Paul Tuss
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 28th district
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
Preceded byEd Hill
Personal details
Born1964 or 1965 (age 58–59)[1]
Anaconda, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePam Hillery
Children2
Residence(s)Havre, Montana, U.S.
Alma materUniversity 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

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

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]

In 2018, Tuss challenged Republican incumbent Russel Tempel for his Montana Senate seat representing the 14th district, losing the race by 132 votes.[5] After conceding the race, Tuss said he "certainly [did not] have any interest in running in the near future."[6]

In February 2022, Tuss announced his candidacy in the 2022 election to represent the 28th district in the Montana House of Representatives.[4][5] Tuss was elected to the seat in November, defeating Republican incumbent Ed Hill by ten points.[7] Arren Kimbel-Sannit of the Montana Free Press called his win the "biggest surprise victory for Democrats" in the House.[8]

Electoral history

2000

2000 Montana Secretary of State election[9]
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

2018 Montana's 14th State Senate district election
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

2022 Montana's 28th House district election
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

  1. 1 2 "Democrat Tuss wants to put economic development, education experience to work in Montana Senate". Great Falls Tribune. November 3, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hann, Derek (October 9, 2018). "Tempel, Tuss face off in Senate District 14 race: Paul Tuss, Democrat". Havre Daily News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Leeds, Tim (February 15, 2022). "Tuss files for House seat". Havre Daily News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Vigliotti, Tony (February 14, 2022). "Tuss Enters Race to Represent Havre in State Legislature". Hi-Line Today. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  6. Vigliotti, Tony (November 12, 2018). "Tuss Concedes to Tempel in Senate District 14". Hi-Line Today. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  7. "Montana Election Results". KRTV. November 8, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  8. Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (November 15, 2022). "Montana Republicans get their supermajority, but not without ceding some seats". Montana Free Press. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  9. "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.
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