Howell ran uncontested in the Democratic primary, guaranteeing their spot to run against Republican opponent Lauren Subith.
[9] With this victory, Howell, along with 100th district member Zooey Zephyr, became the first two openly transgender people to ever be elected to the Montana Legislature.
[11][12] They introduced four bills total, one of which passed out of committee, but all were ultimately voted down by the Republican party’s supermajority.
[13] In April of 2023, Zooey Zephyr, a transgender woman elected to the Montana House of Representatives along with Howell, was criticized on the floor by Republican majority leader Sue Vinton after speaking out against Senate Bill 99, a bill that would prohibit gender-affirming medical and surgical care for transgender minors.
Howell was one of the three Democrats permitted to speak in support of Zephyr on the motion, which nonetheless passed on a straight party line vote.