Elsie arntzen biography

Elsie Arntzen (born May 7, 1956) is an American educator and politician from the U.S. state of Montana who served as the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Montana.
Elsie Arntzen is an American educator and politician from the U.S. state of Montana who served as the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Montana.
Montana superintendent of public instruction (2017 - 2025) · Montana State Senate (2013-2017) · Montana House of Representatives (2005-2013).

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Arntzen to run for state superintendent

HELENA — Elsie Arntzen has filed to run for state superintendent of public instruction on the Republican ticket to replace Democrat Denise Juneau, who is prohibited from another four years because of term limits.

“I think it’s a perfect fit,” said Arntzen, who cited her experience as a retired teacher and state lawmaker from Billings. She said she filed her candidacy Wednesday electronically from Poly Drive Elementary School, where she attended as a child in Billings. Arntzen, a state senator who now represents Billings, was joined by her granddaughter, Harper, who will be starting kindergarten this fall at Billings Public Schools.

“When it comes to educating Montana students, I believe that decisions are best made on the local level,” said Arntzen, 59. “As our state’s next superintendent, I’ll see to it that educational choices are made by parents and teachers, not out-of-touch bureaucrats who don’t understand our Montana values.”

Arntzen said she planned on being the “gatekeeper” for the recently passed Every Student Succeeds Act, whic

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Elsie Arntzen (Republican Party) was the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction. She assumed office on January 2, 2017. She left office on January 6, 2025.

Arntzen (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Montana's 2nd Congressional District. She lost in the Republican primary on June 4, 2024.

Biography

Elsie Arntzen earned her B.A. in economics from the University of Montana in 1978, and her B.S. in education from Montana State University in 1992. Her professional experience includes working as an educator.

Political career

Montana superintendent of public instruction (2017 - 2025)

Arntzen was elected to the position of Montana superintendent of public instruction on November 8, 2016. She was sworn into office on January 2, 2017. She left office on January 6, 2025.^[1]

Montana State Senate (2013-2017)

Arntzen is a former Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 26 and District 27. She was first elected to represent District 27 in the senate in 2012, and was reassigned to District 26 due to redistrict

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Election 2024 Guide

Montana Republican candidate

for U.S. House District 2 (East)

State superintendent of public instruction

About ArntzenOn the issuesArntzen in MTFP coverageElection resultsVoting in MontanaAbout this project

Active candidates for U.S. House District 2 (East)

General election nominees were selected via the June 4, 2024, primary election.

Arntzen, 68 as of Election Day, has served as Montana’s top elected public education official for the past eight years. A former teacher, she was born in Billings and represented Billings-area seats in the state Legislature from 2005 to 2017.

As Arntzen campaigns this year, she describes herself as a staunch “America First” conservative who will stand up for families and Montana values in Congress.

“America is fed up, and we cannot continue to saddle our children and grandchildren with the problems we need to tackle today,” she said.

Arntzen was cited in May 2022 for an incident where she allegedly drove past a school bus with its stop lights deployed, ultimately paying a $135 fine.

This biography is