Guest Post By Russell Cleveland

U.S. Navy Veteran and Former Congressional Candidate

There is something the military teaches you about leadership that stays with you long after you take off the uniform.

You don’t abandon your post when things get difficult.

When tensions rise, when the bombs begin falling, when relationships are strained and the mission seems impossible, that is when leadership matters most. Not when victory seems certain, but when everything around you is being tested.

I’ve been thinking about that lesson following Shannon O’Brien’s resignation as chair of the Montana Democratic Party.

Let me be clear: This isn’t about supporting a Democrat or an independent candidate for the United States Senate. Montanans value independent thinking, and I respect everyone’s right to support the candidate they believe will best represent our state.

This is about the responsibility we accept when we ask others to trust us with leadership.

In September 2025, I proudly voted for Mike Jopek to lead the Montana Democratic Party and encouraged others to do the same. Not because I believed he would always make popular decisions, but because I believed he understood what our party desperately needed: rebuilding trust, reconnecting with working families, and restoring purpose to an organization that had lost its footing with too many Montanans.

My concerns about party leadership began long before this resignation.

In spring 2025, as I launched my congressional campaign, I approached O’Brien seeking guidance and a working relationship. Instead, I left disappointed by the lack of meaningful support and direction.

Later, during conversations about data center development, I understood from party leadership that pressure from organized labor discouraged candidates from publicly challenging certain developments, with union support potentially at stake.

I deeply respect organized labor. But supporting unions should never require candidates to surrender their independence or remain silent about issues affecting Montana communities. Leadership should help candidates navigate difficult conversations, not discourage them from having them.

Now, just weeks before an election, we face another test.

I recognize the complexity of Montana’s Senate race. A qualified, well-funded independent candidate has complicated an already difficult political landscape. But the responsibility of a state party chair was never limited to one Senate race.

Across Montana, dedicated Democratic candidates are sacrificing time with their families, knocking on doors, and fighting for communities they love. They deserve leadership that stands beside them, especially when circumstances become uncomfortable.

And the opportunity before Montana Democrats extends far beyond November.

Across America, political frustration has created an opening to reconnect with working people who feel abandoned by both parties. Montana families are struggling with housing, healthcare, wages, and the growing influence of wealthy interests over government.

We should be rebuilding relationships with ranchers, farmers, veterans, tradespeople, teachers, and small-business owners. Instead, too much energy has been consumed by internal conflict and political calculations.

I don’t question O’Brien’s right to follow her conscience, nor should her years of public service be dismissed. But compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive.

Leadership carries obligations beyond personal preference.

I’ve spent much of my adult life building organizations, employing people, raising a family, and serving my community. I’ve made mistakes and faced criticism. But I’ve learned that leadership isn’t measured by how many people agree with you when things are easy.

It’s measured by whether people can count on you when things become difficult.

Montana Democrats can rebuild. But doing so requires humility, courage, and remembering that political parties exist to serve people, not preserve power.

To every candidate still knocking on doors, every volunteer still making calls, and every Montanan who believes public service can be honorable: Keep going.

Your work matters. Your communities matter.

Because when the mission becomes difficult, that isn’t the time to abandon your post.

It’s the time to remember why you volunteered to serve in the first place.