At 15, girl has keen interest in politics

Her first foray onto the campaign trail may have been a brief one, but 15-year-old Republican Laura Hartland says the experience running for Montana House District 10 this year was a valuable one.

“I generally wanted to raise awareness of the elections and who was running,” she says. “If you asked someone, ‘Would you vote for a 15-year-old?’ they would probably say no, but a lot of people just look on the ballot, see a Republican and vote for them.”

In March, Hartland filed for the seat currently held by first-term incumbent Rep. Mark Noland, also a Republican from Bigfork. Soon after, the Secretary of State’s office informed her that although no state laws barred her from running for or holding the office, her age would prevent her from voting on legislation in Helena should she win election.

She did not pursue her legislative run, although she said that her short-lived candidacy helped make the case that young people deserve more consideration in the political discourse.

“I do think I’m prepared for that, I have a lot of experience talking to people who disagree with me,” Hartland says, adding that her unusual candidacy was generally well received. “Overall, people really wanted to talk to me. Some said, ‘Even though I disagree with you, it’s inspiring that someone your age would care about these issues.’”

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Hartland moved five years ago with her family to Bigfork, where her parents established Glory Ranch Ministries. She began developing an interest in politics in 2008, when she helped organize votes for then-presidential candidate John McCain during a mock election in third grade.

In the years since, she has sharpened her conservative beliefs on a range of issues, from U.S. foreign policy and refugee immigration to school choice and transgender rights. But her biggest concern is what she sees as an uninformed electorate fueling much of the vitriol playing out on the national stage this year.

“It’s not the issue of the candidates themselves,” she says. “If we had a country where people were informed and involved, we wouldn’t have these problems.”

Hartland started considering a run for office last year during an American government class at Flathead Valley Community College, where she’s enrolled in a dual credit program to graduate from high school with an associate degree already under her belt.

One of the assignments required students to track a bill through the Legislature.

“When I started to listen to some of the committee hearings, I was disappointed. Some of the legislation that died was good legislation that wasn’t defended properly,” she says. “I remember, I didn’t even think about it, I just started writing down all the responses to what they were saying and even finding the flaws in what the people on my side were saying.”

Despite her age, she has substantial experience on the debate stage, including first-place finishes in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voices of Democracy competition each of the last three years.

Hartland also serves as a contributing writer for the conservative online news outlet Hypeline, publishing coverage of and penning opinion pieces on topics ranging from child soldiers in Sudan to Missoula’s immigration rallies. She plans to continue those pursuits after high school and is considering majoring in political science and broadcast journalism.

In her spare time, she’s a regular participant in the children’s theater at the Bigfork Center for Performing Arts and plays soccer at Stillwater Christian School, where she often talks politics with her coach during the breaks.

She cites as mentors her father, older sister and professors, but among her peers, she sometimes feels disappointed in their lack of political interest.

“If we’re a rising generation, we need to start acting like it.”

Politicians also have a responsibility to kindle civic awareness among youth, she notes, which would lead to a more politically involved electorate once they reach the voting age.

“If they’re public servants and they’re interested in representing everyone, I think it’s very courageous to speak to people who can’t vote,” Hartland says. “The youth are smart. Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they don’t have good arguments to make or that they can’t be helpful.”

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.