--- title: "Montana Democrats Name SJ Howell First Trans/Nonbinary Party Leader" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-11-12T03:46:05.421Z" source_reported: "2026-11-12T00:41:54.000Z" updated: "2026-11-12T11:45:18.531Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-12T21:00:22.166514+00:00" --- # Montana Democrats Name SJ Howell First Trans/Nonbinary Party Leader *State Representative SJ Howell elected minority leader in the Montana House.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68: many outlets name SJ Howell and Zooey Zephyr, and independent digests corroborate the election claim. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87: provides context, includes Zephyr quote, separates facts, gives specific names and dates, and reads clearly. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; headline matches article without sensational exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Democrats in the Montana House of Representatives have elected State Rep. SJ Howell as minority leader. - SJ Howell is the first transgender or nonbinary party leader in the United States. - State Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who was elected as a minority whip, posted on social media about the new leadership team. - Republicans hold a dominant position in the Montana Legislature, controlling all six statewide offices. Democrats in the Montana House of Representatives have elected State Rep. SJ Howell of Missoula as their minority leader. Howell is the first transgender or nonbinary person to hold a party leadership position in the United States. State Rep. Zooey Zephyr, also of Missoula, was elected as one of three minority whips in the House. Zephyr posted on social media on Wednesday, stating, "We have an incredible leadership team, and are ready to get to work for Montana!" Republicans hold a majority in the Montana Legislature, controlling all six statewide offices. ## Background on leaders SJ Howell was a lobbyist and activist for women’s and LGBTQ+ issues before being elected in 2022 as Montana’s first nonbinary legislator. Zooey Zephyr, a university program manager, was elected in the same year as Montana’s first openly transgender lawmaker. Zephyr gained attention in 2023 when the House barred her from the floor after she refused to apologize for remarks made about a ban on gender-affirming care for youths. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story. The reports that were published did not include details about the election of Republican leadership in the Montana House, such as the election of Katie Zolnikov as House speaker, Mike Vinton as speaker pro tem, and Tom Millett as majority leader. ## Who covered it Shares of the 32 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 47% (15) - Centre: 50% (16) - Right: 3% (1) 2 of 34 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-12T21:00:22.166514+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 70 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-12T21:30:14.182Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Ten left-rated reports led with the election of SJ Howell as minority leader and highlighted that Howell is the first transgender or nonbinary party leader in the U.S. These reports also noted that Zooey Zephyr was elected as a minority whip and that Zephyr posted about the new leadership team. The fact that Republicans dominate the state Legislature and hold all statewide offices was also included in these reports. Some reports mentioned Howell's background as a lobbyist and activist and Zephyr's previous attention for remarks made on the House floor. ### Centre - Eleven centre-rated reports focused on the election of SJ Howell as minority leader, noting Howell is the first transgender or nonbinary party leader in the U.S. These reports also included that Zooey Zephyr was elected as a minority whip and that Zephyr posted on social media. The dominance of Republicans in the Montana Legislature and their control of statewide offices was also mentioned. Some centre-rated reports included details about Howell's prior work as a lobbyist and activist and Zephyr's history in the House, including the incident where she was barred from the floor. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 15 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [LGBTQ Nation](https://lgbtqnation.com/2026/11/montana-democrats-make-history-by-electing-2-trans-lawmakers-as-house-leaders) — Montana Democrats make history by electing 2 trans lawmakers as House leaders - [Pink News](https://thepinknews.com/2026/11/12/montana-trans-leadership-2026) — Montana Democrats Make History with Two Trans Lawmakers in Leadership - [Attitude](https://attitude.co.uk/news/world/montana-democrats-elect-sj-howell-first-trans-non-binary-leader-539597) — Montana Democrats elect SJ Howell as first trans/non-binary party leader in US - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/11/11/us-election-2026-montana-house) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11301401/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/11/11/montana-house-legislature-transgender-nonbinary/3e9f04ce-de1e-11f1-912c-4fbb80d73f7f_story.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_364680c2-2b66-54f3-9e91-918542f1f78e.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House mino - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/long-island/politics/montana-house-legislature-transgender-nonbinary-t48353) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/democrats-montana-zooey-zephyr-lgbtq-republicans-b3083497.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/montana-house-legislature-transgender-nonbinary-aefcfb667efece80e87ca55ce913f4db) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/democrats-montana-zooey-zephyr-lgbtq-republicans-b3083497.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Idaho Press](https://idahopress.com/ap_news/us/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_24b5d7e1-4227-5c3e-b161-6c6fb8dab189.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Henry Herald](https://henryherald.com/news/world_nation/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_cb003eca-c1cc-547f-b39f-de1e221150dd.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Yakima Herald-Republic](https://yakimaherald.com/news/nation_and_world/nation/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_f8540713-e4be-5498-bc18-044eb9fdffff.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Post Register](https://postregister.com/news/national/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_9b1d66c4-e8c8-512a-9e86-7732af8d5d54.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The EagleHerald](https://ehextra.com/news/nation_world/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_18ac3cb8-5f52-5d5b-928e-aa45f29376f2.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Times-Tribune](https://thetimestribune.com/news/national_news/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_ea1393f6-e91e-52d1-be48-8b34179f1c9f.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [KTBS](https://ktbs.com/news/national/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_5c3be52b-bdb1-565a-a686-ebaa47f56dc7.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_47172c97-8c14-519a-bb07-4d306e997af7.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Richmond Register](https://richmondregister.com/ap/national/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_4b60e749-ef73-5b27-b931-36098a6b23f7.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Yuma Sun](https://yumasun.com/news/national_news/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_15c3db27-7c6e-553d-b595-d84985becac7.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Kokomo Tribune](https://kokomotribune.com/news/nation_world_news/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_4f173c0a-0e13-5372-9e6b-dd1076174fe5.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/montana-democrats-choose-transnonbinary-person-state-house-minority-138061136) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/11/11/montana-democrats-choose-transnonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [KXL](https://kxl.com/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader-2) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [News 4 JAX](https://news4jax.com/news/politics/2026/11/11/montana-democrats-choose-transnonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [ABC FOX Montana](https://montanarightnow.com/national_news/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_98b98e3e-750f-5fb6-9603-d2bb8761faac.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/11/11/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_184bfaf0-3a1b-5fe3-b4e4-f463258d1655.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/news/world/united-states/montana-democrats-choose-trans-nonbinary-person-to-be-state-house-minority-leader/article_aafea872-aa4e-539e-94bc-0d449224de1c.html) — Montana Democrats choose trans/nonbinary person to be state House minority leader - [Newsmax](https://newsmax.com/politics/montana-house-transgender/2026/11/11/id/1275999) — Montana House Democrats Pick Nonbinary Leader ## Questions **Who was elected as the new minority leader in the Montana House?** State Representative SJ Howell of Missoula was elected as the minority leader by Democrats in the Montana House of Representatives. Howell is the first transgender or nonbinary person to hold a party leadership position in the United States. **What other leadership positions were filled?** State Representative Zooey Zephyr was elected as one of three minority whips in the Montana House. Republicans also elected their leadership, with Katie Zolnikov named House speaker, Mike Vinton as speaker pro tem, and Tom Millett as majority leader. **What is the political makeup of the Montana Legislature?** Republicans hold a dominant position in the Montana Legislature. They control all six statewide offices and have a majority in the legislative body, while Democrats hold minority leadership positions. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Montana Democrats Name SJ Howell First Trans/Nonbinary Party Leader", https://mediabias.news/politics/montana-democrats-name-sj-howell-first-transnonbinary-party-leader