Featured Articles in Montana Politics

Attorney General Knudsen Leads 21-State Coalition Urging Congress to Ban China-Based AI Platform on Government Devices

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence platform, on all government devices. In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, Attorney General Knudsen emphasized Read More…

Governor Gianforte Champions Property Tax Relief for Small Businesses

At a press conference held at Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation in Great Falls, Governor Greg Gianforte discussed his proposed tax cuts aimed at delivering significant property tax relief for Montana homeowners and small businesses, specifically through the Homestead Rate Cut. “Through the Homestead Rate Cut, we can provide permanent property tax relief, giving Montanans more Read More…

Senate Ethics Committee Investigates Sen. Ellsworth’s Contract

The Senate Ethics Committee convened its first witness testimonies on Friday as part of its investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s alleged conflict of interest. The inquiry centers on a six-figure state-funded contract Ellsworth arranged without disclosing his long-standing personal relationship with the vendor. A legislative audit in February found that he had structured the contract Read More…

Democrat Legislator Pleads Guilty to DUI After Political Fundraiser

Montana state Senator Ellie Boldman, a Democrat from Missoula, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after being found asleep in her running vehicle in downtown Helena early Sunday. Boldman, who had attended the Montana Democratic Party’s annual Mansfield Metcalf fundraising dinner earlier that evening, admitted in Helena Municipal Read More…

All in: Montana Politics

Governor thought ex-aide would stop harassment

HELENA, Mont. — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s spokeswoman says the governor thought a former senior staffer of his wouldn’t harass any more women after being fired from the Democratic Governors Association. Bullock spokeswoman Ronja Abel said Tuesday that it’s clear that Kevin O’Brien’s 2015 firing from the DGA hadn’t been enough since O’Brien was forced out Read More…

MTN-MSU poll: Bullock, Daines most highly rated statewide officials

This is the final installment of a three-part series on MTN-MSU’s post-election poll BOZEMAN – Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, and Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines are Montana’s most popular politicians on a statewide level, according to an MTN News-Montana State University post-election poll of state voters. Bullock’s approval rating came in at 60 percent Read More…

MSU post-election poll: Independent voters key in MT’s 2018 Senate, House races

This is the first of a three-part series on MTN-MSU’s post-election poll BOZEMAN – Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester defeated Republican challenger Matt Rosendale last November largely on his strength among independent voters, an MTN News-Montana State University post-election poll shows. And while President Donald Trump visited the state an unprecedented four times in 2018 Read More…

U.S. Supreme court lets Montana campaign-contribution limits stand

HELENA – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to Montana’s campaign-contribution limits, letting the 24-year-old law stand. The high court, without comment, denied the appeal of a 2017 appellate court ruling that upheld Montana’s monetary limits on what individuals, political-action committees and political parties can give to state candidates. Jaime Read More…

Steve Bullock

Voters rejected Medicaid expansion, Bullock pushing for it in legislative session

MISSOULA, Mont. — One day following the beginning of Montana’s 2019 legislative session, Gov. Steve Bullock presented a report on the benefits of Medicaid expansion. The current funding plan is set to expire in June. The governor was a strong proponent of I-185. The initiative would have funded Medicaid expansion by increasing the tobacco tax. Voters Read More…

Monica Lindeen to head Montana Democratic Party

The Montana Democratic Party has named Monica Lindeen as its new executive director, replacing the outgoing Nancy Keenan, who is retiring.   Lindeen, 56, was most recently executive director of YWCA Helena, following eight years as the state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. She was previously vice chair of the party and served eight years Read More…

After Midterm Defeat, Advocates For Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Turn To Legislature

A ballot initiative that would have continued funding Montana’s Medicaid expansion beyond June 2019 has failed. But advocates say they’ll continue to push for money to keep the expansion going after that financial sunset. “We now turn our attention to the legislature to maintain Montana’s bipartisan Medicaid expansion and protect those enrolled from harmful restrictions Read More…

Kalispell council gears up for legislative session

If each legislative session in Helena were akin to a three-month football game, then the players and spectators alike would be thinking now about lively offensive strategies and formidable defenses. The Montana Legislature’s 2019 session launches Jan. 7. And members of the Kalispell City Council want to nail down the city’s legislative priorities in the Read More…

Bullock appoints longtime democratic operatives to state boards

Helena – Governor Steve Bullock has appointed two longtime Democratic legislators and political operatives, Hal Harper and Dave McAlpin, to prestigious state board positions. On Monday, Governor Bullock’s office announced the appointment of Hal Harper to the Judicial Nominations Commission and Dave McAlpin to the Tax Appeal Board. Mr. Harper is a longtime Democrat state Read More…

Kavanaugh gives Republicans a chance to win in Montana

ENNIS, Mont. — Louie Baur confessed he doesn’t know much about Matt Rosendale, after meeting the Republican challenging Democratic Sen. Jon Tester as he glad-handed supporters and posed for selfies along Main Street in this historic hunting outpost. But Rosendale has President Trump’s seal-of-approval in Montana’s suddenly competitive Senate contest — and that’s good enough Read More…

HD-10: Incumbent says tapping natural resources helps state

MARK NOLAND Age: 59 Party: Republican, incumbent Family: Wife, Kathy, six children and seven grandchildren Education: Graduated from Whitefish High School, some college at University of Montana Occupation: Entrepreneur, 33 years as a Flathead Valley Business owner; owner of Flathead Janitorial and Rainbow Restoration Background: I’ve been a legislator since 2015, past president of Glacier Read More…

Jeff Bridges visiting Bozeman to support Sen. Jon Tester

BOZEMAN – Actor Jeff Bridges is appearing at a meet and greet in Montana to support Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection campaign. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 1:30-3 PM at Ballroom A in the Strand Union Building. It’s hosted by the Montana State University College Democrats. READ FULL STORY

Vermillion, Esp facing off in SD 30

Dan Vermillion has surprised some people while knocking on doors over the past few months. He’s a Democrat running for Senate District 30, which covers much of Park and Sweet Grass counties. It’s been a solidly Republican seat for a long time, so having a Democrat on their doorstep catches voters in places like Big Read More…

7 cited after sit-in, protest at Montana GOP office in Missoula

MISSOULA – Seven people protesting the Senate vote on Judge Brett Kavanaugh were cited after occupying the Montana GOP office on Friday afternoon. Protesters with the Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America arrived around 2 p.m., sat down in the office and refused to leave. Meanwhile, several other protesters stood outside waving signs against Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Read More…

Political prosecutor Gene Jarussi’s wife fined for campaign finance violations

Helena – The Commissioner of Political Practices ruled earlier this year that a political committee run by the wife of political prosecutor Gene Jarussi violated campaign finance regulations during the 2016 campaign. As part of a settlement agreement, Mrs. Jarussi admitted to multiple violations and has been fined by the Commissioner. Neighbors for Responsible Legislators Read More…

Governor Bullock says I-185 is good for Montanans

BILLINGS, Mont. – Governor Steve Bullock visited Billings Monday afternoon to discuss his thoughts on Initiative 185. He spoke at Billings Clinic with the main focus on improved healthcare. I-185 would increase taxes on all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and vaping products. That revenue would be used to fund the expansion of Medicaid. Bullock said, Read More…

Montana GOP Senate candidate’s office dropped fines against donor: report

The office of Montana state auditor Matt Rosendale, who’s running for the Senate in November, dismissed fines and dropped sanctions against a donor to his political campaigns, according to a report from the Montana Free Press. Rosendale’s office dropped the fines and dismissed two of three allegations against Friedell LLC, a bail bond company, a day after the Senate Read More…

Political Practices: Hungry Horse Rep. Zac Perry committed campaign finance violations

Helena – The Commissioner of Political Practices has ruled that Democrat State Representative Zac Perry of Hungry Horse violated campaign finance regulations during his 2016 campaign. First elected in 2014, Zac Perry narrowly defeated Republican challenger Taylor Rose in the 2016 Election for House District 3 by 271 votes. On Tuesday, Commissioner of Political Practices Read More…