Featured Articles in Montana Politics

Gianforte Campaign Raises $1.1 Million in Two Months

Governor Greg Gianforte has raised more than $1.1 million in the 60 days since he announced his bid for reelection on January 16 according to a release from his campaign. “With Governor Gianforte’s pro-family, pro-jobs, pro-business policies and his strong record of protecting our Montana way of life, Montanans are overwhelmingly supporting Governor Gianforte’s reelection, Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen files lawsuit against Biden EPA rule

HELENA — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 23 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Biden administration’s new air quality rule that would significantly impact state economies and raise energy costs for Montana manufacturers, utilities, and families. This is the 38th lawsuit Attorney General Knudsen has filed against the Biden administration. The Read More…

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Gianforte Campaign Raises $1.1 Million in Two Months

Governor Greg Gianforte has raised more than $1.1 million in the 60 days since he announced his bid for reelection on January 16 according to a release from his campaign. “With Governor Gianforte’s pro-family, pro-jobs, pro-business policies and his strong record of protecting our Montana way of life, Montanans are overwhelmingly supporting Governor Gianforte’s reelection, Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen files lawsuit against Biden EPA rule

HELENA — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 23 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Biden administration’s new air quality rule that would significantly impact state economies and raise energy costs for Montana manufacturers, utilities, and families. This is the 38th lawsuit Attorney General Knudsen has filed against the Biden administration. The Read More…

Knudsen calls on Biden administration to protect ammunition manufacturing facility

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen spearheaded a coalition urging the Biden administration to maintain the operations of a significant commercial ammunition manufacturing plant. This call to action was prompted by requests from Democrat attorneys general to investigate the plant, a move that could disrupt production, diminish ammunition supply, and compromise national security. In a letter Read More…

Attorney General’s office blocks proposed abortion ballot measure

Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office has rejected a proposed ballot measure aimed at safeguarding access to abortion in the Montana Constitution. The ruling, issued this week, deems the proposed amendment legally insufficient, citing a violation of Montana’s requirement that unrelated constitutional changes be voted on separately. Advocated by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, the measure Read More…

Gaetz To Campaign With Rosendale In Montana

Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz is set to join Representative Matt Rosendale in the state next week for campaign events ahead of a potential Senate bid, as reported by national media outlets. The duo will participate in campaign activities in Bozeman, Townsend, and Helena on Friday and Saturday. Rosendale is considering challenging Democratic Senator Jon Read More…

Tester took Campaign Cash linked to Chinese Landowners

Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester’s reelection campaign has received substantial donations from two Chinese conglomerates that own U.S. farmland, despite Tester’s publicly expressed opposition to the sale of land to foreign adversaries. The campaign’s contradiction was highlighted when it launched a television advertisement in November, denouncing Chinese companies’ acquisition of American farmland and promoting Tester’s Read More…

Kalispell Launches Educational Campaign Ahead of Public Saftey Levy

Scheduled for a mail-in ballot this March, the $4.6 million levy, if sanctioned, will finance the acquisition of new equipment and the recruitment of additional personnel for Kalispell’s police and fire departments. After experiencing a rise in call volumes and delayed response times over the years, Kalispell city officials are initiating an educational campaign ahead Read More…

Governor Gianforte Launches Property Tax Task Force

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today launched a property tax task force to provide recommendations to reform the property tax system and reduce the burden on property taxpayers. “Property taxes are too high. Our $1,350 property tax rebate helped Montana homeowners last year and will help them again this year,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We, Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen testifies at impeachment hearing for Biden DHS Secretary

HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen testified Wednesday at a U.S. House of Representatives impeachment hearing against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. During the House Committee on Homeland Security hearing, entitled “Havoc in the Heartland: How Secretary Mayorkas’ Failed Leadership Has Impacted the States,” Attorney General Knudsen outlined how Mayorkas’ refusal to Read More…

Knudsen to testify at impeachment hearing for DHS Secretary Mayorkas

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is set to testify as a witness in the impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security will conduct a hearing on Wednesday, January 10, titled “Havoc in the Heartland: Assessing the Impact of Secretary Mayorkas’ Failed Leadership on Read More…

Knudsen eyes second term as Attorney General

Montana’s Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, declared his candidacy for re-election in November, emphasizing his commitment to combating drugs and crime, challenging the perceived detrimental effects of the Biden administration’s agenda on Montanans, and safeguarding the freedoms and liberties of the state’s residents. As the leader of the Montana Department of Justice, overseeing agencies such as Read More…

Environmental activist group endorses Ryan Busse for Governor

In a press release, the MCV Action fund, an independent Political Action Committee aligned with the liberal environmental activist group Montana Conservation Voters, proclaimed its formal endorsement of Democrat Ryan Busse in his gubernatorial bid for Montana. Democrat political staffer Jill Lombardi, the chair of the MCV PAC board, praised Busse, saying, “Ryan Busse has Read More…

Montana abortion ballot measure aims to boost Tester

National Democrat aligned groups  are actively working towards placing a state constitutional amendment on abortion on Montana’s ballot next year. The move is aimed at bolstering the re-election prospects of Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who is identified as one of the most vulnerable Senate incumbents in the upcoming 2024 elections. READ THE FULL STORY: https://politics406.com/montana-abortion-ballot-measure-aims-to-boost-tester/

Helena Judge dismisses Zephyr’s lawsuit over legislative disciplinary action

HELENA — A judge in Helena has dismissed the lawsuit brought by state Rep. Zooey Zephyr challenging the constitutionality of disciplinary actions taken by legislative Republicans against her during the recent session. District Court Judge Mike Menahan deemed the lawsuit moot, stating that Zephyr’s disciplinary measures ceased with the conclusion of the session. In April, Read More…

Attorney General Knudsen files response to legal complaint

This week, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen formally responded to a complaint alleging professional misconduct, characterizing it as “highly irregular” and defending his actions in the dispute between the Montana Legislature and the state Supreme Court. In a 50-page response submitted on Monday to the state Commission on Practice by lawyers representing Knudsen, both private Read More…

Cory Swanson, Broadwater County Attorney announces for Supreme Court

Cory Swanson, the Broadwater County Attorney and Army veteran, officially declared his candidacy for the Montana Supreme Court this week, initiating a competition with former magistrate judge and liberal trial lawyer Jerry Lynch for the position of chief justice. In a campaign announcement on the Montana Talks radio show, Swanson emphasized the importance of fairness Read More…

Legislative special session proposed to address property taxes

HELENA — Montana legislators are poised to make a pivotal decision regarding the convening of a special session early next year to address tax-related matters, notably the resolution of a property tax dispute by the state Supreme Court. The Montana Freedom Caucus, comprising fervently conservative Republican lawmakers, formally requested a special session on January 15, Read More…

Municipal primary election results in Billings

As of now, the top three candidates for Billings City Council Ward 3 are: Danny Choriki with 1,091 votes (26.83%) Charles W. Loveridge with 1,294 votes (31.82%) Bill Kennedy with 1,331 votes (32.73%) The top two candidates will progress to the general election on November 7th.  Current voter numbers are as follows: -Registered Voters – Total 14,180 Read More…

OPI Superintendent launches run for Congress

Montana State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen announced Monday she is running for U.S. House. According to Arntzen’s Twitter account, she’ll be running for Montana’s second Congressional district on the condition that Rep. Matt Rosendale seeks the U.S. Senate nomination. In a statement, Arntzen said if Rosendale seeks reelection to the House, the exploratory committee will cease operations and return Read More…

4th Montana legislator receives letter

House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, R-Billings, received a suspicious letter similar to the other three letters that were received by legislators over the weekend, according to a Senate GOP communications spokesperson Kyle Schmauch. The is the fourth letter received by a Montana legislator. Officials say when it was delivered, the letter was kept unopened and Read More…

MT GOP Re-Elects Don “K” as Chairman

Don “K” Kaltschmidt, an automobile dealer and prominent Republican figure in the Flathead Valley, has been reelected to a third term as chair of the Montana GOP. The Montana Republican Party voted to retain Kaltschmidt at its Officers’ Convention, while State Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway was also chosen for a third term as vice chair. Under Read More…

Liberal group loses funding

MontPIRG, a liberal nonprofit organization is facing a significant financial setback. According to a report from the Daily Montanan, the organization is expected to lose approximately $50,000 in student fees in the coming year. MontPIRG has a long-standing presence on state college campuses in Montana, operating for nearly four decades. While University of Montana students Read More…

Tanner Smith to run for Governor

Tanner J. Smith, a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives representing District 11 in Flathead County, has recently announced his plans to run for governor in the 2024 election. In a news release, Smith outlined his campaign’s focus, which centers around revitalizing Montana’s economy, protecting natural resources, and ensuring a prosperous future for Read More…