Big Sky Times

Dennis Daneke, a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana, says that he’s a member of the Greens but that’s not what Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show.

According to FEC records, Daneke has a record of donating to Democratic candidates and fundraising platforms that support Democratic campaigns.  For example, between 2003 and 2016, Daneke contributed funds to ActBlue more than 60 times. The fundraising platform is one that Gov. Steve Bullock is currently using as part of his campaign for U.S. Senate, and it’s a platform used by other Democratic hopefuls. 

The FEC records show Daneke also made donations to the Senate campaigns of John Tester and Monica Lindeen. It shows that over 13 years, Daneke gave more than $6,700 to Democratic hopefuls and causes, including $2,935 to a union that has given political contributions almost exclusively to Democratic candidates, campaigns and causes. Other campaigns that he donated to include Kathleen Williams for Montana in 2018, “It Starts Today,” and Dennis McDonald for Congress

A search of these records does not turn up donations to a Green Party candidate or cause in that 13-year span.

Daneke filed to run in the Montana primary election at the very last minute – filing on deadline day – and is one of two Green Party candidates running for election to the Montana Senate.

The FEC records show that Daneke was employed by the University of Montana, and he told KTVH in March that he had been a professor of sustainable construction technology before he retired.

On March 25, he told KTVH that he was “essentially recruited by Democrat to defeat his Green Party challenger, Wendie Frederickson in the Green Party primary,” and that he could withdraw once he made it onto the general election ballot. FEC records show that Daneke was also employed by the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters from 2003-2010.