{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Braxton Mitchell | image = | office = Member of the Montana House of Representatives | constituency = 5th district (2025-present)<br>3rd district (2021-2025) | term_start = January 4, 2021 | predecessor = Debo Powers | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|20}} | birth_place = Whitefish, Montana, U.S. | party = Republican | education = Flathead Valley Community College }} '''Braxton Mitchell''' (born May 20, 2000) is an American politician and businessman who serves as the Republican Majority Whip of the Montana House of Representatives and as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. He represented Montana’s 3rd district from 2021 to 2025, and at the time, became one of the youngest elected officials in the country.<ref name="2021 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book">{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/session/copper-book/ |website=Montana Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=May 5, 2021 |page=52}}</ref><ref name="ballotpedia" /> Due to redistricting following the U.S. census, Mitchell ran for District 5 in the 2024 elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home page |url=https://mtredistricting.gov/ |publisher=Montana Districting and Appointment Commission |access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Mitchell was born in Whitefish, Montana,<ref name="ballotpedia" /> and was later adopted.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2022/oct/12/mitchell-getts-square-house-district-3-race/ | title=Mitchell, Getts to square off in House District 3 race | date=12 October 2022 }}</ref> Mitchell grew up working for his family's businesses in Columbia Falls, most notably Montana Jerky Company.<ref name="HH profile" />
While attending Columbia Falls High School, he organized a pro-gun walkout after millions of students nationwide walked out to protest gun violence.<ref name="KULR">{{cite web |last1=Drake |first1=Phil |title=Montana Human Rights Network raises concerns about Turning Point USA |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/state/montana-human-rights-network-raises-concerns-about-turning-point-usa/article_e1f9dbc5-3f26-5d4d-8a6d-f0504ef3c988.html |website=KULR-8 Local News |access-date=May 8, 2021 |language=en |date=April 24, 2021}}</ref> Mitchell attended Flathead Valley Community College after high school.<ref name="ballotpedia">{{Cite web|title=Braxton Mitchell|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Braxton_Mitchell|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref><ref name="HH profile">{{cite web |title=Election 2020: Braxton Mitchell House District 3 |url=https://hungryhorsenews.com/news/2020/sep/30/election-2020-braxton-mitchell-house-district-3/ |website=Hungry Horse News |access-date=July 1, 2021 |language=en |date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>
==Career== Mitchell's involvement in politics began in 2017 during a special election for Montana's lone congressional district, where Republican Greg Gianforte defeated Democrat Rob Quist. Mitchell saw many of his own beliefs reflected in Gianforte, and helped with his campaign as a high school student.<ref name="Missoula Current">{{cite web |last1=Amestoy |first1=Austin |title=Montana's youngest legislators: Under 25, diverse, Republican with 'a libertarian streak' |url=https://missoulacurrent.com/government/2021/01/youngest-legislators/ |website=Missoula Current |access-date=June 7, 2021 |language=en |date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>
In 2020, he ran for the 3rd district of the Montana House of Representatives. Mitchell defeated incumbent Democrat Debo Powers in the November general election by 20 points,<ref name="Missoula Current"/> and became one of the youngest elected officials in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flathead Memo: Rep-Elect Braxton Mitchell wants Montana's primaries to be closed and all its ballots hand counted|url=https://www.flatheadmemo.com/archives_2020/december_2020/2020-12-16_closed_hand.html|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=www.flatheadmemo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=House District 3 candidate Q&A: Braxton Mitchell|url=https://missoulian.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/house-district-3-candidate-q-a-braxton-mitchell/article_59532361-e8e6-5b0d-babc-7572ad309386.html|access-date=January 13, 2021|website=missoulian.com|date=May 2020 |language=en|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
During the 2021 legislative session, Mitchell served as a member on the House Taxation Committee, the House Education Committee, and the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Representatives Committees 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Session/2021-House-Committees.pdf |website=Montana Legislature |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref>
In the 2023 session, Mitchell served as a member on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Education Committee, and the House Agricultural Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Representatives Committees 2023 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Session/2023-House-Committees.pdf |access-date=December 9, 2022}}</ref> He sponsored 10 bills that session with 9 of them passing the Montana House and Senate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislator=Braxton Mitchell |url=http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SESS=20231&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=&P_BILL_NO=&P_BILL_DFT_NO=&P_CHPT_NO=&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ2=19668&P_SBJT_SBJ_CD=&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ=&Z_ACTION2=Find |website=Montana Legislature |access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref>
In April 2024, Mitchell toured the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a trip organized by NumbersUSA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anti-immigration group organized Northwest Montana lawmakers' trip to southern border |date=14 May 2024 |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/may/14/anti-immigration-group-organized-northwest-montana-lawmakers-trip-to-southern-border/ |access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>
Following the 2024 election, Mitchell was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Majority Whip of the Montana House of Representatives for the 69th Legislative Session. <ref>{{cite web |title=Montana Legislative Services |url=https://legislators.legmt.gov/#/legislator/49 |website=Montana State Legislature |access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref>
In 2025, Mitchell serves as the chairman of the House Agricultural Committee. He also serves as a member on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee, and as a member of the Rules Committee<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Representatives Committees 2025 |url=https://archive.legmt.gov/content/committees/2025HouseCommitteesCondensed.pdf |access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2025 Capitol Tracker |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/Braxton-Mitchell/ |website=Montana Free Press |access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref>
Mitchell has served as an ambassador for Turning Point USA. <ref>{{cite web |title=20 Year-Old MAGA Politician’s War on ANTIFA Backfires Horribly |date=2 March 2021 |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/20-year-old-maga-pol-montana-state-rep-braxton-mitchell-declares-war-on-antifa-and-it-backfires-horribly/ |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>
==Elections== In 2020, he ran for the 3rd district of the Montana House of Representatives. Mitchell defeated incumbent Democrat Debo Powers in the November general election by 20 points.<ref name="Missoula Current"/>
In 2022, he ran for re-election. In June 2022, Mitchell faced a Republican primary challenger. Mitchell defeated his primary challenger with over 73% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Incumbent legislators fend off primary challenges across Montana |date=9 June 2022 |url=https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/incumbent-legislators-fend-off-primary-challenges-across-montana/article_16cb1d8e-16e0-5a92-9c5b-fde9479b17ad.html |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref> In November 2022, Mitchell won his re-election bid by 18 points.<ref>{{cite web |title=Republicans likely to enjoy supermajority in the Montana State Legislature |date=9 November 2022 |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2022/nov/09/republicans-now-hold-supermajority-montana-state-l/ |access-date=November 10, 2022}}</ref>
In 2024, he ran for re-election. Following legislative redistricting, Mitchell opted to run in the newly drawn House District 5, which encompassed a large portion of his former district. In November 2024, Mitchell won his re-election bid by 47.6 points.
==Notable bills sponsored by Mitchell==
===State veterans cemetery=== In January 2023, Mitchell sponsored successful legislation that would set aside 150 acres of land adjacent to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, Montana to create a State Veterans Cemetery in his district. The cemetery is open to veterans in nine Montana counties: Lincoln, Sanders, Flathead, Lake, Glacier, Toole, Pondera, Teton and Liberty counties. "These veterans deserve everything for their sacrifices," Mitchell said in a statement after the bill passed the House. "It's a great day for Flathead County, Northwest Montana and Montana as a whole."<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana House passes bill allowing for state veterans cemetery in C-Falls |date=12 January 2023 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/montana-house-passes-bill-allowing-031600362.html |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on April 18, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Governor signs bill authorizing veterans cemetery in Columbia Falls |date=22 April 2023 |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2023/apr/22/new-veterans-cemetery-coming-c-falls/ |access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref>
===Bobby’s Law=== In January 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB 267, a bill that strengthened penalties for fatal DUI offenses by creating a new crime: aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence.<ref name="Montana Free Press">{{cite web |last1=Forman-Webster |first1=Kaiden |title=’Bobby’s Law’ aims to create minimum penalty for fatal DUIs |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2025/04/09/bobbys-law-aims-to-create-minimum-penalty-for-fatal-duis/ |website=Montana Free Press |access-date=May 14, 2025 |language=en |date=April 9, 2025}}</ref> The law applies to drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.16% or higher who cause a death, establishing a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years, with a maximum of up to 30 years and potential fines of up to $50,000. The legislation was named in memory of Bobby Dewbre, a Columbia Falls resident, childhood friend, and neighbor of Mitchell, who was killed in a drunk driving crash. The driver responsible received just 18 months in county jail—the maximum sentence allowable under existing law for one count of misdemeanor careless driving involving death or serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated DUI. Calling the sentence “unfathomable,” Mitchell cited the case as the catalyst for reform.<ref name="Montana Free Press" /> “Montana has some of the most lax DUI laws in the country,” he said, “and HB 267 will help change that.” Bobby’s Law was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on April 25, 2025, with Bobby Dewbre’s family standing alongside Mitchell and the Governor as it was signed into law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Governor signs Bobby’s Law, imposing tougher drunk driving penalties |date=29 April 2025 |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/apr/29/governor-signs-bobbys-law-legalizing-steeper-drunk-driving-penalties/ |access-date=May 19, 2025}}</ref>
===Flag restriction bill=== In February 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB 819, legislation that prohibits the display of flags and banners representing a political viewpoint on property owned or leased by state, county, and local governments, such as the Black Lives Matter flag and the pride flags. This restriction applies exclusively to displays put up by government entities, including those at public schools, universities, courthouses, and administrative buildings. The ban includes flags featuring symbols tied to a specific race, sexual orientation, or gender identity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lawmakers approve bill restricting display of some flags on public property |date=25 April 2025 |url=https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/apr/25/critics-claim-proposed-flag-ban-infringes-on-free-speech-rights/ |access-date=May 16, 2025}}</ref> The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on May 13, 2025, and took effect immediately.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana Legislative Services |url=https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4289?open_tab=sum |website=Montana Legislature |access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref> In June 2025, the Missoula City Council exploited a loophole in the law by formally designating the pride flag as an official city flag, thereby allowing its continued display on government property. As a result, the pride flag is now an official flag of the city of Missoula, Montana. The move drew criticism from Mitchell, who accused the city politicizing public property. In response, Mitchell vowed to close the loophole when the legislature reconvenes.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Divisive, Far-Left Agenda’: City In Deep-Red State Adopts ‘Pride’ Flag As Official City Banner |date=3 June 2025 |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/divisive-far-left-agenda-city-in-deep-red-state-adopts-pride-flag-as-official-city-banner |access-date=June 19, 2025}}</ref>
===Artificial intelligence=== In January 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB 178, legislation that limits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by state and local governments in Montana. The bill prohibits government entities from using AI for purposes such as behavioral manipulation, discriminatory classification, malicious activity, or mass surveillance, except in limited law enforcement situations. It also requires transparency when AI is used in public-facing communications or services. Additionally, any government decision or recommendation made with the help of AI must be reviewed and approved by a real person, specifically a qualified state officer or public employee, before it can take effect.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana Lawmakers Move to Regulate Artificial Intelligence |date=28 March 2025 |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2025/03/28/montana-lawmakers-move-to-regulate-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=May 19, 2025}}</ref> Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law on May 5, 2025, and it took effect immediately.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana Legislative Services |url=https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1339?open_tab=sum |website=Montana Legislature |access-date=May 19, 2025}}</ref>
===Drag Performance ban=== In February 2023, Mitchell introduced House Bill 359 which would prohibit drag performances in public libraries. Mitchell told NBC News that "the bill is intended to ensure hyper sexualized events are kept out of our taxpayer funded schools and libraries." The bill passed the Montana House and Senate on May 2, 2023 and was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on May 22, 2023. This bill was temporarily blocked by Federal Judge Brian Morris, on Friday July 28, 2023. The judge used the language of the bill to determine that it was crafted with discriminatory intent, constituting an unconstitutional breach of freedom of speech, referencing an incident in which a transgender individual, who was not a drag performer, was blocked from speaking in an event hosted in a public library.<ref>{{cite web |title= Judge Blocks Montana Drag Ban Using Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell's Own Words |website=Erin In The Morning |date=28 July 2023 |url= https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/judge-blocks-montana-drag-ban-using |access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref>
===Digital drivers licenses=== In 2023 Mitchell sponsored House Bill 519 which allows for Montanan's to obtain a digital version of their drivers license in their Apple Wallet in addition to their physical license by September 2025. The Montana Motor Vehicle Division came in as proponents to the bill.<ref name="NonStop Local">{{cite web |last1=Depping |first1=Meridith |title=Digital driver's license bill going through Montana House |url=https://www.montanarightnow.com/helena/digital-driver-s-license-bill-going-through-montana-house/article_a9c2cbe8-b3b9-11ed-b1c5-67df1580c211.html |website=NonStop Local |access-date=May 7, 2023 |language=en |date=February 23, 2023}}</ref> The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on April 26, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana State Legislature |url=http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0203W$BSRV.ActionQuery?P_SESS=20231&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&P_BILL_NO=519&P_BILL_DFT_NO=&P_CHPT_NO=&Z_ACTION=Find&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ2=&P_SBJT_SBJ_CD=&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ= |access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref> In 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB196 and HB249, which enhanced Montana’s digital identification laws before its roll out in September 2025. The legislation makes it unlawful to falsify a digital driver’s license, authorizes the ability to use a digital license to purchase age-restricted products like alcohol and tobacco, and enhances privacy protections by requiring businesses that scan digital IDs to use the scan data solely for age verification, prohibit its sale or transfer, and delete the data within 180 days. Both bills were signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana State Legislature |url=https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1631?open_tab=sum |access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref>
===Coal power=== Mitchell sponsored a measure that would have made it more difficult for a private utility company in Montana to shutter a power plant, a move aimed at blocking the closing of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in eastern Montana.<ref name="wade">{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Will |title=Coal Country Races to Shield Itself From Biden's Climate Plan |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-29/coal-country-races-to-shield-itself-from-biden-s-climate-plan |website=Bloomberg.com |access-date=April 6, 2021 |language=en |date=March 29, 2021}}</ref> The measure was tabled in March 2021.<ref name="wade" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Montana HB314 - Regular Session |url=https://legiscan.com/MT/bill/HB314/2021 |website=LegiScan |access-date=April 6, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The Colstrip plant's owners, Puget Sound Energy, closed two of the four units at the plant in January 2021, and announced that the remaining two units would close within five years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smart-energy.com/industry-sectors/energy-grid-management/us-2020-coal-closures-start-with-a-bang-with-two-units-closed-in-montana/|title=US 2020 coal closures start with a bang with two units closed in Montana|last=Gordon|first=Phillip|date=January 6, 2020|website=Smart Energy International|language=en-US|access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref>
===Ballot requirements=== In 2025 Mitchell sponsored legislation that changed voting requirements for absentee voting to require that a voter's birth year be written on the outside of the return envelope.<ref>{{cite web |title=House Bill 719: Revise election laws related to an elector's date of birth |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/bills/hb-719/?_gl=1*11dj3b8*_gcl_au*MjE0NjkyMjg0Mi4xNzc2ODkyNDkx*_ga*MjAxMDc3MTgwNC4xNzY4NTI0Mzg0*_ga_C786L46FE8*czE3NzY4OTI0OTAkbzYkZzEkdDE3NzY4OTI1MTEkajM5JGwwJGgw*_ga_PZYTDJ0GN5*czE3NzY4OTI0OTAkbzYkZzEkdDE3NzY4OTI1MTEkajM5JGwwJGgw |website=Montana Free Press |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dietrich |first1=Eric |title=New law requires election officials to reject mail ballots that aren’t signed with voters’ birth years |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/27/new-montana-law-requires-voters-put-their-birth-year-on-ballots/ |website=Montana Free Press |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> The bill became law in May of 2025, passing the Republican-controlled state legislature along party lines. The new requirements led to an increase in rejected absentee ballots in municipal elections that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=New ballot requirements result in high number of rejections in Missoula County |url=https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/new-ballot-requirements-result-in-high-number-of-rejections-in-missoula-county |website=8KPAX |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref>
==Montana House of Representatives== ===Transgender athletes in sports=== In 2021 Mitchell supported a bill in the Montana Legislature that sought to ban transgender athletes from competing on teams that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. He stated that "Someone gender fluid can wake up one morning and say, 'I'm a man today,' or 'I'm a woman today,' as a tactic to win in sports."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loose |first1=Cindy |title=Flurry of bills aim to limit accommodating transgender athletes in public schools |url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/social_issues/flurry-of-bills-aim-to-limit-accommodating-transgender-athletes-in-public-schools/article_5d63791a-1e5d-5221-a587-fdcdee7dbb46.html |website=New Hampshire Union Leader |access-date=April 6, 2021 |language=en |date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on May 7, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Samuels |first1=Iris |title=Montana governor signs bill targeting transgender athletes|url=https://apnews.com/article/mt-state-wire-montana-sports-education-health-5fc4d7e5433d976f89c20d8c1ece377a |website=apnews.com |access-date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |date=May 7, 2021}}</ref>
==Electoral history== ===2020 election=== {{Election box begin no change | title =Montana's 3rd District House of Representatives election, 2020<ref name="ballotpedia" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Braxton Mitchell | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 3,586 | percentage = 60.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Debo Powers | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 2,393 | percentage = 40.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 5,979 | percentage= 100 }} {{Election box end}}
===2022 general election=== {{Election box begin no change | title =Montana's 3rd District House of Representatives election, 2022<ref name="ballotpedia" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Braxton Mitchell | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 2,751 | percentage = 59.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Andrea Getts | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,934 | percentage = 41.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 4,685 | percentage= 100 }} {{Election box end}}
===2024 general election=== {{Election box begin no change | title =Montana's 5th District House of Representatives election, 2024<ref name="ballotpedia" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Braxton Mitchell | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 4,671 | percentage = 73.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Steve Paugh | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,654 | percentage = 26.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 6,325 | percentage= 100 }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://ballotpedia.org/Braxton_Mitchell Braxton Mitchell at ballotpedia.org] * [https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=49394860 Braxton Mitchell at followthemoney.org]
{{Montana House of Representatives|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Braxton}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century evangelicals Category:American evangelicals Category:People from Columbia Falls, Montana Category:People from Whitefish, Montana Category:Politicians from Kalispell, Montana Category:People from Flathead County, Montana Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Category:American social media influencers Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature Category:Flathead Valley Community College alumni Category:Turning Point USA members