Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons^™

Governor Steve Bullock's "Great Equalizers": How The Narrative Paradigm Translates Progressive Initiatives To Conservative Audiences, Kelsie Lynn Severson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Montana Democratic Governor Steve Bullock won his re-election in 2016 despite a national conservative groundswell, in a state where Donald Trump also won by twenty points. Bullock would be labeled a very moderate Governor. However, he has accomplished several progressive steps forward for policy decisions in the state of Montana that include campaign finance reform, and Montana Medicaid expansion. This has led to national interest of Bullock’s success in campaigning and governing. While Bullock only just barely won both his gubernatorial bids, and has only accomplished some of his progressive goals, his rhetorical strategies that focus on narrative as a …