According to a financial disclosure, Monica Tranel, Democratic Montana’s congressional nominee, owns thousands of shares in Airbnb stock, despite blaming the company for the rise in housing prices.
Tranel, Montana’s Daily Inter Lake reporter, stated that “we have all seen the proliferation Airbnb, short-term rentals and home purchases made by companies in recent years.” “Demand is increasing in Montana because people are moving to it, but it shouldn’t be rising because investors see it as a way of making a profit.”
She said, “Congress should remove tax incentives investors receive by buying up Montana homes that could be bought by families that live here and work here.”
According to a University of Montana study, Airbnb and short-term rentals are contributing to the rising housing prices in Montana. Homes that could be long-term options have been given to tourists for the short term, according to researchers. According to Zillow’s home value index, Montana’s average home costs $456,000. This is 22% more than it was in 2021.
A spokesperson for Tranel’s campaign said to the Daily Caller News Foundation that she is “focused upon doing the people’s works, which includes addressing Western Montana’s housing affordability crisis.”
The spokesperson stated that Tranel was the only candidate in the race who is determined to put her investments and retirement into a true blind trust, and to passing legislation to ban insider trading to rein in federal spending following the largest deficit in U.S. history.
Washington Free Beacon reported Tranel’s Airbnb holdings on Tuesday.
Airbnb stock currently has a value of over $104 per share, and was almost $108 per share at the time Tranel disclosed her investment. It is not clear when Tranel purchased the shares of Airbnb.
Ryan Zinke, the former secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior during the presidency of Donald Trump, will be taking on Tranel in November. Both are running for Montana’s 1st Congressional District. This district was drawn in the wake of Montana’s split into two districts. According to Politico, it leans “likely Republican” and is being contested by Tranel.
Heather Swift, Zinke’s campaign manager, stated that Monica is not invested in a San Francisco-based company.
Zinke’s campaign didn’t respond to a request of comment, nor did Airbnb.
