EBS STAFF
More than 12,500 Gallatin County residents made their voices heard in the 2023 Bozeman mayor election. Cyndy Andrus, John Meyer and Joey Morrison ran for the position.
Andrus received 2,970 votes, Meyer 3,983 votes and Morrison received 5,389 votes as of 1:30 a.m. this morning, Nov. 8. Provisional votes will be counted and announced on Monday, Nov. 13. Final official results will be announced on Friday, Nov. 17.
“It’s hard to find words that fully represent what this victory means for our city,” Morrison’s campaign posted in a social media announcement on Wednesday afternoon.
“Last night, our campaign finished this race the way we started it: in community,” the campaign stated. “We called hundreds of people and removed barriers that kept people from voting and participating in our democracy. We celebrated, danced, shouted, and shared as a cross-race and cross-class intergenerational movement with a common vision for Bozeman. We knew this race was going to be an uphill struggle, but we showed that grassroots organizing can determine a Montana municipal election, even up against an incumbent of 13 years.”
The statement also quoted Morrison:
“I was born and raised in Miles City, but I became who I am today here in Bozeman,” Morrison stated. “I watched as economically depressed parts of our state were ignored and cast aside, along with its residents, and I watched as economically prosperous parts of the state were exploited, and so too were its residents. I dream about a working class that determines the present and future of Montana, that decides every election, that occupies every elected body because, to me, that is the only way we get to a livable world for not just ourselves but for future generations.”
Morrison has been a social worker in Bozeman, contributing to organizations including Haven, Big Sky Youth Empowerment and the help center. He has also been involved with Bozeman Tenants United, the group behind a recent, workforce housing focused restriction on short-term rentals in Bozeman.
In a recent Q&A with Explore Big Sky, Morrison cited housing insecurity, climate vulnerability and mismanaged growth as Bozeman’s top three issues.
In the October Q&A, Morrison wrote to EBS, “I’m running for mayor because Bozeman is in crisis… I am running because in this moment of crisis, we need responsive leadership that can bring the community together and work toward solutions.”
