So while Joy's election as a DSA member might come as a surprise to some, she said that her ideas surprised no one.

Joy talked a lot on the campaign trail about the strategy of Billings' urban sprawl, and how it might divert resources away from her mid-town ward. She said she wanted to see investments in curbs, gutters and street lights in neighborhoods that could use them.

“You're not just trying to make a nicer street," she said, "you're investing in your own savings, in your own home.”

Joy also said she wanted to make sure law enforcement had the resources needed to keep up with Billings' growth. She said officers are often the only point of contact between the city and residents who could benefit most from public services.

“Police are out there, and these issues of addiction and mental health just collide with what the police need to do to keep the community safe,” she said.

And with that, the Democratic Socialist movement in Billings isn't looking to buck the establishment. Its members want to make the establishment work for them.