Mike Jopek threw his hat in the ring to become the char of the Montana Democratic Party. The Flathead County Garlic farmer will square off against Missoula’s Shannon O’Brien as the party convenes for its convention this weekend in Livingston.

Mike is looking to return the party to the playbook of Jon Tester and Brian Schweitzer. He wants to use the 56-county approach to help Democrats start winning elections in Montana once again. As it is with Democrats from Missoula and Bozeman calling the shots, Mike says the party is losing rural Democrats, and they have long been the staple of the party of the people.

Mike, a former Montana legislator, wants to end the system where candidates are coronated by the party elites. He wants to see primaries that will strengthen candidates for the general election. He says candidates who win primaries are candidates who win elections.

This is Mike’s second appearance on the Mad About Montana podcast. He made an appearance in April as he fought for real property tax reform.