Incredible turnout here in Missoula, MT.

[MontanaMama]

The line out the door of the main Elections Office to vote goes as far as as I can see...it winds down the street, around the block and down a pedestrian path. This is only one of the places to vote in town. I drove past two ballot drop off points and they are well staffed and cars are bumper to bumper for blocks. There are several park and ride places where you can leave your vehicle and take the city bus to the polls. I followed one of the buses on my way to work and there were quite a few folks riding. Everyone is masked and socially distant. I'm thrilled to see this and I'm happy it is sunny and 43 degrees. A week ago we had 10" of snow on the ground. I hope everyone who can vote will have the opportunity to get it done today.

[LizBeth]

1. I love Missoula. Lucky you living there. But then I am in Eugene so lucky me too, lol.

[MontanaMama]

7. I love Eugene.

My godmother lives there and I try to get there often. You are definitely lucky!

[LizBeth]

11. Of course you do cause the two places have the same personality. That is very cool.

Boulder Co is another place that has the same similarities and feel.

[nycbos]

2. It's that good for us?

[AkFemDem]

3. NYT shows Missoula went Clinton in 2016

https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/montana

[triron]

6. Great news!

[dixiechiken1]

4. The University of Montana is in Missoula...

So I'm thinking that's probably very good for us. 😊

[OMGWTF]

25. My parents met at the University of Montana

I was browsing in an old book store at Seattle's Pike Place Market in the early 1970s and found the yearbook from the only year they both attended. I gave it them for Christmas.

BLUE TSUNAMI BABY!!!

[MontanaMama]

8. We are a lovely blue city in a big red state.

Montana is changing...maybe more purple than folks think. I think the turnout bodes well for Biden.

[BlueMTexpat]

18. I hope that it also bodes well

for Bullock, Cooney and Williams, among others!

[Hortensis]

5. Wonderful. Imagine you have a fair number of young people in Missoula.

Do they seem to be turning out in good numbers?

[MontanaMama]

10. Yes!!

We are home to the University of Montana and Missoula is a young vibrant community of writers, artists, musicians and outdoor enthusiasts. I love the young hip vibe we have going here but I'm a little mad at the youngsters for how they are handling Covid...they're being quite careless.

[Hortensis]

14. Love to hear it, thanks, even though that last is not good. nt

[OregonBlue]

9. My grandson is attending the Univeristy of Montana and says there are Bullock and Biden stickers and

signs in the dorm windows all over campus. So yes, they are hopefully voting. He voted early but most of his friends were voting today and they are all voting Biden/Bullock.

[MontanaMama]

12. 100%. I live a mile from campus

and while Missoula is quite blue, the university district is neon blue!! I hope your grandson is being Covid safe. There have been so many positive cases within the student population. I thank your grandson and his friends for voting today!!

[LAS14]

13. Since we've been told for weeks that the Repubs will come out on election day, why..

... are you thrilled? Do you have some other info? Like party breakdown?

tia
las

[MontanaMama]

15. We're just a very blue community.

Most of the people I saw in line and on the bus were young...probably students from the university. Most of those folks tend to vote blue and they also wait until the last minute. I'm just reporting what I see...and it looked like a party in line at the elections office.

[NorthOf270]

16. Bullock!!!

C'mon Steve!

[MontanaMama]

17. Right?!?!?!?

I'm very positive about that race. Hope I'm not crazy.

[LaMouffette]

19. Go, Missoula! Go Steve Bullock!

I hope to God Steve Bullock wins the Senate race against Steve "Where's Your Neck!" Daines (that was a Rocky Horror reference, by the way!). And after a term as senator, he becomes Kamala Harris's VP pick . . . And after being VP for two terms, he gets elected president!

Um, I guess I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I am definitely a Bullock fan.

[MontanaMama]

21. Steve Bullock has been a great Governor for MT.

I am very hopeful he will take this senate seat. Daines is an atrocious person and legislator. He's a liar. I too am a Bullock fan!

[roamer65]

20. Senator Bullock.

[MontanaMama]

22. From your keyboard to the ears of the Universe.

Steve Bullock would represent Montana and all Democrats well in the Senate.

[icwlmuscyia]

23. Met Bullock during the caucuses in Iowa - what a great person and true Democrat

I sure hope he wins tonight. He is definitely national material.

[MontanaMama]

24. Wow! I've never met him.

I appreciate knowing what folks outside MT think of him. He seems to be a thoughtful leader and very smart. He's been a very popular governor.

[icwlmuscyia]

26. He is really laid back and straight forward

I was sitting next to him before his appearance. I had no idea it was him. There were a lot of new faces in the room which was really good. I just thought he was a local I hadn't met.

He shook my hand and said "Hi I am Steve." We chatted for a bit - just chit chat. Then the county chair introduced him and the guy I had been chatting with gets up....

His staffer that I had met with said "this guy is like your neighbor. Everybody calls them Steve and Lisa." And he was sure right.

And BTW looking at his record he is a great Democrat.

[Sogo]

42. I met him in the IA primary campaign season also!

I agree with everything you've said about him.

I thought he was great!!

[MissB]

27. Really hope that MT elects Bullock

And then promptly locks down the state.

[MontanaMama]

28. Lordy I hear you.

We've hoped for lock down for a while now...I'm very worried that Gianforte will be elected and all bets will be off in MT. We are already inundated.

[MissB]

29. Yeah

My son tested positive this weekend. MSU.

[MontanaMama]

31. Oh no!!!

How is he doing? I have heard that MSU is doing a bit better than U of M but that's just chit chat...nothing factual. The students in Missoula aren't playing by the rules, unfortunately...and that is from the chief of staff for the president at U of M...he lives next door to one of my employees.

My best to your kiddo for a quick and complete recovery!!

[MissB]

33. Thanks.

He lives in a house off campus. They’ve tried to keep their bubble small but not small enough. He had brief contact with a friend that turned up positive not long after.

MSU apparently has had a steady 75 or so active cases each week since the start of the term. Everyone is good about wearing masks. Still, it’s clearly there!

He seems to be experiencing a mild case. No breathing problems and he’s doing breathing exercises anyway. Fever only the first day, very mild occasional cough. Some dizziness but still can taste and smell. He does have strep though so that sucks!

His friends bring him food and drink. He’s sequestered in his bedroom.

I’m impressed with the county’s directions for him- he got pages of dos and Don’ts. Contact tracing happened- don’t know if he did it or the county.

[ailsagirl]

30. Good to hear-- thanks for checking in!

[Cha]

32. Good to know! Mahalo, MontanaMama!

[MontanaMama]

35. Hello my friend!!!

We're breathing deeply and trying to relax during this stressful day. I am headed out of work here shortly to take a quick head clearing hike before the sun sets.

So good to see you here!!

[Cha]

37. Good to see you, too!

Best of Luck to us All!

I'm going out soon for a run.. speaking of head clearing.. it works wonders.

Link to tweet

Just leave you with this.. It was on Kamala's Birthday!💙

[MontanaMama]

38. THIS!!!

I happily made several donations to Kai Kahele's campaign...every time Tulsi said something stupid.

[Cha]

40. Good on you! I knew you would Appreciate

THIS!!

[My Pet Orangutan]

39. Cha, there is not a week that goes by without me wondering

how much it hurts, how much it burns and sets fire

not being able to vote for Tulsi Gabbard this time round.

So sorry for your loss

[Cha]

41. lol.. I haven't voted for her for

8 years.. ever since she showed her true fox gigs dragging on President Obama.

I stopped all contact.. told them to drop me immediately from their emails. Boom.

Hawaii gained a lot with her running for potus.. look what happened!

Kai!

[coti]

34. I've been saying, watch out for MT.

Anything can happen with the right kind of turnout in a low-pop state.

[MontanaMama]

36. I am so hopeful that the turnout means

winning results for Dems here in Big Sky Country. We really do have wonderful candidates this time out.

[ibegurpard]

43. That's good to hear

Big lines in Billings also... which is not so good.

[MontanaMama]

46. Dang it.

I hope the lines are liberals coming out of the woodwork. Fingers crossed!

[TlalocW]

44. Is this the most people you are likely to see in one spot in Montana?

I kid.

TlalocW

[MontanaMama]

47. Hahaha!

Other than a U of M football game...yes! Funny that you mention crowds in MT...we comment daily on all the people who have moved here from other states because of Covid. It’s like nothing I’ve seen in my lifetime. They’re not tourists...they’re staying. It is freaking people out around here.

[rickford66]

45. Used to enjoy Kim Williams on NPR.

[MontanaMama]

48. Wasn't she something?

My parents knew Kim. They were volunteers at Montana Public Radio for years and years. Kim was so well loved. There’s a beautiful trail system in Hellgate Canyon named for her.