Pray for Rain?

We need drought and irrigation plans based on science, not just faith.

Montana’s governor has asked us all on this Sunday to pray for rain.

“I hope all Montanans will join me in this prayer for rain for the fields of our farmers, for the flow of our rivers and streams, and to mitigate the intensity of our wildfires.”

The specific declaration language includes these invocations:

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WHEREAS, for 250 years, Americans have lifted prayers up to God to seek guidance through challenges in their lives; and

WHEREAS, President George Washington* stated in 1789, “it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God”; and

WHEREAS, I ask all Montanans who are faithful to come to God with thanks and use prayer as the strongest tool to ask for rain;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Gianforte, Governor of the State of Montana, do hereby proclaim May 17, 2026

A DAY OF PRAYER FOR RAIN

throughout the great state of Montana.

*Read the full context of Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Day proclamation here.

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Montana produces some of the best climate science in the world. Montana’s persistent drought and drought conditions have been studied by scientists at our universities for over a century.

When I served in the Montana State House, we approached drought and drought conditions that can harm our ag industry and contribute to wildfires as practical issues, not acts of God. We determined policy to conserve and allocate water resources in ways that would benefit ag and municipal water supplies.

Water policy and climate reality matter in Montana. Our governor could pull himself up by his bootstraps and work to integrate this science into building resilience in our water systems.

Instead, the governor of Montana prays for rain.

Prayer won’t hurt us. Blind faith will. We have the science to build resilient systems and we need to invest in our future and our economy by putting this knowledge to work right now.

The influence of climate on snowpack is one of the major linkages between climate change and water supply. If we have data to plan for water use and management, our prayers can only amplify the hard work of rolling up our sleeves, doing the figures and planning, and making good decisions for the future.

Montanans deserve more than platitudes and wishes from their leaders. When I’m in the U.S. Senate, my office will work to build a stronger Montana through hard work and know-how.

We can all have faith and belief. We need science to run our state, protect our people and survive.