On May 19, 2026, Helena Democratic legislators (including me) sent a letter to the Helena City Commission in support of the revised immigration resolution. A copy of the letter is available HERE. The Helena Independent Records wrote about the letter (May 21, 2026 article follows):
Helena Democratic legislators urge City Commission to pass revised immigration resolution
Reporter: Christine Compton
Eight Helena Democratic state legislators urged the City Commission in a Wednesday letter to pass a revised immigration resolution, saying doing so is a matter of self-governance.
“If passed, it would provide the clear and legal guidance for local coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that many Americans from across the political spectrum are requesting in communities nationwide,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.
The letter urged Helena to pass a revised version of its Jan. 26 resolution that recommended city employees not aid in immigration enforcement unless legally required. It was signed by state Sens. Laura Smith, Mary Ann Dunwell and Janet Ellis, as well as state Reps. Mary Caferro, Jill Cohenour, Pete Elverum, Luke Muskiewicz and Melissa Romano — all Democrats serving the Helena area.
“At this time, the Commission has not met to discuss the matter, and staff have not been directed to bring back the amended resolution for consideration,” Opitz said. “As a result, staff do not have additional comment on the letter at this time.”
The letter said the state legislators understood the difficult duty of balancing “local needs with state and national concerns.”
The original resolution, though conceived in 2025 after the detainment of a Helena man, was passed during a national crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration.
The City Commission rescinded the resolution on March 26, intending to work with Knudsen on a revised resolution but backing down when the AG promised to investigate any further attempts.
Last week, three of five city commissioners confirmed they did not want to pursue another resolution. Most said the fiscal risk was too great for what amounted to a statement of values.
To that, Smith said the resolution represented something bigger than Helena, and that the city had spent more money on less important things. She said she hoped the letter would convince the Commission to overcome their hesitation.
“Show me the budget, and I’ll show you our values,” she said. “There is a cost and a price to self governance and exercising our rights as a community.”
Smith said the letter had been under construction for multiple weeks after hearing outrage from her constituents. Helenans are deeply upset with the rescinded resolution, she said, and the Commission needed to stand by its voters’ values.
As for the AG’s legal allegations against the resolution, Smith said it struck her as bullying and an attempt to undermine local control. She pointed to Gallatin County, which is in a legal battle of its own against Knudsen over immigration-related issues, as an example of a larger trend.
The letter echoed her opinions.
“If passage of the resolution was important before, it is particularly important now,” it said. “The City of Helena chose to take the high road in response to the Attorney General’s concern, and we admire this approach. Now, it’s important to follow that road to the end by asserting the right of Montana cities and counties to enact and enforce local policies that comport with state and federal law.”
Christine Compton is a reporter for the Helena Independent Record.
Letters to the Editor
These Letters to the Editor appeared in the May 12. 2026 Helena Independent Record. I’m so grateful to my friends and the Helena community for their support:
Janet Ellis Listens to her Constituents
Although she’s served in the state legislature for 12 years, Janet Ellis is not a typical politician. She isn’t in it for herself — she got involved (and has stayed involved) in politics to advance the issues Helenans care about: quality education, affordable housing, access to healthcare, assuring fair and open elections, protecting the environment, and improving the economy.
She listens to her constituents and has a track record of working across the aisle to get the job done for Montanans (including passing Medicaid Expansion last session). Janet is one of the hardest workers and most committed public servants I’ve ever met. She deserves your vote! Let’s elect Janet Ellis for House District 81.
– Rebecca Stanfel, Helena
Janet Ellis is a Steady and Respected Leader
Experience matters, especially now.
Montana’s state budget is not theoretical. It’s a $16.6 billion blueprint that touches every classroom, rural clinic, road, and public safety system in our state. Getting it right requires more than good intentions. It requires experience, judgment, and relationships built over time.
That is why there is no more important race for Democrats this cycle in Helena than re-electing Sen. Janet Ellis to the Montana House.
Ellis has spent 12 years in the legislature, serving in both the House and Senate. She’s worked on the budget in both chambers and most recently served as minority vice chair of Senate Finance and Claims from 2021 to 2025. In an era of strict term limits, that kind of institutional knowledge is rare and invaluable.
The budget is not something you learn overnight. It takes years to understand where dollars are well spent, where they are not, and when to push back. It also takes trust and working relationships across the aisle to get anything meaningful done. Sen. Ellis brings both.
She’s a thoughtful, steady leader and a respected colleague who works effectively with legislators of both parties. Those qualities matter as much as policy when the stakes are this high. If Democrats are serious about governing responsibly and protecting Montana’s future, we must retain leaders who know how to do the work. Ellis is one of those leaders.
Senators Ellie Boldman and Shane Morigeau, Andrea Olsen (Missoula), Derek Harvey (Butte), Chris Pope and Cora Neumann (Bozeman), Susan Webber (Browning)
Janet Ellis has Championed Public Access
Janet Ellis, Democratic candidate for House District 81, has a long record of advocating for conservation, open space, clean energy, public access for hunting and fishing, and wildlife habitat protection.
Before serving in the legislature, Janet worked as a citizen advocate with Montana Audubon. Her leadership earned numerous honors, including “Conservationist of the Year” awards from the Montana Environmental Information Center, the Montana Wildlife Federation, and the Montana Audubon. She also received the 2016 “Lifetime Award for Conservation and Clean Energy Achievement” from the National Wildlife Federation and the 2013 “Special Achievement Award” from the Montana Native Plant Society.
In this election, Janet has been endorsed by the Montana Sportsmen Alliance as a “voice of reason on Montana fish and wildlife issues.”
Janet Ellis has consistently championed public access to Montana’s public lands and streams, along with strong habitat protections.
If you enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, or floating Montana’s rivers, vote for Janet Ellis in the June primary for House District 81.
Denise Roth Barber, Helena
Janet Ellis has Experience and Work Ethic
Last session, while serving in the Senate, Janet Ellis worked hard to reauthorize Medicaid for more than 90,000 working Montanans. She spoke on the floor and lobbied behind the scenes, reaching out to her Republican colleagues and convincing them to vote for this important bill.
This is just one way that Janet put her experience and relationships to work for Montanans. Janet understands how to build coalitions to advance the public interest. She knows how to collaborate, coordinate, and communicate to get things done.
Let’s elect Janet Ellis to represent House District 81 so she can bring her experience and work ethic back to the legislature. When elected, she will fight for the issues we care about: quality education, access to healthcare and affordable food and housing, protecting the environment, and improving the economy.
Martha Kohl, Helena
Fighting to Protect the Montana We Love
Learn more about what Janet believes by reading this Op Ed she wrote for the Helena Independent Record, “Fighting to Protect the Montana We Love”: https://helenair.com/…/article_f2cefc5b-ab6e-4fb8-bbd6. Here is a link to a photo of the article, in case you don’t have a subscription to the newspaper:
Janet announced her run for the Montana House of Representatives on February 17, 2026: Ellis Running for Montana House of Representatives.
“Montana SOS denies turning over confidential records to feds,” Daily Montanan, February 10, 2026
“Data Privacy, Artificial Intel Challenge Montana Legislature,” Missoula Current, February 3, 2025
”MT legislators hear another bill aiming to put restrictions on chemical abortions,”KTVH, March 6, 2025
“Senate Bill to outlaw AI deepfakes within 60 days of an election gets House hearing,” Daily Montanan, April 2, 2025
