Monica Tranel

Monica Joan Tranel (also Tranel-Michini; born May 4, 1966) is an American rower, lawyer, and political candidate. She competed at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. Tranel ran unsuccessfully for MT's 1st congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana. She announced a bid for the same congressional seat in anticipation of the 2024 elections. Before running for Congress, she was twice a candidate for the Montana Public Service Commission and sought election to the Helena City Commission.

Early life and education
Tranel was born in Big Horn, Wyoming, on May 4, 1966. She grew up across Montana, including in Miles City, Ashland, and Billings. She graduated from Billings Central Catholic High School, where she competed in basketball and track.

In 1988, Tranel earned a Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University. In 1991, she earned her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University–Camden.

Rowing
In 1991, Tranel started rowing in competition. In 1993, Tranel won a bronze medal in women's coxed four at the World Rowing Championships.

In 1994, Tranel was rowing in the Fairmount Rowing Association. She competed in the World Rowing Championships in Tampere, Finland, that year, where her team won gold. In 1995, Tranel won a silver medal in the women's eight at the World Championships at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in Saint Catharines, Ontario.

Tranel finished fourth in the women's eight at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She also competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she finished 12th in women's singles scull races.

The University of Montana named one of their 40 ft four-seat competition boats "The Tranel" in her honor.

In 2015, Tranel placed 23rd in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Local and state-level offices
In 2004, as a Republican, Tranel sought election to the Montana Public Service Commission while working as a staff attorney at the commission. She was defeated in the Republican primary.

After working at the commission for four years, Tranel worked for Republican Senator Conrad Burns in Washington, D.C., for a short time, before returning to Butte, Montana, in 2005 and opening a private practice in 2006. She later left the Republican Party.

From 2010 to 2013, Tranel served as a trustee for the Montana Bar Association. In 2015, Tranel ran for the Helena City Commission.

In 2020, as a Democrat, Tranel again sought election to the Montana Public Service Commission. She was defeated in the general election by Montana Senator Jennifer Fielder, a Republican.

U.S. House of Representatives
Tranel was the Democratic candidate for Montana's 1st congressional district, running against Ryan Zinke and John Lamb. During the lead-up to the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana, American vlogger Hank Green interviewed Tranel in Missoula and Bozeman. Tranel lost to Zinke in the general election, receiving 46.5% of the vote to Zinke's 49.6%. In July 2023, Tranel became the first candidate to officially announce a bid for Montana's first congressional district in 2024.

Personal life
Tranel has nine siblings. She and her second husband, Jack Morris, had two daughters. Tranel described herself as "a single mother" in 2015.

Starting in 2001, she lived in Helena, Montana, for several years. She currently lives in Missoula with her husband, former state senator Greg Lind, and her three daughters.