Disclosure: The author of this piece is, elatedly, married to representative Zooey Zephyr.
In a historic first, Montana House Democrats chose two transgender lawmakers to lead them as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session. Rep. SJ Howell, a transgender nonbinary Democrat from Missoula, was elected House minority leader following a caucus vote, making them the first transgender person ever chosen to lead a party caucus in any state legislative chamber. Meanwhile, Rep. Zooey Zephyr will be the first transgender woman to serve as a party whip in any state legislative chamber. Both add to the many historic firsts for transgender people following the 2026 election.
Both Howell and Zephyr have been fierce defenders of the transgender community in the state. In April 2023, Zephyr told Republicans that those who ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth would have “blood on your hands,” referring to the impact such bans have on trans youth suicidality. For doing so, she was barred from speaking in an event that made national headlines, and then, after protests erupted in the gallery over the restrictions and led to arrests, she was ultimately kicked off the House floor and forced to sit in the hallway. Meanwhile, Howell has repeatedly helped kill the majority of bills targeting transgender people in the state, arguing that the “Big Sky state is big enough for everyone.”
Neither member of leadership has focused only on transgender issues, however. Howell has been deeply involved in health policy in Montana. As vice chair of the House Human Services Committee, they carried bills on Medicaid and child welfare. “Continuing our current Medicaid program is the most important job that we have,” Howell said while spearheading the state’s Medicaid expansion renewal. Meanwhile, Zephyr has made landlord-tenant policy a major part of her advocacy, along with cleaning old unconstitutional provisions out of the state code. Zephyr also played a role in a 2023 amendment fight over a Paris Hilton-backed law that guarantees children in “troubled teen” programs unmonitored calls with their parents.
“I am proud to announce that I have been elected as a Whip for the Montana House Democrats! We have an incredible leadership team, and are ready to get to work for Montana! Additionally, we are blessed to have Rep. SJ Howell as minority leader—the first trans/nonbinary party leader in the nation!” Zephyr posted following her election.
Transgender people have repeatedly worked their way to higher levels in government. In 2022, transgender woman Brianna Titone was elected one of two caucus chairs for Colorado House Democrats. Howell themselves was elected to a minority whip role for the last legislative session. Meanwhile, in Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride was appointed deputy whip for policy in 2025. However, the election of Zephyr to minority whip is historic, as she will be the first transgender woman to serve in that role in a state legislature, and Howell’s election as minority leader marks the first time a trans person has been chosen as the top leader of a party caucus in a state legislative chamber.
The two join a larger wave of historic firsts for transgender people in 2026. In Alabama, Allison Montgomery became the state’s first openly transgender lawmaker, unseating a Republican in a Trump district. In Washington, Jaelynn Scott will be the first out transgender member of the state Legislature and the first out Black transgender woman elected to any state legislature. Transgender lawmakers will also take office in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado and beyond, part of an exceptionally large incoming class of trans elected officials. And in Montana, where Republicans barred a transgender lawmaker from the House floor, now transgender people will lead the party there.
Wonderful news!
That is awesome! Congratulations to your wife!