Cabin Fever Days organizer looks to unseat GOP Rep. Braxton Mitchell

Democratic statehouse candidate Steve Paugh wasn’t planning on running for the Legislature, but said that when he saw Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell was running unopposed, he knew someone had to step in.

“March 21, 2024 is when Braxton Mitchell was going to run unopposed. I was sitting in the sidelines trying to get people to run against him the whole time. It came down to the final hour,” Paugh recalled.  

In the intervening months, he has built a campaign on transparency, thoughtful representation and community, something Paugh argues that Mitchell has failed to exhibit. 

Paugh, 70, known locally as “Philly Steve,” is running against Mitchell to represent House District 5. He moved to Martin City in 2009 after life in Pennsylvania and is an organizer of the annual Cabin Fever Days barstool races. A former insurance agent of 40 years, now retired, Paugh has been married to his wife Betsy for 48 years and has three daughters and seven grandchildren. 

Mitchell, a 24-year-old from Columbia Falls, is looking to serve his third session in Helena. Mitchell works for his family business, Vandevanter Meats and Montana Jerky Company, and describes himself as a “longtime community partner and advocate,” according to a candidate questionnaire submitted to the Daily Inter Lake.  

Mitchell declined to be interviewed for this article.  

“I’m good, thanks! The race is in the bag,” Mitchell said in an email. 

Mitchell has avoided Paugh’s attempts to contact him as well, Paugh said. He reported unsuccessfully trying to get Mitchell to agree to a candidate forum in July.  

Paugh said many of the people he has met while campaigning also haven’t seen or heard from the Republican candidate. 

“All you got is me talking one way and no Braxton Mitchell to answer anything,” Paugh said. “ ... Republicans control my district, and that's a huge mountain to climb. But you got to make one first step.” 

Paugh performed title search work for an insurance company, a career path he said will aid him in addressing affordable housing, property taxes and real estate projects. Paugh expressed support for limiting annual property tax increases, expanding homestead exemptions, cracking down on short term rentals and figuring out a way to provide relief to renters.  

Regarding the 2023 session, Paugh was disappointed by what he saw as political games being elevated above solving problems.  

“We must focus on real solutions, such as expanding rental assistance programs and providing stronger protections for tenants,” Paugh said in his questionnaire answers.  

Mitchell, in his questionnaire, argued that there were several beneficial housing bills passed in 2023 that were “shut down by the far-left [state] supreme court.” 

Paugh and Mitchell are sharply divided on the performance of the state’s judicial branch in recent years. 

Many Republican candidates, including Mitchell, have criticized the Montana Supreme Court for putting on hold several laws passed by the supermajority in 2023. 

Legislation from the 2023 session that has been challenged in court includes Senate Bill 458, a bill that looked to codify the male and female genders in state law, four pieces of legislation that would restrict abortion access and multiple efforts to alter the election system.  

“It seems like [the judiciary is the] only stopgap from legislation that isn't constitutional and doesn’t make any sense,” Paugh said. “That supermajority can be dangerous if there's nothing to counteract that.” 

Paugh cited a bill sponsored by Mitchell in 2023 — House Bill 359 — that looked to ban minors from attending drag story hours at public schools or libraries. A federal judge blocked the law after it passed and was signed into law. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris stated in an order that there was no evidence that indicated that minors face any harm from drag-related events.  

“The left-wing court is filled with, bought and paid for liberal hacks who engage in judicial activism and legislate from the bench on a daily basis. They do this because they don’t have a liberal governor with a veto pen to kill legislation,” Mitchell said in his candidate questionnaire.  

Paugh is also in support of renewing the Medicaid program in the state, implementing a better trash and recycle outlet for communities to use, protecting public education and addressing gun violence. He also expressed care for limiting emissions and protecting the environment, which he wants his grandchildren to enjoy.  

“There are things that I think need to be righted in the ship of Montana and I’d like to grab an oar,” Paugh said. “I’m not going to sail the ship ... but I can still pull an oar and drive us in the right direction.” 

House District 5 is a newly redrawn district. Mitchell previously served as the legislator for House District 3, which included Columbia Falls, West Glacier and Hungry Horse.  

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.