Just days after the primary election, Montana Democrats are meeting to debate key party issues and vote on representatives to their party’s National Convention in Philadelphia this summer.
Around 120 Democrats from around the state are at the Radisson Colonial Hotel in Helena.
Most of today was spent discussing broad planks on the party platform such as agriculture, energy, and healthcare and human services.
Party spokesperson Kristen Cates [no relation to the reporter] says today’s discussion and debate will incorporate messages from those who support both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Supporters from both camps within the party will have to agree on what it is their party stands for.
Sanders won Montana’s primary 51 to 44 percent, but Clinton has been announced as the party’s presumed nominee.
"We’ll hear what Sanders supporters have to say, what Clinton supporters have to say. The party has made equal room for both presidential candidates' supporters to kind of discuss issues that are important to them."
Tomorrow, party members will vote to officially embrace the platform issues.
Platform Commission Co-Chair Jorge Quintana told the crowd of Democrats that this was a time to come together.
"We’re going to have a smooth convention, and come out of here unified and ready to kick a little Trump butt."
Saturday, the party will also select delegates for the national convention. Montana will send 11 delegates supporting Sanders and 10 for Clinton, along with six unpledged superdelegates.
A cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton in a grey suit smiled at Democrats as they walked through the event doors. Bernie Sanders' likeness was absent.
