Luca Welle

Luca Welle earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in 2025. His career experience includes working as a substitute teacher.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Luca Welle. I am 23 years old; I was born in the Flathead and have lived here my entire life, except for the time I spent at the University of Montana getting my bachelor's degrees. Growing up here and being a part of the local community has been the greatest privilege of my life. I work as a river guide and substitute teacher, and enjoy nearly every form of outdoor recreation.

I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to serve my community over the years, including volunteering for the Citizen Science Program in Glacier National Park, serving on MT FWP's Future Fisheries Citizen Review Panel, and advocating for the environment with Citizens' Climate Lobby and UM Climate Response Club.

I live in Montana's House District 5, a seat currently held by Braxton Mitchell. I have long been, to choose one word, disappointed by Rep. Mitchell's legislating and conduct over his time in the state legislature. So, I have decided to run for HD 5. I want to fight for reducing our consistently rising cost of living, protecting our access to public lands, and more issues that are relevant to us here in this district and this state, rather than bend a knee to politicians in Washington that are more focused on culture wars than the wellbeing of their constituents: us.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Cost of living continues to climb in Northwest Montana and elsewhere, from groceries to gas, housing to healthcare. I won’t accept letting our family, friends, and neighbors struggle or move away when the legislature can provide relief. We needed fairer property tax systems. We need to prioritize housing that doesn't require cost burdening rents and mortgages. We need to intentionally design and redesign our developed areas to balance and increase affordability, economic opportunity, and quality of life. We need to incentivize local jobs that pay a living wage.

Healthcare is another key piece of affordability, and we can expand access to quality, affordable care by expanding Medicaid further so that we can all be healthy.Public lands should be in public hands. Our shared inheritance is under threat in the face of greedy out-of-state corporations, climatic changes that are increasingly obvious. I will fight for sustainable management and ecological integrity in this living landscape that we call home.we must continue to defend our designated roadless areas, protect our fisheries from degrading, and maintain access to the public lands that are owned by you and I, and shouldn't be owned by some corporation that is only concerned with green dollar signs, not the evergreen trees that thrive in our rich landscape.The resources we invest in our youth shape the long term future of Montana. I want that future to be a prosperous one, which is why I support funding and improving our public school systems. I am a product of Montana public education and many of my family members have been educators, as I am now myself. It is vital to our next generations that we provide them with the resources they need for success and prosperity: well funded public schools that prepare our students for all aspects of life and provide opportunities to seek employment and attend trade schools and universities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Living, working, and recreating in Montana has made public lands and the environment the issue dearest to my heart. Whether we venture out for a beautiful view, to put meat on the table, or to find some peace and quiet, our public lands are essential to us Montanans. It's not just a hobby, or even a huge part of our economy: It's part of our identity. Some people in Washington DC, and even in Helena, don't see it that way. To them it's a pile of cash; they would develop every acre of National Forest, National Park, and everything in between to make a buck or two. That cuts off access for us, that harms our water quality, hurts our wildlife, and turns tourists and the money they spend at our local businesses away.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

As of this writing, my campaign has been endorsed by:

Montana Federation of Professional Educators

3.14 Action Fund

The Flathead Dude