BlackWolf for Montana – Campaign Website

Project Overview

The Black Wolf for Montana website was built to support an active U.S. Senate campaign with clear messaging, fast updates, and a secure technical foundation that could scale as the campaign gained momentum.

The campaign needed more than a static website — they needed a platform that could:

• clearly communicate values and policy positions
• be updated quickly by staff without developer involvement
• handle increased traffic, donations, and media attention
• remain secure and reliable throughout the campaign cycle

The result was a modern, CMS-driven campaign website backed by a strong technical foundation and simple content workflows for the team.

Goals & Requirements

From the start, the campaign’s priorities were:

• Clarity: Make it easy for voters to understand who Mike Black Wolf is, what he stands for, and why he’s running.
• Flexibility: Allow campaign staff to update content, issues, and announcements without touching code.
• Speed: Deliver the site and email infrastructure quickly so the campaign could begin outreach immediately.
• Stability: Ensure the site would remain secure, fast, and maintainable as the campaign evolved.

Solution

Website Architecture

The website was built using a modern, scalable architecture that separates content from presentation. This allows the campaign to update messaging freely while keeping the site stable under the hood.

Key architectural decisions included:

• A server-rendered frontend optimized for performance and SEO
• A dedicated content management system (CMS) for structured updates
• Clear separation between global site settings, page content, and repeatable content types

This approach ensures long-term maintainability and avoids the fragility of one-off page edits or hardcoded content.

Content Management System (CMS)

A custom CMS was integrated to give the campaign direct control over content updates.

The CMS allows staff to:

• update homepage messaging and calls to action
• manage campaign issues and policy positions
• publish news, events, and campaign updates
• preview changes before publishing them live

Content is structured in a way that keeps updates consistent and prevents accidental layout or design breakage.

Campaign Issues & Messaging

A dedicated Issues system was built to support evolving policy positions.

Each issue:

• has its own page and shareable URL
• can be updated as messaging develops
• automatically appears in issue listings across the site

This structure allows the campaign to refine messaging over time without rebuilding pages or duplicating content.

News, Events & Updates

A News / Updates section was implemented to support:

• campaign announcements
• upcoming events
• press-style updates

Posts are managed directly through the CMS and published in chronological order, giving the campaign a simple way to keep the site fresh and active.

Homepage & Calls to Action

The homepage was designed as a central hub for the campaign, combining:

• clear introductory messaging
• highlighted priorities
• prominent calls to action (Donate / Volunteer)

Key homepage content is CMS-driven, allowing the campaign to adjust messaging as the race progresses without redeploying the site.

Infrastructure & Under-the-Hood Work

In addition to the visible website, significant work went into the underlying infrastructure to support the campaign long-term.

Security & Reliability

• Secure hosting with SSL enabled
• Hardened access controls for the CMS
• Controlled publishing workflows to prevent accidental changes

Performance & SEO

• Optimized page rendering for fast load times
• Search-engine-friendly structure and metadata
• Mobile-first, responsive layout for all devices

Google Workspace Integration

• Campaign email accounts set up through Google Workspace
• Centralized access management for staff
• Shared collaboration tools (Drive, Docs, Calendar)

This infrastructure was delivered early so the campaign could begin operating immediately while the website continued to evolve.

Accessibility & Responsiveness

The site was built with accessibility and usability in mind:

• mobile-friendly layouts
• readable typography and contrast
• clear navigation and content hierarchy

This ensures the site works well for voters across devices and accessibility needs.

Results

The campaign received:

• a fully functional, CMS-driven campaign website
• the ability to manage messaging internally without technical friction
• a secure and scalable foundation ready for increased visibility
• early access to website and email infrastructure to support outreach

Most importantly, the campaign gained a platform that can adapt as priorities, messaging, and engagement strategies evolve.

Key Takeaways

This project highlights the value of building beyond the surface:

• A campaign website is not just pages — it’s infrastructure.
• Structured content and CMS workflows reduce long-term friction.
• Early technical groundwork pays off as a campaign accelerates.
• Clear separation between content and code creates flexibility without sacrificing stability.

Project Gallery

Additional screens and highlights from the build.