where it belongs — in the hands of the people, not corporate special interests. He believes campaigns should be funded by the voters they serve, not by corporations or political action committees posing as individuals to buy influence. To achieve this, Russ strongly supports reforming or overturning Citizens United v. FEC, the Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate and PAC spending in elections.

    In addition, Russ backs local and state-level efforts like the Montana Plan, a first-in-the-nation approach to removing dark money from politics by using state authority over corporate charters to restrict political spending. By ending the outsized influence of big money in elections, Russ’s plan will ensure elected officials answer to their constituents — not to billionaires, lobbyists, or shadowy donors. This is about restoring trust in government, strengthening accountability, and making sure every citizen’s voice carries equal weight at the ballot box.

  • Property taxes in Montana — and across much of the nation — have risen far faster than wages, creating an undue burden on middle- and lower-income homeowners and renters. This is especially damaging in rural counties, where small populations struggle to generate enough revenue for essential public services, forcing heavier tax rates on those least able to afford them. Russ will champion legislation to establish a federal cap on property tax rates, ensuring that no homeowner, particularly those on fixed incomes, is forced to sell their home or land simply because they cannot afford the tax bill. This policy would also shift funding for key public programs away from reliance on local property taxes and toward a more balanced mix of state and federal budget allocations, leveling the playing field for rural and low-population counties in Montana and beyond.

    In addition, Russ’s plan honors our nation’s disabled veterans by granting them a proportional property tax reduction equal to their VA disability rating — applied to the already lowered capped rate — for the rest of their lives. This ensures that those who have served and sacrificed for our country are protected from losing their homes due to rising taxes. By implementing a fair cap, restructuring public program funding, and safeguarding vulnerable homeowners, Russ’s proposal will keep more Americans in their homes, protect generational land ownership, and stabilize communities across the country.

  • As the wealth gap in America continues to grow, it is more critical than ever to enact policies that protect the middle and lower class while promoting fair compensation. Russ supports legislation to cap the ratio of executive pay to that of a company’s lowest-paid employee at 50:1 or less. Under this policy, if a corporation chooses to pay its lowest-wage workers the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, its CEO could earn no more than $362.50 per hour — including salary, bonuses, benefits, and stock options. This would force companies to rethink compensation structures and invest more equitably in their workforce.

    By tying executive pay directly to the wages of front-line workers, Russ’s plan incentivizes corporations to raise wages at the bottom in order to fairly increase pay at the top. This policy would help shrink the income gap, improve worker morale and retention, and ensure that prosperity is shared more broadly across the economy. At its core, this reform sends a clear message: companies should succeed because their workers succeed, not at their expense.

  • Russell believes America’s tax system is rigged in favor of the wealthy, allowing those with business ownership or complex write-offs to avoid paying their fair share while working-class families shoulder a disproportionate burden. Under his plan, any American living at or below the federal poverty level would pay no federal income tax. Income above that threshold would be taxed on a progressive scale, with rates increasing as income rises — and with tax loopholes and special exemptions eliminated to ensure the ultra-wealthy and large corporations contribute proportionately.

    By protecting low-income families from federal taxation and ensuring the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share, Russ’s plan would put more money in the pockets of those who need it most while generating sustainable revenue to address the national deficit. This approach not only promotes fairness but also strengthens economic stability by boosting consumer spending, reducing inequality, and restoring public trust in a tax system that works for all Americans — not just those at the top.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

  • As a father of seven, Russell understands firsthand the financial and emotional challenges that come with welcoming a new child. Too often, working parents are forced to choose between caring for their newborn and keeping their paycheck, while small businesses struggle to cover the cost of paid leave. Russ will fight for legislation providing six weeks of fully funded federal parental leave for any working legal parent — at no cost to their employer. This program would be administered through a federal fund, ensuring parents receive their full wages during leave while allowing small businesses the flexibility to hire temporary staff without bearing the financial burden.

    By removing the economic penalty for starting or growing a family, this policy would encourage family stability, improve early childhood health outcomes, and strengthen workforce participation over the long term. It would also level the playing field for small businesses that often cannot compete with large corporations offering paid leave. Under Russ’s plan, new parents can focus on bonding with their child during those critical first weeks, businesses can continue to operate smoothly, and our economy benefits from a healthier, more secure workforce. This is a win for families, employers, and communities alike.

  • As the former owner and executive of one of Colorado’s largest child care companies, Russ has seen firsthand how access to affordable, quality child care fuels both economic growth and children’s long-term success. Studies show that every dollar invested in child care generates a direct economic return of $4 to $9 by enabling parents to work, supporting early childhood development, and reducing future social costs. One of Russ’s core campaign initiatives is the creation of a Universal Childcare system that fully subsidizes the cost of care for working families, ensuring every child has the foundation they need to thrive and every parent has the opportunity to participate fully in the workforce.

    Under this plan, children ages 0–3 would receive fully funded full-time care, ages 3–5 would benefit from Universal Pre-K, and ages 3–15 would have access to after-school programming. This comprehensive approach would support families at every stage, reduce the financial strain of child care — which is often equivalent to a second mortgage — and strengthen local economies by increasing workforce participation. By investing in our youngest citizens and the parents who raise them, Russ’s Universal Childcare plan would pay dividends for generations, creating a stronger, smarter, and more prosperous America.

  • In the United States, teachers and child care staff make up one of the lowest-paid educated workforces, despite facing ever-increasing job requirements and qualifications. This chronic underpayment not only drives talented educators out of the profession but also undermines the quality of care and education our children receive. Intertwined with broader property tax reform — given that school budgets are often tied to local tax revenues — Russ proposes creating a Department of Youth Development to replace the dissolved Department of Education. This new department would unify child care, Universal Pre-K, and K–12 public education under one federal framework, ensuring consistent funding, equitable access, and fair wages nationwide.

    Under Russ’s plan, all licensed educators and child care directors in this federal network would earn a minimum of four times the single-person poverty level — roughly $62,600 in Montana — with cost-of-living adjustments by region. This would elevate the profession, attract and retain high-quality educators, and ensure that those shaping the next generation are compensated in line with their skills and impact. By consolidating early learning and public education into one coordinated system, the Department of Youth Development would not only raise wages but also streamline policy, improve accountability, and guarantee that every child — from infancy through high school — has access to exceptional, well-supported educators.

  • Not everyone chooses college — and now more than ever, the United States faces a severe shortage of skilled tradespeople. At the same time, those who do attend college often graduate with crippling student debt, sometimes for coursework that repeats what they learned in the last two years of high school. Russ’s plan addresses both problems by overhauling the secondary education system so that core high school requirements are completed by the end of 10th grade. The 11th and 12th grade years would then be dedicated to either trade certification programs or advanced college-prep coursework that counts toward an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree.

    This reform would give students a head start on their career or higher education, cutting potential college debt by as much as half and making post-secondary paths more accessible. It would also strengthen the skilled labor pipeline, supporting industries like construction, manufacturing, health care, and technology — fields critical to America’s economic competitiveness. By aligning high school with real-world needs, Russ’s plan would create a more efficient, affordable, and practical education system that better prepares young Americans for success, whether they choose a trade, college, or both.

  • In tandem with his education reform plan, Russell supports making continuing education more accessible by eliminating the burden of interest on student loans. As a nation, we should encourage — not penalize — those who choose to deepen their skills through a trade program or college degree, since a more educated workforce strengthens our economy and fuels innovation. However, Russ also believes in fiscal responsibility: while expanding access to affordable education is critical, the cost of broad loan forgiveness should not be passed to taxpayers, especially during times of significant national deficit.

    Russ’s plan strikes the balance by expanding federal student loan availability while requiring that all loans be repaid at principal only, with 0% interest. This ensures borrowers have “skin in the game” while removing the compounding financial burden that traps many in decades-long repayment cycles. By allowing students to invest in their education without the fear of spiraling interest costs, this approach promotes upward mobility, strengthens the middle class, and maintains fiscal responsibility — all while making higher education and skilled trades training more achievable for every American.

Affordability

  • As a former banker, Russ knows firsthand that today’s housing market is increasingly out of reach for working families, young adults, and first-time buyers. One practical way to make homeownership more affordable is through lending reform — specifically, by extending the maximum term on federally backed home loans from the current 30 years to 40 years. This change would lower monthly payments, allowing more buyers to qualify based on income, enter the market sooner, and start building equity rather than being stuck in the rental cycle.

    Expanding loan terms for qualified borrowers would not only help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership but also strengthen communities and create long-term financial stability for families. Coupled with protections against predatory lending and incentives for first-time buyers, this reform could open the door for millions to begin building wealth earlier in life. Under Russ’s plan, the path to homeownership would no longer be a privilege for the few but a realistic and attainable goal for hardworking Americans in every corner of the country.

  • Most mortgages in America are amortized, meaning the bulk of payments in the early years go toward interest rather than principal. Since the average homeowner stays in their home for just 11.9 years, this system disproportionately benefits banks — allowing them to collect most of their interest revenue before a home is ever sold — while leaving homeowners with far less equity. Russ will fight for legislation requiring lenders to offer borrowers the option of a simple interest (equal-interest-payment) loan in addition to traditional amortized mortgages. This would give buyers who don’t plan to keep their home for the full 30 years a fairer way to build equity faster.

    For example, on a $500,000 mortgage at 6.5% over 30 years, a traditional amortized loan would result in only about $98,000 of principal paid after 12 years. Under a simple interest structure with the same monthly payment and term, that principal paid would nearly double to around $200,000. By making this option standard and transparent, Russ’s plan would shift wealth back to homeowners, increase financial mobility, and reduce the long-term inequities built into our current lending system — all without raising costs for responsible borrowers.

  • With homelessness and housing unaffordability at record levels, it is time for bold federal action. Today, 1 in 10 young adults are homeless or under-housed — a staggering rate compared to just 0.23% of the broader adult population. Meanwhile, land prices are soaring, and transitional and affordable housing supply is at historic lows. Russ will champion legislation to expand federal grants for municipalities, tribal governments, and non-profits to develop affordable and transitional housing. These investments will prioritize projects that keep housing costs within reach for working families, veterans, and vulnerable populations, ensuring that every American has a safe place to call home.

    Russ’s plan also calls for reforming small business lending programs to encourage for-profit builders to enter the affordable housing market, creating jobs while increasing supply. At the same time, he will fight to place limits on large corporate investors like BlackRock, whose bulk purchases of housing artificially inflate prices and choke supply for everyday buyers. By pairing targeted public investment with private sector incentives and market safeguards, we can address the housing crisis at its root — expanding supply, stabilizing prices, and giving every generation a fair shot at homeownership.

  • Across the nation — and especially here in Montana — homes, agricultural lands, and generational farms and ranches are increasingly at risk of foreclosure or forced sale. In recent decades, the share of these properties purchased by foreign entities has surged, shifting ownership, control, and wealth accrual away from the American people. This trend not only drives up prices for local buyers but also threatens the long-term stability of rural economies and food security. Russ will introduce legislation requiring that primary residences and agricultural lands owned by foreign entities be sold back to American citizens or American-based companies. Properties not returned to domestic ownership would face steep, escalating taxation, and in extreme cases, repossession by the federal government to protect national interests.

    This policy will safeguard Montana’s heritage, protect generational farms and ranches, and ensure that the economic benefits of land ownership remain within the U.S. Corporate properties serving international companies would be exempt to protect legitimate foreign investment in commercial enterprise. By prioritizing American ownership of our homes and farmlands, Russ’s plan will help stabilize housing prices, strengthen local economies, preserve agricultural independence, and keep the wealth generated from these lands in the hands of the people who live and work on them.

Stewardship

  • Growing up in Montana, Russ’s earliest and most cherished memories were made camping, floating, fishing, hiking, and hunting on our vast public lands. These landscapes are not just a cornerstone of Montana’s heritage — they are part of America’s shared inheritance, belonging to every citizen today and to generations yet to come. Our campaign will fight to keep public lands in public hands by opposing any attempt to sell them to private interests. We will champion legislation requiring that any proposed sale of public lands must be approved by a nationwide public vote, with a supermajority threshold, ensuring the voice of the people — not just members of Congress — determines their fate.

    This policy safeguards our national parks, forests, and wilderness areas from being carved up for corporate gain and ensures they remain open for recreation, hunting, fishing, and cultural traditions. By putting the power directly in the hands of the American people, we can protect access, preserve ecosystems, and maintain the environmental, economic, and cultural value of these lands for the long haul. Public lands are a trust, not a commodity — and under Russ’s leadership, they will stay that way.

  • In recent years, legislation backed by President Trump and Republican leaders has expanded corporate access to resource extraction on public lands while stripping away critical oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency. This lack of accountability leaves Montana’s landscapes, waterways, and air vulnerable to corporate negligence and environmental disasters — the kind we have seen devastate communities here before. Our campaign will fight to reinstate and strengthen federal oversight, requiring comprehensive environmental impact assessments and ongoing monitoring for any extraction activity on public lands, as well as private land operations that could affect shared resources such as water and air quality.

    Our policy will ensure that companies operating on public lands adhere to the highest environmental protection standards, with strict enforcement measures and financial penalties for violations. This includes implementing modern safety technology, requiring full reclamation of extraction sites, and mandating corporate-funded cleanup bonds before operations begin. By holding industry accountable and prioritizing environmental health, we can protect Montana’s natural heritage, safeguard public health, and ensure that resource extraction is balanced with the long-term stewardship of the lands and waters that define our way of life.

  • Montana’s public lands belong to the people, yet corporate resource extraction too often enriches private industry while leaving our communities, environment, and taxpayers shortchanged. In recent years, legislation has weakened or eliminated royalty payments and fees for the extraction of oil, gas, minerals, and timber from public lands — effectively giving away our natural resources at a discount. Our campaign will fight to restore and strengthen royalty agreements, ensuring corporations pay fair market rates and, where appropriate, a profit share for the privilege of using our public lands. These funds should be directed back to the people through investments in environmental protection programs, wildlife conservation, infrastructure maintenance, and the stewardship of our shared outdoor spaces.

    By updating our fee structures and closing corporate loopholes, we can generate millions in additional revenue without raising taxes on working families. This approach not only honors our responsibility to protect Montana’s natural heritage but also ensures that resource extraction is conducted sustainably and with long-term public benefit in mind. Corporations profiting from our public lands should be held accountable to the people who own them, creating a system where economic activity and environmental stewardship go hand in hand — preserving our lands for recreation, hunting, fishing, and future generations.

  • Our campaign stands firmly against the devastating budget cuts to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal programs, and we will fight to not only reverse them but to expand funding for Montana’s Native communities. These cuts threaten to close tribal colleges, weaken law enforcement, and dismantle essential services that uphold the federal government’s legal and moral treaty obligations. We propose fully restoring the BIA budget to pre-cut levels, protecting Indian Loan Guarantee funds, and increasing Public Safety and Justice Program resources to ensure every tribal community has the infrastructure, safety, and services it needs. Our plan will also include dedicated investments in tribal education, healthcare, housing, and economic development programs — because honoring sovereignty means providing the tools for self-determined growth.

    Reversing these cuts and expanding support will strengthen Montana’s tribal nations and benefit the entire state. Fully funded tribal colleges will remain hubs for education, job training, and cultural preservation, preparing the next generation for leadership and workforce opportunities. Increased public safety funding will ensure communities are protected, while expanded housing and infrastructure support will improve quality of life for thousands of Montanans. By honoring treaty obligations and investing in Native communities, we can create a stronger, more prosperous Montana where every citizen — Native and non-Native alike — benefits from the stability, culture, and economic contributions of our tribal nations.

  • Montana’s timber industry was once a backbone of our economy, supporting hundreds of mills, good-paying jobs, and rural communities across the state. Today, that industry has been reduced to a shadow of its former self, with only a handful of mills still in operation. Our campaign will fight to restore Montana’s timber heritage by pursuing legislation that incentivizes the construction of modern, sustainable mills and the development of innovative wood products, such as cross-laminated timber, that can compete in national and global markets. By bringing back local milling capacity, we can keep more of our raw materials in-state, add value to our resources, and create year-round employment opportunities for Montanans.

    Revitalizing our timber industry also means making our forests healthier and safer. With wildfire risk rising every year, selective and sustainable harvesting is not just an economic strategy — it’s a public safety necessity. Thoughtful forest management can reduce fuel loads, improve defensible space around communities, and make firefighting efforts more effective, all while lowering our carbon footprint through renewable building materials. By pairing economic revitalization with responsible land stewardship, we can restore Montana’s leadership in the timber industry, protect our environment, and ensure rural communities thrive for generations to come.

PUBLIC HEALTH

  • Prescription drug prices in the United States are the highest in the world, not because of higher quality or innovation, but because pharmaceutical companies exploit the system to maximize profits at the expense of patients. This price gouging forces our most vulnerable citizens — including seniors, people with chronic illnesses, and low-income families — to choose between life-saving medication and basic necessities. Our campaign will fight for legislation that caps the price of any medication at no more than three times its manufacturing cost, ensuring fair access without stifling innovation or supply.

    The example of Imatinib, a generic leukemia drug, makes the case clear: in the U.S., it can cost as much as $9,657 per month, yet entrepreneur Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs sells it for just $47 a month — a 15% markup over its roughly $37 manufacturing cost, plus a $3 pharmacy fee. Under Russ’s plan, the maximum legal price for this drug would be about $112 per month, still allowing a healthy profit while saving patients and insurers thousands of dollars each month. This reform would slash billions in prescription costs nationwide, improve medication adherence, and protect Americans from corporate exploitation in one of the most essential aspects of healthcare.

  • In a state like Montana, access to healthcare can be a matter of life and death — and for too many rural residents, the nearest emergency facility is hours away. Recent legislation supported by Rep. Ryan Zinke and passed under Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” includes deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, forcing dozens of healthcare facilities in Montana to close their doors. These closures will leave vast regions without critical care access, putting lives at risk and further straining already overburdened hospitals. Our campaign will fight to reverse these cuts and expand federal funding for rural healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that no American lives more than one hour from an emergency care facility.

    This policy will prioritize reopening shuttered facilities, increasing support for rural hospitals, and investing in telemedicine and mobile emergency units to bridge service gaps. By strengthening Medicaid and Medicare rather than gutting them, we can keep essential care within reach for seniors, veterans, families, and underserved communities. Every Montanan — and every American — deserves timely access to emergency healthcare, regardless of their zip code. Under Russ’s plan, rural healthcare will no longer be an afterthought; it will be a national priority.

  • For far too long, insurance companies have treated your eyes and mouth as if they are separate from the rest of your body — ignoring the clear connection between oral, vision, and overall health. This outdated approach leaves millions of Americans without affordable access to dental and vision care, even though untreated issues in these areas can lead to serious and costly medical conditions. Our campaign will fight for legislation requiring all health insurers to offer integrated plans that include medical, dental, and vision coverage as one comprehensive package.

    By ending the artificial separation of these essential services, we can improve preventive care, catch health problems earlier, and reduce long-term medical costs for families and taxpayers alike. Bundling dental and vision into standard health plans will mean fewer missed diagnoses, better quality of life, and a more equitable healthcare system where no one has to forgo necessary treatment because it isn’t “covered.” Under Russ’s plan, health insurance will finally reflect the reality that your whole body matters — from head to toe, and from your teeth to your eyesight.

  • Having had multiple high expense healthcare experiences both as a patient and as a father, Russell knows better than most how broken our for-profit healthcare system is. For that reason, Russell believes that healthcare should be a public service, not a profit-making enterprise. He will work to remove the for-profit structure from America’s healthcare system by transitioning hospitals, insurers, and essential medical services to non-profit or public ownership. This will include replacing private insurance with a publicly funded system that covers everyone, negotiating directly for lower drug and equipment costs, and ensuring that basic medical care is free at the point of service. By eliminating corporate profiteering, we can focus resources on patient care, prevention, and public health rather than billing and bureaucracy.

    This reform will guarantee complete coverage (including the aforementioned consolidation of health, dental and vision insurance), drastically cut administrative waste, and lower the cost of care for families and the nation as a whole (41% of Americans carry medical debt). No American will face bankruptcy over medical bills (550,000 Americans face medical bankruptcy a year), and every community will have access to affordable, quality care. While the transition will require bold leadership and stand up to powerful industry lobbyists, it is a necessary step toward a healthier, more equitable America — one where healthcare is treated as a human right, not a commodity. An overhaul of this size would take considerable time and resources, so the other public health listed would aim to reduce costs or improve access in the interim.