Braxton Mitchell

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 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. Due to redistricting following the U.S. census, Mitchell ran for District 5 in the 2024 elections.

Early life and education

Mitchell was born in Columbia Falls, Montana, and was later adopted. Mitchell grew up working for his family's businesses in Columbia Falls, most notably Montana Jerky Company.

While attending Columbia Falls High School, he organized a pro-gun walkout after millions of students nationwide walked out to protest gun rights. Mitchell attended Flathead Valley Community College after high school.

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.

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, and became one of the youngest elected officials in the country.

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.

In the 2023 session, Mitchell served as a member on the powerful House Judiciary Committee, the House Education Committee, and the House Agricultural Committee. He sponsored 10 bills that session with 9 of them passing the Montana House and Senate.

In April 2024, Mitchell toured the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a trip organized by NumbersUSA, an American conservative nonprofit organization founded by Charlie Kirk that advocates to identify, educate, train, and organize high school and college students to "promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government."

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.

In 2022, he ran for re-election. In June 2022, Mitchell faced a Republican primary challenger who Mitchell accused of being a Democrat because she changed her party affiliation just days before the filing deadline. Mitchell easily defeated his primary challenger with over 73% of the vote. In November 2022, Mitchell won his re-election bid by 18 points.

In 2024, he ran for re-election. Following legislative redistricting, which significantly reshaped the district he had represented since 2021, 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." The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on April 18, 2023. After the bill was signed into law Mitchell stated "As our community grows, one thing must never change, and that's our commitment to the heroes who helped secure our future and freedoms."

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. 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 and 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. “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 25th, 2025, with Bobby Dewbre’s family standing along side Mitchell and the Governor as it was signed into law.

Financial literacy instruction in Montana public schools

In February 2023, Mitchell introduced House Bill 535 that would add to state law a series of standards for financial literacy instruction in Montana public schools. The bill passed the House on a largely party-line vote in March 2023, but not before Democrats voiced concern that the bill may infringe on the constitutional authority of the Board of Public Education and the Office of Public Instruction. In Committee, Montana State Superintendent of Public Schools Elsie Arntzen advocated for the bill. After nearly every House Democrat opposed the bill, Mitchell blasted Democrats and stated "I didn't realize financial literacy was such a partisan issue." In April 2023, the bill passed the Senate with unanimous support and in May 2023 the bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte.

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. 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, such as the Black Lives Matter flag and the pride flag. Mitchell’s Republican colleagues showed resounding support for the measure, which he defended as necessary to preserve governmental neutrality and unity. The bill states, “Government property, including state buildings and grounds, public schools, and other government-owned facilities, should serve neutral governmental functions and not be used to promote political or ideological advocacy.” The legislation clarifies that it “does not infringe upon private speech or individual expression.” It applies solely to government-controlled displays, aiming to protect personal freedoms while ensuring a neutral public environment. The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on May 13th, 2025, and took effect immediately.

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. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law on May 5, 2025, and it took effect immediately.

Drag Story Hour ban

In February 2023, Mitchell introduced House Bill 359 which would prohibit Drag Queen Story Hour in taxpayer funded schools and 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." "Let kids be kids," he said. "I've asked this question from the beginning, why do these people want to dress half naked and read books to kids? Never got a single answer." Democrats in Montana argued the bill would affect theater performances in schools and libraries. In response, Mitchell stated "It's not going to bar theatre in schools or libraries. Democrats have no argument for why a drag queen should be reading books half naked to kids so they make excuses to oppose the bill." In addition to prohibiting drag story hour the bill also prohibits children from attending any sexually oriented shows in Montana and would also prohibit any sexually oriented or obscene performances on public property where children are present. The bill passed the Montana House and Senate on May 2, 2023 along party lines, and was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on May 22, 2023. This bill was temporarily blocked by an Obama appointed Federal Judge, 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.

Free to Speak Act

In February 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB 400, known as the “Free to Speak Act,” which protects students and public employees in Montana from being compelled to use politically charged or ideologically driven speech in public schools or state institutions. The law prohibits disciplinary or adverse actions against any student or employee who declines to use alternative pronouns or names inconsistent with a person’s biological sex or legal name. It affirms the right to refrain from compelled speech and ensures that no public school or state agency can penalize individuals for declining to adopt language that conflicts with their personal or religious beliefs. The law also establishes a private cause of action, allowing individuals to sue for injunctive relief, monetary damages, and attorney fees if their rights under the act are violated. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill on May 1st, 2025 and took effect immediately.

Lab-grown meat ban

In February 2025, Mitchell sponsored HB 401 which banned the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown meat in Montana. The bill passed the House and Senate with bi-partisan support. The bill was signed into law on May 1st, 2025. Governor Greg Gianforte touted the Legislation stating: “If you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying a cut of Montana beef, you know there is no substitute,” Gianforte said. “By signing House Bill 401 into law, I am proud to defend our way of life and the hardworking Montana ranchers who produce the best beef in the world.” The bill defined lab grown meat as, “the concept of meat, including but not limited to muscle cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, and other components produced via cell culture, rather than from a whole slaughtered animal.” Mitchell stated “As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and someone whose family has been involved in Montana’s meat processing industry for over 80 years, I’m proud Governor Gianforte signed House Bill 401 into law,” Mitchell said. “Agriculture is our state’s number one industry, and this bill takes a clear stand to protect our ranchers and our food supply. We won’t let synthetic products with misleading labels undercut the hard work of Montana’s farm and ranch families.” The Montana Farm Bureau Federation praised the signing of the legislation, thanking the governor and Mitchell for defending and protecting the Montana way of life.

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. The measure was tabled in March 2021. 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.

Jell-O shots

In 2023, Mitchell introduced legislation to legalize Jell-O shots. At the time of the bill's introduction, Montana was 1 of only 2 states that prohibited the selling and distribution of premade Jell-O shots. In committee which featured no opponents, Mitchell said the proposal was a "freedom bill" and supporters cited that "Jell-O shots are not daily consumables but usually tailored towards events such as weddings, bachelorette parties, concerts, and tailgates." The bill was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte making Utah the only state left that still prohibits the sale of Jell-O shots.

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 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." The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte on May 7, 2021.

State surplus revenue

In September 2022, Mitchell was 1 of 53 Republican Legislators to call for a special session of the Montana Legislature to discuss returning over $1.8 billion in excess tax revenue to resident homeowners who paid property taxes in the past two years, and up to $1,250 to people who paid income taxes during that time. Mitchell stated "This is not a stimulus check or us printing money like we see Biden and the Democrats doing at the federal level — it's a true returning of funds. I am sure professional politicians and Helena insiders could think of 1.8 billion reasons to spend this money elsewhere but, the fact is, it is yours. It also can help force the hand of the legislature to finally rewrite our tax system we currently have in place which is hurting our citizens and businesses. Things worth doing are hard, and voters expect us to serve them, so I'm calling on my fellow legislators to support a special session."

Electoral history

2020 election

2022 general election

2024 general election

References

External links

Braxton Mitchell at ballotpedia.org

Braxton Mitchell at followthemoney.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Braxton
2000 births
Living people
21st-century evangelicals
American evangelicals
People from Columbia Falls, Montana
People from Whitefish, Montana
People from Kalispell, Montana
Politicians from Kalispell, Montana People from Flathead County, Montana
Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives
American social media influencers
21st-century members of the Montana Legislature
Flathead Valley Community College alumni