Rae Peppers

Rae Peppers
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 41st district
In office
January 7, 2013 – January 4, 2021
Preceded bySterling Small
Succeeded byRynalea Whiteman Pena
Personal details
PartyDemocratic

Patricia Rae Peppers is an American politician who served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. When elected in 2012, Peppers defeated Republican incumbent Sterling Small by a margin of 1,399 to 1,080.[1]

Early life and education

Peppers attended Wyola School on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. When she was 8 years old, her father took her to live in New Mexico for eight years against her mother's will. At the age of 16, she hitchhiked back to Montana and was reunited with her mother and sisters.[2]

She earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Information Systems and an M.S. in Communications and Information Processing.[3]

Montana State Legislature

Elections

In 2012, Rae Peppers decided to run for Montana's 41st House District in the Montana House of Representatives. The district includes Rosebud and Big Horn counties, and both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations. She was unopposed in the June Democratic primary, and in the general election she defeated incumbent Sterling Small 56%-44%.[1] She ran unopposed in 2014 and was re-elected. In 2020, she ran for Montana State Senate District 21, but lost in the general 42%-58% to Jason Small, a Republican.[4] In 2024, she ran again for Montana State Senate District 21, but lost in the primary to Sharon Stewart-Peregoy.[5]

Committee assignments

  • House Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee (2013)
  • House Agriculture Committee (2013)
  • House Business and Labor Committee (2013)
  • House Appropriations Committee (2015, 2017, 2019)
  • House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning (2015, 2017, 2019)[6]

Tenure

In 2012, Peppers' son, Joshua Peppers, lost his right foot following an attack involving an IED while on duty with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.[7] Subsequently, in 2013 she sponsored legislation (House Bill 447)[8] to provide scholarships for Montana Purple Heart recipients.[9]

In 2019, Peppers put forward House Bill 21 ("Hanna's Act") which created a new specialist position in the Department of Justice to help investigate all missing persons cases. This bill, which passed April 21, 2019, was one of three bills created by the State-Tribal Relations Committee to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis.[2][10]

Later career

After leaving the Montana State Legislature, Peppers joined the Northern Cheyenne Development Corporation, where she serves as the finance manager. She is a board member for the Pretty Eagle Woman Foundation, an organization advocating for justice for missing and murdered indigenous persons.[3]

Personal life

She is a member of the Crow Tribe and resides in Lame Deer, Montana.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Lutey, Tom (2012-11-07). "Democrats pick up 7 Montana House seats". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, Jazzlyn (2019-05-05). "STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE - The women behind Hanna's Act". Native News Project 2019 | University of Montana. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  3. 1 2 "Rae Peppers Bio". Pretty Eagle Woman Resources. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  4. ↑ "Montana State Senate - District 21 Election Results". The Florida Times-Union. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  5. ↑ "RAE PEPPERS | 2024 Montana Free Press Election Guide". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  6. ↑ "Legislator Details - Rep. Rae Peppers (D) - HD41". Montana State Legislature. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
  7. ↑ Irish, Carmen (9 August 2012). "Injured soldier from Lame Deer in recovery; fund set up". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Montana Legislature: Detailed Bill Information". Montana Legislative Branch. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  9. 1 2 Daffron, Brian (2013-09-05). "Power Brokers V: The Plains States Show the Strength of Native Women". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Speier, Maxine (2019-01-31). "Hearing For Hanna's Act Brings Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis To Capitol". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
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