A voicemail from Helena City Commission candidate Haley McKnight has sparked a political firestorm in Montana.
On July 1, McKnight left a recording targeting Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) after he voted to advance the Trump-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The roughly one-minute message contained violent and vulgar language, including wishes that Sheehy suffer pancreatic cancer, die in the street and experience infertility.
Conservatives have condemned the remarks, while local law enforcement confirmed the incident was reported.
McKnight, a Helena small-business owner and president of Helena Young Professionals, defended the voicemail as “justifiable rage” over policies she believes harm Montanans, particularly Medicaid reforms included in the bill, according to National Review.
She accused Sheehy of serving personal and financial interests at the expense of ordinary constituents.
The candidate, one of four running for two city commission seats, emphasized her frustration stems from a desire to protect vulnerable populations rather than a personal vendetta against the senator.
The episode is not an isolated case.
Resist the Mainstream previously reported that Democratic nominee Jay Jones, running for Virginia attorney general, sent a series of text messages in 2022 to then-Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert wishing him death.
These examples highlight a broader trend of hostile rhetoric directed at conservative officials, raising concerns about the safety and political climate for Republicans at both state and local levels.
Conservative commentators argue that normalizing threats—even when framed as “frustration” or “anger”—erodes civility and accountability in politics.
Media coverage of these incidents has drawn criticism from some conservatives who say the press often downplays aggressive political threats, portraying them as mere expressions of frustration rather than actions warranting scrutiny.
According to The Western Journal, outlets like KTVH and MTN included McKnight’s justifications in their reporting, which critics argue implicitly minimizes the severity of the threats.
The outlet warned that such coverage could embolden other candidates to issue similar extreme statements, knowing public attention may focus on their motivations rather than the content of their threats.
McKnight’s political background reflects her active engagement in progressive causes.
She moved to Montana in 2017, previously working as an AmeriCorps Vista member in Butte, and later relocated to Helena.
OpenSecrets records indicate she has made donations to Democratic candidates, and her campaign platform prioritizes sustainability, public transit and restrictions on short-term rentals such as AirBnBs and VRBOs.
Sheehy’s office chose not to pursue legal action, releasing a statement through spokesman Tate Mitchell: “We hope Ms. McKnight gets the help she clearly needs and wish her well.”
The office confirmed that law enforcement has been alerted to the voicemail and that Sheehy’s staff maintains awareness of any potential threats to the senator.
Political analysts caution that these episodes serve as a warning about the rising intensity of partisan rhetoric.
Conservative officials increasingly face verbal attacks and personal threats that go beyond standard political criticism.
Experts argue that campaigns and governing bodies must reinforce norms of accountability, emphasizing that violent or threatening communications should disqualify candidates from office and prompt legal and institutional safeguards.
The McKnight voicemail controversy underscores the tension between passionate political advocacy and threats that cross legal and ethical boundaries.
As Montana prepares for city commission elections, citizens and officials are debating the balance between freedom of speech and the responsibility of candidates to maintain civil discourse while engaging in public service.
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