Kimberly Dudik (born November 4, 1974) is an American politician and attorney who served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021.[1][2][3][4] Dudik was a candidate for attorney general of Montana in the 2020 Democratic primary.[5]

Kimberly Dudik
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 94th district
In office
January 5, 2015 – January 4, 2021
Preceded byEllie Boldman
Succeeded byTom France
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
January 7, 2013 – January 5, 2015
Preceded byBetsy Hands
Succeeded byTom Steenberg
Personal details
Born (1974-11-04) November 4, 1974 (age 50)
Frenchtown, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMontana State University (BSN)
University of Montana (JD)
Johns Hopkins University (MPH)

Early life and education

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Dudík was born in Frenchtown, Montana.[6] She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Montana State University.[7] She also has earned a J.D. degree from the University of Montana School of Law and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.[7][8]

Career

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Dudik works as an attorney in private practice at Dudik Law P.L.L.C. She served as chair for the Office of State Public Defender Task Force.[9] She co-founded the Public Policy Institute of the Rockies and developed a program to provide pro bono legal assistance to families impacted by the MMIP epidemic.[10]

Montana House of Representatives

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In 2015, Dudik worked with Republican Montana Attorney General Tim Fox to combat human trafficking in Montana. She carried House Bill 89 which substantially reformed Montana’s human trafficking laws.[6][11] In 2017, Dudik led substantial bipartisan public defender reforms. That year, Dudik is thought to be the first sitting state legislator to give birth during a Montana legislative session, returning to the House floor four days later with the baby with her.[12] Dudik led the National Foundation for Women Legislators as chairperson in 2018.[13] Dudik served as the chairperson for the Council of State Governments West in 2019.[14]

Committee assignments

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During Dudik's tenure, she served on the House Appropriations Committee, the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice, and the House Rules Committee.[15][16][17][18] She also served on the Legislative Finance Committee from 2013 to 2020.[15][16][17]

During the 2017 and 2019 legislative sessions, she vice chaired the House Rules Committee.[17][18]

In 2019, Dudik served as a member of the Joint Select Committee on Settlement Accountability.[18]

2020 Montana attorney general campaign

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On December 17, 2017, Dudik announced her candidacy for Montana attorney general in the 2020 election.[5] She has reported approximately $101,000 in the quarter ending June 30, 2019. She loaned her campaign $85,000. She has repaid $30,000 of the loan.[19] Dudik placed second in the Democratic primary after Raph Graybill.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Kimberly Dudik". Leg.mt.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  2. ^ "Dudik retains seat over challenger Cox for Montana House District 94 seat". missoulian.com. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  3. ^ "Montana 94th District State House Results: Kimberly Dudik Wins". The New York Times. 2017-08-01. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  4. ^ "Kimberly Dudik". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  5. ^ a b Cates-Carney, Corin (December 17, 2017). "Rep Kimberly Dudik Announces Bid For Attorney General's Office". Montana Public Radio. Missoula, Montana. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  6. ^ a b FRASER, JAYME. "Missoula legislator secures sweeping criminal justice reforms". missoulian.com.
  7. ^ a b "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  8. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  9. ^ "Montana Legislature: Task Force on State Public Defender Operations". leg.mt.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  10. ^ "Public Policy Institute of the Rockies establishes fund to eliminate legal costs for indigenous families seeking legal assistance for missing or murdered relatives". Char-Koosta News. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  11. ^ Szpaller, Keila. "Montana toughens sex-trafficking law, but work remains to help victims". The Billings Gazette. Missoulian.
  12. ^ FRASER, JAYME. "Missoula legislator secures sweeping criminal justice reforms". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  13. ^ "2018 Chair Farewell". National Foundation for Women Legislators | WomenLegislators.org. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  14. ^ Committee Assignments CSG West 2019-2020:https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Administration/Legislative-Council/2019-20/Meetings/April2019/CSGcommittee19.pdf
  15. ^ a b "2013 Committee Assignments" (PDF).
  16. ^ a b "2015 Committee Assignments" (PDF).
  17. ^ a b c "2017 Committee Assignments" (PDF).
  18. ^ a b c "House of Representatives Committees 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  19. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon. Montana candidates report fundraising numbers for 2020 elections, KXLH Channel 9, Great Falls, Montana, July 6, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  20. ^ Staff, Sidney Herald. "Raph Graybill won state Democratic nomination for Attorney General". Sidney Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-19.