Featured Articles in Montana Politics

USITC Advances Probe Into Russian Palladium Imports After Montana Delegation Push

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to continue its investigation into imports of unwrought palladium from Russia, ruling there is reasonable indication that the U.S. mining industry is being harmed by unfairly priced and subsidized Russian imports. The decision follows a letter last month from Montana’s congressional delegation urging the Trump administration to Read More…

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Religious Student Groups on College Campuses

Senator Steve Daines has introduced the Equal Campus Access Act of 2025, legislation aimed at ensuring public colleges and universities do not discriminate against religious student organizations. Daines said the measure is designed to safeguard religious liberty for students of faith, requiring schools that receive federal funding to treat religious groups the same as any Read More…

All in: Montana Politics

Gianforte stumps in Havre for governor

Rep. Greg Gianforte R-Mont., was campaigning for governor in Havre Thursday, discuss his Montana Comeback Plan at Tilleman Motor Co. Kristen Juras, Gianforte’s running mate, introduced him to the small crowd at the event. “I am excited,” Juras said. “I am excited about the prospect about Greg Gianforte becoming our next governor.” Gianforte was elected Read More…

DEM GOV CANDIDATE COONEY HIT WITH MAXIMUM PENALTY

As we reported back in May, Lieutenant Governor and Democrat gubernatorial candidate, Mike Cooney (D-MT) was busted for making campaign fundraising calls from his official office in the state capitol. Now, Cooney has been slapped with the “maximum penalty” by the state Commissioner of Political Practices. As the Associated Press reports: READ FULL STORY

BOR reverses course, will keep Canyon Ferry area campground names

The Bureau of Reclamation says after receiving public feedback it has decided not to change the names of Chinamen’s and Confederate campgrounds. A statement from Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Brent Esplin said: “The Bureau of Reclamation will be retaining the historical names of Chinamen’s and Confederate campgrounds in the Canyon Ferry Recreation Area based Read More…

MT’s 2020 gubernatorial race: Stark contrasts between Cooney, Gianforte

In Montana’s 2020 race for governor, voters won’t have much trouble finding stark contrasts, between Republican congressman and former businessman Greg Gianforte and Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney. Gianforte, 59, one of the wealthiest men in Montana, will pitch himself as the “business guy” who will scrutinize government and make it more business-friendly. “I’m running Read More…

Montana senators push for Benevento nomination

Doug Benevento’s nomination as EPA’s deputy administrator, imperiled by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s anger with the agency over ethanol standards, is receiving a quiet boost from Montana’s Senate delegation.   Both Republican Sen. Steve Daines and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester say they have lobbied their colleagues who sit on the Environment and Public Works Committee Read More…

Sen. Daines visits local business to highlight federal relief

Several employees stood among wooden dressers, dining room tables, couches and chairs to greet Sen. Steve Daines as he visited the showroom for Black Timber Furniture in Four Corners on Friday morning. Black Timber Furniture received $65,000 from the federal paycheck protection program, a $349 billion initiative that provides loans to small businesses. The program was Read More…

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s coronavirus task force includes high-value donors, records show

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, who is running as a Democratic Senate candidate in a tight race rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, filled his 25-member coronavirus task force with several high-dollar donors who then informed his administration how to distribute more than $1 billion in federal stimulus aid, records reviewed by Fox News show. The task force, known Read More…

In gov race, Gianforte outpaces Cooney almost 4-to-1 on campaign money

HELENA — As the 2020 general-election race for Montana governor gets under way, Republican candidate Greg Gianforte’s campaign has accumulated almost four times the money of his Democratic competitor, Mike Cooney – but that total includes $1.5 million of Gianforte’s own money. Gianforte reported Monday that his campaign has raised about $3.83 million through June Read More…

USDA SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE IN MISSOULA TO SIGN STEWARDSHIP MEMO

The United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was at the Forest Service Smokejumper Center on Friday to sign a stewardship memorandum that contained a blueprint to modernize the U.S. Forest Service. Perdue outlines aspects of the agreement officially signed on Friday. “It increases productivity,” said Secretary Perdue. “These are renewable resources. We are Read More…

Montana barrels toward blockbuster Senate fight

Montana is heading for a high-stakes battle between popular two-term Gov. Steve Bullock (D) and first-term Sen. Steve Daines (R) that could help determine control of the upper chamber. Though Montana has traditionally voted Republican in presidential elections — handing President Trump a 20-point victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 — it has split its votes for statewide offices, including electing Democratic Sen. Jon Read More…

Bullock outraises Daines in Montana Senate race

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) outraised Sen. Steve Daines (R) in the state’s high-profile Senate race as Democrats hope to score an upset. Bullock raised about $2.4 million in the first half of the second quarter and has about $4.1 million in the bank, according to his campaign’s latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. Daines raised $1.3 million and has a war Read More…

Gianforte blasts new COVID-19 relief bill, calls it ‘careless’

Montana GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte voted against the $3 trillion COVID-19 package passed Friday by the House, saying it was “careless” and a liberal wish-list. The Associated Press reported that the 208-199 vote, with all but one Republican opposed, advances a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities. The bill, which would cost more than the four previous Read More…

As deadline approaches, Montana provides guidance on ballot initiatives amid pandemic

The coronavirus has altered yet another thing — ballot initiatives.   Montana’s secretary of state has determined that MTCARES, the group behind a ballot initiative that would require 80% of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2034, can mail in non-notarized signatures to qualify for the November ballot.   The decision came shortly after a Montana Read More…

NRA Endorses Steve Daines

BOZEMAN- The National Rifle Association announced their endorsement of Senator Steve Daines in Montana’s U.S. Senate race. The NRA awarded the Senator a grade of an “A+” for his support of the Second Amendment. READ FULL STORY

Bozeman city commission voices support for $500 billion in federal aid for local governments

The Bozeman City Commission is advocating for Congress to give money to city governments across the U.S. to help with financial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. All five members of the commission signed a letter to Montana’s congressional delegation asking for support for legislation that includes $500 billion for local governments as lawmakers consider Read More…

Steve Bullock, Who Called to Ban Super PACs, Linked to New Super PAC

Montana’s Democratic governor, Steve Bullock, who has called for eliminating super PACs, appears to have a new outside super PAC backing his Senate run. The Big Sky Voters PAC—a Montana-based super PAC—was created April 23 and looks positioned to boost Bullock’s Senate bid against incumbent Republican senator Steve Daines. Its treasurer previously held the same role for Read More…