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Candidates split on minimum wage; Democrat favors raise, Republican warns of job impact
Summary
At a Missoula forum, Democrat Leo Yudetz said raising the federal minimum wage is "long overdue" and supported a $5.15 level; Republican Alan Mickelson said he would be reluctant, warning of inflationary and employment effects.
During the Missoula candidate forum, Leo Yudetz, the Democratic candidate and Yellowstone County auditor, said he supports raising the federal minimum wage and described the current level as too low. "I believe we need an increase in the minimum wage. I think it's long overdue," Yudetz said, adding that raising the wage to $5.15 an hour would be "a step in the right direction." He noted that many families rely on minimum-wage earnings.
Alan Mickelson, the Republican candidate and rancher, expressed caution. He said he would "maybe reluctantly support it," but added, "I'm not going to be a big booster of increasing the minimum wage." Mickelson argued the policy could be inflationary and might hurt employment in lower-income states, saying employers he has spoken with worry about the cost and possible layoffs.
The program included callers who raised practical concerns, including whether increases would price out entry-level youth jobs and how higher minimums might affect Social Security beneficiaries through inflation. The candidates acknowledged the complexity: Yudetz framed the increase as a step to reduce reliance on government benefits, while Mickelson emphasized the need to consider broader economic impacts and family-support policies.
No policy was adopted at the forum; candidates explained their positions to voters and said they would pursue related measures if elected.
