Linda McCulloch

American politician

Linda McCulloch

McCulloch in 2014

20th Secretary of State of Montana
In office
January 5, 2009 – January 2, 2017
Governor| Brian Schweitzer
Steve Bullock
Preceded by| Brad Johnson
Succeeded by| Corey Stapleton
15th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana
In office
January 1, 2001 – January 5, 2009
Governor| Judy Martz
Brian Schweitzer
Preceded by| Nancy Keenan
Succeeded by| Denise Juneau
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 70th district
In office
January 2, 1995 – January 1, 2001
Preceded by| Robert J. Pavlovich
Succeeded by| Holly Raser
Personal details
Born|  (1954-12-21) December 21, 1954 (age 69)
Springfield, Ohio, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Education| University of Montana,
Missoula (BA, MA)

Linda McCulloch (born December 21, 1954) is an American politician who is formerly the secretary of state of Montana. She was the first woman to serve in that post.[1] She left her previous post as state superintendent of public instruction due to term limits, which she also reached as Secretary of State.

## Political career[edit]

McCulloch is a Democrat and was elected to the office in November 2008 and took office in January 2009. She defeated Republican Brad Johnson. McCulloch previously served as state superintendent of public instruction from 2000 to 2008, before reaching the term limit. From 1995 to 2000, she had been a representative in the Montana House of Representatives.[2]

McCulloch's initial campaign was based on increasing voter participation and supporting state businesses.[3] Early in her first term, McCulloch oversaw a project to update the records system for 40,000 boxes of the state's stored documents from a 1978 mainframe to modern software, based on her background as a school librarian, in order to allow web-based communication between businesses and the Secretary of State.[3] She also backed legislation to update state notary documentation and requirements.[4]

McCulloch supported online voter registration in Montana throughout both of her terms,[3][5] with the caveat of requiring a valid Montana ID to register online.[5]

In 2016, the Montana Secretary of State's Office added increased satellite offices in reservation areas to improve voting access after a 2012 tribal suit over equitable voting access, which McCulloch viewed as a start for improving access. Community leaders and county election officials also pressed the need for more publicity over the new voting offices to increase turnout. The Office also saw increases in absentee voting during this same time period.[6] McCulloch opposed a measure to remove same-day voter registration in Montana, which Montana citizens also ultimately voted against.[7]

McCulloch won re-election in 2012 for another 4-year term. She was ineligible to run again in 2016 due to term limits, and was succeeded by Republican Corey Stapleton.[2]

She currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Let America Vote, an organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that aims to end voter suppression.[8]

## Personal life[edit]

McCulloch was born in Springfield, Ohio, and grew up in South Charleston, Ohio. She graduated from Southeastern High School, and attended OSU. In 1982, she received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Montana, followed in 1990 by her MA in Elementary Education from the same institution.[2] She has previously worked as a paraprofessional teacher, substitute teacher, school librarian, and teacher.[9] She is divorced.[2]

## Electoral history[edit]

Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1994

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch | 1,771  | 50.66
Republican  | Tim Sayles  | 1,725  | 49.34
Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1996

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch (inc.) | 2,689  | 62.48
Republican  | Drew Lesofski  | 1,486  | 34.53
Libertarian  | E. L. Bernosky  | 129  | 3.00
Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1998

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch (inc.) | 2,053  | 60.26
Republican  | Hal Schaible  | 1,354  | 39.74
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2000

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch | 31,572  | 34.39
Democratic  | Gail Gray  | 31,508  | 34.32
Democratic  | Mike Schwinden  | 28,739  | 31.30
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2000

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch | 206,941  | 53
Republican  | Elaine Sollie Herman  | 162,069  | 41
Reform  | Larry Foust  | 22,952  | 6
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2004

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch (inc.) | 75,504  | 86.49
Democratic  | Clarence Kimm, Sr.  | 11,797  | 13.51
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2004

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch (inc.) | 246,204  | 56.89
Republican  | Bob Anderson  | 186,338  | 43.06
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2008

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch | 233,717  | 49.32
Republican  | Brad Johnson (inc.)  | 228,412  | 48.20
Constitution  | Sieglinde Sharbono  | 11,722  | 2.47
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Democratic  | Linda McCulloch (inc.) | 245,024  | 51.41
Republican  | Brad Johnson  | 214,976  | 45.10
Libertarian  | Roger Roots  | 16,622  | 3.49

## References[edit]

1. ^ State of Montana. "About the Montana Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
2. ^ a b c d "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
3. ^ a b c Vander Veen, Chad (2010-07-26). "Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch Discusses Records Management, E-Voting". GovTech. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
4. ^ ANDERSON, WILLIAM A. "Secretary McCulloch leaves behind legacy of leadership and accomplishment for Montana's 20,000 notaries". Missoulian. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
5. ^ a b KECI Staff (2015-01-28). "Secretary of State wants online voter registration in Montana". KECI. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
6. ^ Cates-Carney, Corin (2016-06-06). "Low Turnout At Reservation Satellite Voting Offices Ahead Of Primaries". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
7. ^ "Montanans Vote To Keep Same-Day Voter Registration". Montana Public Radio. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
8. ^ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
9. ^ "Who is Montana's Linda McCulloch?". Big Sky Words. Retrieved 2022-01-23.

## External links[edit]

* Official site

Political offices

Preceded by

Nancy Keenan

|  Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana
2001–2009  | Succeeded by

Denise Juneau

Preceded by

Brad Johnson

|  Secretary of State of Montana
2009–2017  | Succeeded by

Corey Stapleton