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META DESCRIPTION: Looking for senior dating sites for people over 50? Find love with a mature match on one of the best dating sites for seniors that our experts reviewed here.
Senior Dating Sites: Top Online Dating for 50+ Singles
Senior dating sites make meeting new people easier, whether you’re looking for love, companionship, or just someone who won’t ask, “Wait, who’s Fleetwood Mac?”
Finding a meaningful connection doesn’t have to be complicated—you just need the right place to start.
I’ve searched through the best dating sites for seniors to find the ones that actually work—where real people over 50 are connecting, chatting, and meeting up.
If that sounds like what you need, read on. I’ve found some of the best dating sites for seniors out there so that you have the best chance of finding someone who gets you.
Ready to find out more?
First Look at the Best Senior Dating Sites
- DateMyAge - Best senior dating site overall
- eHarmony - Best for long-term relationships
- Silver Singles - Most 50+ singles
- Senior Match - Find a long-term partner
- Zoosk - Great dating site for the over 50s
- Senior Friend Finder - Find meaningful connections
- Seeking.com - Best for luxury dating
- Doublelist - Top site for casual flings
- Our Time - Meet online, or at dating events
- Senior Sizzle - Mostly casual fun
Best Dating Sites for Seniors
Looking for a place where you can meet a lot of older singles? Here are the best senior dating sites listed based on how much we thought you’d like them:
- DateMyAge - Best Senior Dating Site Overall
If you want a no-fuss way to meet other mature singles, DateMyAge is a solid pick. The platform is packed with people over 50, so you won’t be endlessly swiping through profiles that don’t match what you’re looking for.
It’s one of the best for singles senior dating sites if you're looking for simplicity.
One feature I really like on the site is “Let’s Mingle”—it lets you send a message to multiple compatible members at once, so you don’t have to craft the perfect opening line over and over again (because let’s be honest, that can get exhausting).
While there’s no formal matchmaking service, the search filters make finding someone easy. You can narrow things down by age, body type, interests, and more, helping you zero in on the right match.
If you’ve got a bit of wanderlust, DateMyAge connects you with singles worldwide—but if you prefer to keep things local, you can filter by location too.
Overall, it’s a great option for seniors who want a straightforward, flexible dating experience.
Pros
- User-friendly dating site
- Stacks of users over 50
- Chat with multiple people simultaneously
- Excellent search filters
Cons
- Only one free message
- People’s location isn’t always clear
Pricing
- $19.99 for 150 credits
- $149.99 for 600 credits
- $299.99 for 1,500 credits
Find long-term love on DateMyAge
- eHarmony - Best for Long-term Relationships
Searching for a companion for life? eHarmony is the home of over 2 million marriages and one of the dating sites for seniors that lead you straight to the altar.
Over 15 million people are actively looking for something serious on eHarmony, and while this is not exclusively a single seniors dating site, so there are all generations, you can filter by age.
You will also have the opportunity to do 80 personality tests that will lead you to more compatible matches, so this is another way eHarmony leads you to its senior members.
With a high marriage rate, eHarmony is best for those who are looking for a long-lasting commitment such as marriage.
People on eHarmony are not kidding around and are in it for the real thing!
You can use the basic membership for free, and, like with all of these senior dating sites, the monthly subscription gets cheaper the more months you choose to subscribe for, with the yearly membership being the most affordable.
Pros
- Over 15 million members
- A lot of mature singles
- Personalized matches
- Over 2 million marriages
- Basic membership is free
Cons
- Not exclusively for older singles
Pricing
- $65.90/month (6-month subscription)
- $45.90/month (12-month subscription)
- $35.90month (24-month subscription)
Join eHarmony and find your senior match for a long-term relationship!
- Silver Singles - Mostly 50+ Singles
Time for the senior dating sites that are only meant for 50+ singles! With over 800,000 new monthly members all over the age of 50, Silver Singles is definitely one of the best senior dating sites.
You will get tailored suggestions for matches based on compatibility and personality tests. From 3 to 7 matches will be sent to your inbox daily by Silver Singles.
Although this is one of the top singles senior dating sites, and we love that we get 3 to 7 matches daily, it’s a downside that we can’t search for matches on our own. So, you will only see these 3 to 7 suggested matches daily.
Still, you get different matches every day, so this should be enough.
What definitely puts it on our list of top senior singles dating sites is the fact that you can use the basic membership for free. You will still get more out of SilverSingles if you subscribe, but it’s nice to know that you can test the waters free of charge!
Pros
- Over 800,000 new monthly members
- Only 50+ singles
- Tailored suggestions for matches
- 3 to 7 matches daily
- Basic membership is free
Cons
- Can’t browse for more matches
Pricing
- $44.95/month (3-month subscription)
- $34.95/month (6-month subscription)
- $24.95/month (12-month subscription)
Join Silver Singles, one of the best dating sites for seniors only!
- Senior Match - Find a Long-Term Partner
When it comes to dating over 50, finding a site that actually gets what you’re looking for can be a challenge.
That’s why SeniorMatch stood out to me—it’s designed specifically for people in this stage of life, making it easier to meet others who share similar experiences and priorities. It’s one of the top singles senior dating sites out there.
Whether you’re hoping for a serious relationship or just someone to chat with over coffee, this site keeps things simple and straightforward.
It doesn’t have the biggest dating pool out there, but with about a million members—many of them successful professionals—you’re more likely to find quality connections.
One feature that caught my attention was the “reverse matches.” Instead of just showing you people who fit your preferences, it suggests matches who have qualities similar to yours. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think, but after hearing how many users have found unexpected connections this way, I can see why it’s a hit.
Reaching out is easy too. A quick wink or a simple message can be all it takes to start a conversation. And honestly? You never know where that first step might lead.
Pros
- Exclusively for those over 50
- User-friendly website
- Mostly serious relationships
- Free & paid versions
Cons
- Unbalanced gender ratio
- Additional features require a paid subscription
Pricing
- Free version available
- One-month premium membership: $22.95
- Three-month premium membership: $14.98 per month
- Six-month premium membership: $11.98 per month
Find a long-term partner on SeniorMatch
- Zoosk - Top Dating Site All-ARound
A large number of over 50 million members of both genders are waiting for you on one of the best singles senior dating sites.
Although this is not an exclusively senior dating site, so you’ll find all generations, there’s a large number of mature singles due to the fact that Zoosk is often promoted as Zoosk Seniors.
It’s a standout among single seniors dating sites, making it a great option for mature daters.
You also get to filter users by age, and Zoosk offers a behavioral matchmaking technology that learns about your preferences to show you better matches.
So, the more you use Zoosk, the better matches you’re going to get, and if you prefer mature singles, you are going to see more of them as time goes on and Zoosk learns about you.
This makes it one of the best senior singles dating sites for people who want to find like-minded matches.
This is one of the best dating sites for seniors, and although it is not free to use, the subscription is very affordable, and creating a profile is free anyway.
So, you can test it out to see if you want to subscribe and opt for Zoosk as one of the mature dating sites to find love or a casual relationship.
People here are looking for different things, so you can use Zoosk regardless of the type of relationship you’re looking for.
Again, the behavior matchmaking technology will learn what kind of matches you like, so you are going to see more people looking for the same thing as you are, whether it’s love or casual fun.
Pros
- Over 50 million members
- A large number of seniors
- Filter by age
- Behavioral matchmaking technology
- Available all around the world
Cons
- Not exclusively for older singles
Pricing
- $29.95/month (1-month subscription)
- $19.98/month (3-month subscription)
- $13.25/month (6-month subscription)
- $10/month (12-month subscription)
Click here to join Zoosk, one of the best dating sites for seniors!
- Senior Friend Finder - Find Meaningful Connections
Diving into the world of singles senior dating can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you're not sure exactly what you're looking for. That’s why I found SeniorFriendFinder to be such a refreshing option.
Unlike some senior singles dating sites that push you toward one type of relationship, this one lets you decide.
Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or just want to meet new people, you can be upfront about it in your profile—and if your preferences change, updating them is effortless.
I also liked how easy the site is to use. The scrolling feature works like a carousel, where you can give a quick thumbs up or down to potential matches. If someone stands out, they get added to your hot list, so you can find them again later.
If you really want to make an impression? Sending a virtual gift is a fun way to get noticed. It’s a low-pressure, flexible way to meet people and see where things go!
Pros
- All kinds of relationships
- Send virtual gifts
- Add people to your hot list
- Relationship advice & articles
Cons
- To message you need a subscription
- The dating site has occasional glitches
Pricing
- Silver membership: $8.49/month for 3-months
- Gold membership: $11.25/month for 3-months
Find a meaningful connection on SeniorFriendFinder
- Seeking.com - Best for Luxury Dating
Even though these are not dating sites for seniors only, you are going to find more 50+ singles on sites like this one.
With over 40 million members and a lot of wealthy older singles, Seeking.com is among the senior dating sites that offer luxury dating.
It has a strict verification system and ensures that there are no fake profiles thanks to ID verification and background checks.
Seeking.com is one of the senior dating sites online that are available all around the world, and it is used in 130 countries.
People here are looking for different things. While some want casual relationships, some are looking for a future husband or wife, so this is for all kinds of relationships.
Although the membership is a bit pricy, none of the other dating sites for seniors offer such a reliable verification process and so many wealthy older users.
Hoping to go to a fancy restaurant and try an expensive meal for your first date? Then arrange it on Seeking.com, with the most wealthy singles over 50.
Pros
- Over 40 million members
- Strict verification system
- Rich older singles
- Available all around the world
- All types of relationships
Cons
- Not exclusively for older singles
- Pricey membership
Pricing
- $90/month (1-month subscription)
- $80/month (3-month subscription)
- $70/month (6-month subscription)
Join Seeking.com – the best site for luxury dating!
- Doublelist - Top Site for Casual Flings
At first glance, DoubleList might not seem like your typical choice for senior dating sites, but hear me out.
Originally a classified ad platform, it has evolved into something much more—an easy-to-use space where people, including single seniors, can connect based on what they actually want.
What I like about DoubleList is its no-frills, straight-to-the-point approach. Unlike some single seniors dating sites that focus solely on long-term relationships, this one welcomes everything from casual chats to adventurous encounters. It’s particularly popular in big cities, but there are plenty of users from all over.
If you’re looking for something a little different—whether that’s a no-strings flirtation or a like-minded partner who shares your interests—this site is worth exploring. Plus, since it’s free, there’s no harm in checking it out to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Pros
- Casual encounters & kinks
- Diverse user base
- Completely free
- Full of open-minded people
Cons
- No matchmaking
- Minimal moderation
Pricing
- Free to use
- Hookup plan: $10
- Hardcore plan: $20
Find a casual fling on Doublelist
- Our Time - Meet Online, or at Dating Events
If you’ve ever felt like online dating is all swipes and small talk with no real connection, OurTime might be the change you need.
Unlike some senior dating sites that keep everything digital, this one actually helps you meet people in person. They host real-life events where you can chat, laugh, and see if there’s a spark—no endless messaging required.
Of course, if you prefer to start online, the site’s matchmaking tools and video chat features make it easy to gauge compatibility before meeting up. I like that it gives you the best of both worlds—online convenience with a real chance to connect face-to-face.
While OurTime doesn’t offer a ton of free features, its pricing is in line with other singles senior dating sites.
If you’re serious about finding someone who shares your interests and values, it’s definitely worth a look.
Pros
- Just mature singles
- Real-life dating events
- Video chat features
- Excellent matchmaking
Cons
- No verification
- Some fake profiles
Pricing
- $26.25 for 1 month
- $89.94 for 6 months
- $135.49 for 12 months
Meet a partner at one of Our Time’s dating events
- Senior Sizzle - Mostly Casual Fun
Finding senior singles dating sites that embrace casual connections without judgment isn’t always easy—but that’s exactly what Senior Sizzle does best. Designed for those over 50, it’s a space for fun, no-pressure encounters, whether online or in person.
As a free member, you can browse live videos from other users—plus a few saucy models for good measure. Interaction is limited to comments, but upgrading to a premium membership unlocks direct messaging, letting you take things further.
Unlike some single seniors dating sites, Senior Sizzle welcomes singles, couples, and even groups. Not your thing? No problem—just be upfront about what you’re after.
The community is open-minded, making it easy to be yourself and connect with like-minded people who want to keep things fun and uncomplicated.
Pros
- Mostly casual relationships
- Great security features
- Live cams with hot models
- Active chat rooms
Cons
- You have to pay to message
- More men than women
Pricing
- Free to browse
- $25/month for 1 month
- $16.99/month for 3 months
Find a casual fling on Senior Sizzle
- SeniorsMeet - Best for Serious Relationships
Finding the right match later in life can feel overwhelming, but singles senior dating sites like SeniorsMeet make it easier. Designed exclusively for those over 50, this platform ensures you're connecting with people in your age group who are also looking for companionship.
One of its standout features is an in-depth compatibility test, which takes the guesswork out of matchmaking. Just fill it out during sign-up, and the site’s algorithm will handle the rest. No endless swiping—just real connections with people who share your interests.
The site also boasts a well-balanced ratio of men to women, meaning plenty of opportunities to meet someone special.
While the minimum subscription runs for six months, that gives you ample time to explore. Plus, you can browse for free before deciding if it’s the right fit.
If you’re searching for single seniors dating sites that keep things simple yet effective, SeniorsMeet is a solid choice.
Pros
- Smart matchmaking system
- Great for long-term relationships
- Easy to navigate
- Excellent user reviews
Cons
- Limited free features
- Sign-up process takes time
Pricing
- 6 months: $59.90/month
- 12 months: $34.90/month
- 24 months: $26.96/month
- Senior Chat City - Great Video Chat Features
If you’re searching for more than just romance, senior singles dating sites like Senior Chat City offer a space for genuine connections. Whether you're interested in dating, friendship, or simply good conversation, this platform makes it easy to meet like-minded people.
What makes Senior Chat City stand out is its focus on group interactions. Instead of just one-on-one chats, you can dive into various video chat rooms, engage with multiple people at once, or even create your own space for more personalized conversations.
Of course, if singles senior dating is your main goal, you can also send private messages to someone who catches your eye and see if there’s a spark.
With its mix of social and romantic opportunities, Senior Chat City is a great place to meet new people—whether you're looking for companionship or something more.
Pros
- Just for seniors
- Find romance & friendships
- Video chat rooms
- Chat with multiple people at once
Cons
- The dating site is a bit confusing
- You have to pay for most features
Pricing
- $17.34/month
- $7.48/month for 3 months
Find love, or friendship on Senior Chat City
- Senior Dating Agency - Plenty of Over 50s Looking for Love
Finding the right dating site as a senior can be a challenge, but if you’re looking for a no-fuss way to meet like-minded people, The Senior Dating Agency might be worth checking out.
Unlike some single seniors dating sites that feel overly complicated, this one keeps things simple.
It’s a bit like a modern-day lonely hearts club, matching mature singles based on interests. But if the algorithm’s picks aren’t quite your vibe, you can take matters into your own hands—just use the search filters and browse profiles yourself.
The layout is refreshingly easy to navigate, with a carousel-style system that lets you quickly scroll through potential matches. If someone catches your eye, you can react with an emoji or, better yet, send them a message and see where the conversation leads.
When it comes to singles senior dating, sometimes the best approach is the simplest one.
Whether you’re looking for friendship, companionship, or something more, The Senior Dating Agency gives you the space to explore at your own pace. Who knows? The right match might be just a message away.
Pros
- Carousel-style, swipe browsing
- Smart matchmaking system
- Frequent discounts
- Emoji reactions to profiles
Cons
- You have to pay to message
- Some fake profiles
Pricing
- $22.52/month
- $18.77/month for 3 months
- $15.99/month for 6 months
Find love on The Senior Dating Agency
How I Chose the Best Senior Dating Sites
I carefully picked only the senior dating sites that meet certain standards. The following are the most important things that I considered when choosing the best dating sites for seniors.
Number of users
We considered the total number of users when choosing the best dating sites for seniors, but we also considered the number of active daily users, fake profiles, inactive profiles, and other related factors.
All the senior dating sites from this list have to offer a large member base, with the exception of seniors dating sites with a specific audience that aren’t open to everyone, since these have to have fewer members.
Number of seniors
Naturally, we considered the number of older users when rating these seniors dating sites. All of these sites had to offer a large number of senior users to qualify for a spot on the list of the top dating sites for seniors.
Male/female ratio
We considered the gender ratio when rating the best senior dating sites. All dating sites for seniors had to offer an approximately equal number of male and female users, with the exception of mature dating sites online, which are meant only for gay men or lesbian women.
Pricing
Pricing is a very important factor in rating the top senior dating sites, but we looked more at what you can get for the price than the price itself. We rated these platforms by comparing price with value and quality.
Features
We also rated the sites based on the features that they have to offer. From video chat features to important privacy and verification features, we looked at what dating sites for seniors have to offer and how they can benefit you.
Website and interface
Most importantly, are these dating sites online easy and simple for seniors to use? We considered how easy the website is to use and how user-friendly the interface is when rating the dating sites for seniors from this list.
Type of relationship
Can you really find love on senior dating sites online? We tried to answer this question by considering whether these dating sites for seniors are meant for serious relationships or casual flings.
Senior Dating Sites – FAQs
Do you have any more questions about the best dating sites for seniors? Here are the most common questions people have about seniors dating sites, and the answers to them:
What Are the Best Senior Dating Sites?
The best senior dating sites are DateMyAge, eHarmony and Silver Singles. These sites all make it very easy to use online dating, and they are stacked full of over 50s.
What Is the Best Dating Site for Over 60s?
The best dating site for over 60s is Silver Singles. While you will find mature singles on other dating sites online, Silver Singles exclusively caters to people over 50.
Is There a 100% Free Dating Site for Seniors?
Yes, there is a 100% free dating site for seniors, and it’s Doublelist. It’s a classifieds style site with plenty of people looking for casual relationships. You’ll also find people with specific kinks, and alternative dating requests here, too.
If you’re open-minded and up for some fun, this is a great site to use.
What Is the Safest Online Dating Site for Seniors?
The safest online dating site for seniors is Seeking.com, because of its strict verification system, and this is where you’ll find a lot of wealthy older men. You can also feel safe using Hinge, which is meant for serious relationships, and you can filter users by age.
Which Senior Dating Site Has the Most Success?
DateMyAge and eHarmony are the senior dating sites that have the most success. eHarmony is also responsible for over 2 million marriages!. It is certainly a most serious website with most people looking to commit and a high success rate.
What is the Best Dating Site for Over 60?
The best dating site for over 60 is Silver Singles because this website is meant only for senior singles. However, by simply using the option to filter by age, you can find a lot of singles over 60 on some of the other top mature dating sites from our list, such as Zoosk.
Do a Lot of Seniors Use Dating Apps?
Yes, you will find that a lot of seniors use dating apps from this list, such as Zoosk, Silver Singles, or eHarmony.
Dating apps are no longer reserved for younger generations, and it’s already been a while since seniors started actively using some of the best dating apps from this list that welcome all ages.
There are still a lot of mature singles looking for serious relationships on these dating sites, and you just need to filter users by age to find them, but you can also use the benefits of a matchmaking technology such as the one Zoosk has to offer.
Can You Find Love Over 50?
Yes, you can find love over 50, especially if you search in the right places, and any of the best senior dating sites from this list are great choices for people over 50.
Your success will depend on your approach to dating, but also on your choice of app, so choose the best one for you from this list, starting with DateMyAge as my top choice.
Best Senior Dating Sites: Final Verdict
Finding the right senior dating site isn’t just about picking one from a list—it’s about figuring out what actually works for you.
DateMyAge is a great place to start if you're looking for a site designed specifically for mature singles, but don’t overlook mainstream platforms like eHarmony, which offer strong filtering options and a solid track record for long-term connections.
The key is to explore, experiment, and go with what feels right.
So, why wait?
Dive in and see for yourself—because dating sites aren’t just for the young ones anymore!
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Georgiou, Tester discuss how government works and aim to help listeners navigate news
Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, and former Scripps national anchor Maritsa Georgiou are starting a new podcast called: “Grounded with Jon Tester and Maritsa Georgiou.”
It’s almost a cliche in 2025: Two people who recently lost their jobs start a podcast.
But these two recently unemployed people might not be who you’d expect — former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and longtime Montana and national journalist Maritsa Georgiou. Tester lost his re-election bid as the lone Democrat elected to statewide office while Georgiou had most recently been the lead national anchor for Scripps Broadcasting.
Both lost their jobs in November; Tester, at the hands of Montana voters who voted political newcomer Republican Tim Sheehy into office; and Georgiou at the hands of a network that saw a diminishing number of people tune in for a nightly news broadcast, as opposed to commentary or talk shows.
“That doesn’t mean there aren’t people there who don’t want to hear the messages coming from the news,” Georgiou said.
She acknowledges a fatigue — even plain old exhaustion — with the bombastic, uncertain and unrelenting national news cycle, but Georgiou and Tester see that has an opportunity.
“There are people who are out there who are trying to figure it, though,” Georgiou said. “That’s what I’ve always done as a journalist — breaking it down.”
She said that message was made repeatedly when she was at home instead of in the studio during the COVID-19 pandemic as things started shutting down. What did it mean? Why was it dangerous? And what was being done to stop it? Those were all questions that she had, like many viewers.
Then she realized: It was her responsibility to find the answers and explain it to her audience — a model she hopes to replicate on “Grounded.”
In a podcast that plays off Tester’s autobiography, “Grounded,” the podcast takes the same name, and the purpose is for Georgiou to continue to ask tough questions and help readers understand the dizzying flood of national news, while Tester, who served for 18 years, helps listeners navigate by describing how government works — or at least how it has previously worked.
“My goal is to let people know government doesn’t just run on autopilot,” Tester said. “For years, people came up to me and said that what happens in Washington, D.C., didn’t affect them, but I hope we show them that these real-world decisions matter, whether you’re in D.C., New York City, Billings or Box Elder.”
Both Tester and Georgiou see a future when the news cycle, on rapid-fire since President Donald J. Trump took office, will slow, and residents in far-flung places like Montana will realize the connection they have to different levels of government, including the federal government.
Tester pointed to the exodus of fired or suspended federal workers, saying they’re becoming the most recent target of Trump and Elon Musk, who has been named head of a quasi-government department that doesn’t exist by Congressional mandate, the Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE.”
“Now, if you work for the federal government there’s a popular belief that you must be evil, or crooked or corrupt,” Tester said. “But those are none of the ones I know or worked with for years. And firing these people will have consequences.”
Tester wonders what will happen when millions of people come to visit Montana’s national parks, like Glacier and Yellowstone, but can’t get access because there’s not enough staff — especially in places that already have a backlog of maintenance and suffer from low staffing. Or, Tester said, what about delivery of mail to places that are rural?
“In places like Montana, you have to fight like hell to get funding, or you won’t get it,” Tester said. “You take that money away, and by the time people find out, it’s too late.”
The podcast, for now, will release weekly episodes that usually run about 30 to 45 minutes, although last week, Tester and Georgiou released two.
“I don’t want people to stop watching the news and thinking about the news,” Georgiou said. “Think about all the news outlets we’ve lost, all the journalists we watched, and the news deserts it has created. That’s when we start to lose information and we need the Fourth Estate.”
Tester said the middle-ground, a tradition he credits the U.S. Senate for maintaining because of people like the legendary former U.S. Senate Leader Mike Mansfield of Montana, is also part of the message of the podcast.
For example, Tester said that looking for waste and running the government more efficiently is a good goal, one that he shares.
“But we don’t have a dictator, and Congress needs to do its job,” Tester said. “But we should look for ways to eliminate waste and get more efficient because that makes a wiser expenditure of taxpayer money.”
However, Tester stressed that with any American movement, the history has not yet been decided.
“This whole thing could be screwed up just like in Colombia or Brazil where people have fewer freedoms and liberties,” Tester said. “You have to work for democracies.”
He said that often people don’t realize what the government does until it disappears and impacts them personally.
“People don’t know the half of what happens on the things they depend on,” Tester said. “For example, you don’t think about public lands. You have access to them because someone maintains trails, but if those public agencies go away, you won’t have access. Then rich people will try to buy those lands and the American public won’t care as much because they think, ‘Hey, I can’t use them anyway.’”
He said that the potential for damage is great if too much of government is dismantled.
“The damage done to the institutions will take decades. The chances are is that President Trump will be long gone, then it’ll be someone else’s fault,” Tester said.
He said that agencies should be brought into the process, and Congress needs to exercise its own autonomy.
“If you want to know how something will affect Montana, ask someone who is from there,” Tester said. “The same thing with the federal government. But, they’re not bringing the agencies into the process.”
Tester also sees familiar themes that he spent his career railing against, including ever-growing cash and contributions during political campaigns.
“Look at Elon Musk, he can literally fund the candidates,” Tester said.
Georgiou said that it’s easy for people in Montana to picture federal workers as wearing suits, sitting in some office buildings in Washington, D.C. Instead, she said that it’s a lot harder for them to think about the rangers or foresters in places like the U.S. Forest Service.
And she feels a kinship with those who have been hit with the unexpected news that they’re unemployed, too.
“I had no idea the psychological impact it carries. It’s emotional to think about the huge impact and going through it. We knew the (Scripps) show was being cancelled, and you had this feeling of mass grief with your colleagues,” Georgiou said. “I can understand the confusion, anger, sadness and anxiety, because it was similar to what happened with Scripps. It derailed what I had been doing with my entire adult life and this was my career.
“Now what? It’s very real, very emotional. The unknown is so scary. And they have family and friends in the community who are experiencing it with them, so the ripple is massive.”
Despite the turbulent, even rocky news, Tester and Georgiou said that they’re hopeful that by giving a more thoughtful, balanced conversation — they’ve already featured two Republicans as guests — that they give their audience a better understanding.
“Even now, early on, we’ve heard messages of support like people are feeling confused, but now they understand better,” Georgiou said. “If we’ve done that, we’ve already won.”
And continuing to play on the “grounded” theme — something that is easy for Tester, who is a self-billed “dirt farmer” from Big Sandy — he said that he is still convinced by a huge swath of common ground still present in Montana and throughout the country.
“There is common sense and common ground in the middle, and when the country gets back to that, we’ll be stronger, before it gets to the point where it can’t be rebuilt,” Tester said.
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- Category: City Desk
Feb 20, 2025
by Kim Gillan
Kim served in the Montana legislature 1996 to 2012 from Billings and professionally she worked
in health care policy and regulatory affairs. Kim lives in Red Lodge
Serving 16 years in the Montana legislature taught me much about the do’s and don’ts of
crafting a state budget. Legislators are charged with deciding how to use hard-earned Montana
taxpayer dollars to make government work for the people. It was our job as legislators –
Republicans and Democrats, rural and urban – to balance the state’s budget and ensure that
every penny of Montanans’ tax dollars was wisely spent to provide needed services to improve
our state.
We faced tough decisions to balance the pressing, sometimes competing needs while ensuring
efficiency and serving the people. And, like all good farmers, we made sure to keep grain in the
bin just in case we had a rainy day and faced an economic turndown. In my opinion, our
legislative responsibility was accountability to our folks back home and letting them know how
taxpayer monies were spent.
But just recently we learned that Governor Gianforte has set up – off the books and out of the
public’s eye – what could be considered his own personal spending account by skimming
interest off of federal dollars ARPA) that are meant to help build our state. A newspaper
headline read: “Governor’s office controls an unrestricted interest fund worth $86 million, and
counting.” With no public or legislative oversight, the Governor's office decides how to spend
interest from federal dollars on what may be his pet projects. Rep. Terry Falk, a Kalispell
Republican who chairs the General Government Joint Appropriations Subcommittee, called the
interest fund “inappropriate” and “concerning.”
The rules of the game seem pretty simple to me – if you use public taxpayer money, you let the
public and their elected representatives know when and how you’re going to use it. That’s called
transparency and accountability, and ensures that the money is well spent – and if it should be
spent at all or sent back to taxpayers.
Let’s not forget that Federal dollars are taxes paid by Montanans and everyone else across the
United States. And all governors have to play by the same rules when accepting federal
dollars–including the ARPA dollars, which were intended to jumpstart the economy post-
pandemic. However, it seems that Governor Gianforte may be playing by a different set of rules
and making decisions without public and/or legislative oversight.
I’ve been involved in public policy and politics for a long time and have never seen anything so
brazen. Setting politics aside, I’m troubled that the Governor's Office is using the interest
generated by taxpayer money to create a fund with no oversight. As a former legislator, I
cannot imagine a governor hoarding almost $100 million of the public's money when Montana
has pressing needs.
It’s time to hold our governor and his administration accountable– either give the money back to
taxpayers or listen to the public and spend it to truly help Montanans. It’s that simple. It’s our
money. And these elected officials work for us.
Sources:
Montana budget office controls unrestricted interest fund
ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund Allocations
Reach Kim at
