Monica Tranel shared her thoughts on the upcoming elections and gives a statement on her support of Title IX
MONTANA – Monica Tranel, a Congressional candidate for Montana, is also an alum of the world summer games, winning fourth place in the rowing competition of 1996.
She knows this year, with so many Montanans being a part of the games, is a huge point of pride, not only for the state but the country.
“In the end, it’s all for the moment and we recognize that we’re all in this moment together,” Tranel said.
The summer games in Paris highlight what Title IX has done for women in sports, a topic that comes up frequently while Tranel competes in the race against Congressman Ryan Zinke for Montana’s seat.
“Title IX has been an incredibly important statute and law that has enabled women to participate in sports in a way that’s fair. And rowing has been an enormous beneficiary of Title IX. The fact that I was able to go through the nineties and engage and participate and compete at the highest level was in part a function of the fact that we were given those opportunities through Title IX,” Tranel said.
Congressman Zinke has used this as an attack against his opponent, asserting Tranel supports men participating in women’s sports, a statement geared towards Montana’s transgender athletes.
“I do not think that men should compete against women, and I have never said that. Men compete against men, women compete against women, and it should always be fair,” Tranel said.
Tranel said she is focusing her campaign on the question: what can we do together?
She said people are tired of the divisiveness and chaos and community is what Montana needs.
She noted she lives here and sees that need every day.
“Look, I don’t know who, what kinds of circuses, rodeos and clown shows come in and out of Montana over the next three months, but I’m here to represent Montana. I have put over 40,000 miles on my minivan. I literally drove it into the ground connecting with Montanans. I’m here. This is my home. I don’t have another one,” Tranel said.
