Ellsworth Survives Expulsion Votes as Freedom Caucus Pushes for Another Attempt

HELENA, MT – One day after the Montana Republican Party formally called for his resignation, Senator Jason Ellsworth survived two expulsion votes in the Senate, as well as a failed censure attempt. Over the course of 90 minutes on Monday afternoon, the Senate voted three times—twice on motions to remove Ellsworth and once on a substitute motion to censure him, which would have stripped him of committee assignments and floor privileges until April 12. All three efforts failed.

The expulsion motions were brought by Sen. Forest Mandeville, who led the Senate Ethics Committee, and Majority Leader Tom McGillvray. The nine Republicans who voted against them—members of the so-called “Out of Line Nine“—joined with Democrats to block the effort. Their votes ensured Ellsworth’s continued tenure despite the Montana GOP’s warning that it would support his removal.

The Montana Freedom Caucus, which had pushed for Ellsworth’s expulsion, condemned the outcome and vowed to try again. “Today the Montana Senate failed to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth. 23 Senators, including the ‘nasty-9,’ voted to allow corruption, deception, and fraud to rule in the Montana Senate,” the caucus wrote on X. “We will continue to call on him to resign and uphold the dignity and integrity of the Senate.”

Senator Theresa Manzella (SD 44), a member of the Freedom Caucus, accused Democrats of seeking only a censure as a “slap on the wrist.” “The Democrats want to censor Ellsworth. We want to EXPEL him,” she said. “We got four Democrats to join us—Kerr-Carpenter, Harvey, Fern, Hayman. We need seven more to join us.”

Senator Jeremy Trebas (SD 10) also condemned the failed expulsion, writing on X: “Senator Ellsworth provided a roadmap to steal $170,100 from the state government and get away scot-free, and most of the Democrats and eight fake Republicans went along to save him. Step one) give government money to your best friend. Step two) be politically useful to Dems and RINOs.”

The Freedom Caucus announced plans to push for another expulsion vote and called on Montanans to pressure Democratic legislators to support Ellsworth’s removal.

The Montana GOP has not yet responded to Monday’s vote but previously stated it viewed resignation or expulsion as necessary to restore public trust.