U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy introduced the COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 on Friday, aiming to provide backpay and compensation to thousands of service members who were discharged from the military due to non-compliance with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The legislation seeks to restore benefits, pay, and retirement accruals to the roughly 100,000 Read More…
Congressman Ryan Zinke is calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior to take immediate action to prevent what he warns could be a “catastrophic drop” in Flathead Lake levels this summer. In a letter sent to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Zinke urged coordinated efforts to stabilize the lake, including increased water releases Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is once again championing Montana’s outdoor heritage on the national stage, as the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution he co-led to designate June as “Great Outdoors Month.” Joined by Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and a coalition of colleagues from across the country, Daines highlighted the importance of outdoor Read More…
Governor Greg Gianforte applauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s Youth Protection Act and reinforcing the right of states to restrict certain medical and surgical treatments for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The ruling comes as Montana’s own Youth Health Protection Act faces legal challenges in state courts. “Today, the Read More…
A leading political analyst has revised its forecast for Montana’s Senate race, now favoring Republicans as Democratic Senator Jon Tester has seen a decline in poll numbers. On Friday, Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics shifted the race from a “toss up” to “leans Republican.” This change comes less than Read More…
Democrat Senator Jon Tester is receiving support from an outside group that is leveraging new NCAA guidelines to solicit endorsements from college athletes in Montana. This initiative essentially pays athletes to make political endorsements through their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. According to Lily Meskers, a track athlete and journalism major at the University Read More…
Turn Left PAC announced its full endorsement of Senator Jon Tester and Congressional candidate Monica Tranel for Montana’s 2024 elections. The liberal organization is rallying behind the two candidates, praising them as staunch defenders of liberal values, public lands, and working families, while positioning them as a counterforce against the Republican agenda. In a bid Read More…
Montana’s election landscape could get a significant shift this November, as the Secretary of State’s Office has certified two ballot measures aimed at overhauling the state’s election system. Constitutional Initiatives 126 and 127 which have been financed by out-of-state liberal so-called “Dark Money” groups have qualified for the ballot. On Thursday evening, just before 7:30 Read More…
(The Center Square) – Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped his presidential bid Friday to endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election. Kennedy, his voice hoarse, called it quits during a speech Friday in Phoenix. “In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,” he said. Kennedy Read More…
In a striking declaration during a rally in Missoula on Wednesday, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) stated that electing Vice President Kamala Harris as president is of greater importance than his own re-election to Montana’s senior Senate seat. “Mine isn’t the important one; it’s the one at the top. There’s a lot at stake here. There’s Read More…
On Thursday, Governor Greg Gianforte met with members of his appointed task force to discuss their recommendations for property tax reform. The governor offered feedback on the proposals, which are expected to be a major topic in the upcoming legislative session. The meeting, held at the Capitol in Helena, featured an overview of the task Read More…
Top Republican leaders from Montana converged in Billings today, just a week after former President Donald Trump’s visit to Bozeman. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson headlined the event, underscoring the critical need to uphold conservative values in today’s political climate. Montana’s Attorney General Austin Knudsen, State Auditor Troy Downing, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and Governor Greg Read More…
In a significant development for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Montana Senator Barry Usher has been elected as the organization’s new vice president. This bipartisan body represents the 7,386 state lawmakers and over 30,000 legislative staff across the United States.* Usher, who will serve a one-year term as vice president, is poised to Read More…
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has spearheaded a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to uphold the national TikTok divest-or-ban legislation passed by Congress earlier this year. The federal law mandates that TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, must either divest Read More…
Weeks after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and endorses Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse has yet to publicly address the situation. Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt criticized Busse for his silence, calling it a “disservice to all Montanans.” Kaltschmidt argued Read More…
Former President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, on Friday night, aiming to energize supporters and impact down-ballot races in a state he previously won in the 2020 presidential election. “Less than three months from now, we are going to defeat radical left Democrat John Tester and send Tim Sheehy to the Read More…
As President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, Montana’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse has remained notably silent on the matter. The Montana Republican Party is expressing frustration over Busse’s lack of comment. Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt criticized Busse for not addressing Biden’s Read More…
The House Appropriations Committee took a significant step forward by passing the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 out of Full Committee Markup. This legislation includes substantial provisions aimed at addressing critical infrastructure needs and housing challenges in Western Montana. Among the key components of the bill Read More…
In anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls. MSSA has given Senator Jon Tester an F rating. Republican Tim Sheey received and AQ rating was endorsed by the Read More…
In anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls. MSSA has given Attorney General Austin Knudsen an A rating and the group endorsed him for the 2024 Election. Each Read More…
On Tuesday evening, Tim Sheehy, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Montana, took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to deliver a speech urging the need to “save America.” Sheehy was among several GOP Senate hopefuls who addressed the convention, each aiming to bolster their campaigns and rally support. Sheehy’s candidacy Read More…
n anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls. MSSA has given Chief Justice candidate Jeremiah Lynch an F rating. The group endorsed Lynch’s opponent, Broadwater County Attorney Cory Read More…
Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices, Chris Gallus, decisively dismissed a complaint on Wednesday alleging misuse of taxpayer funds by Governor Greg Gianforte for his reelection efforts. The complaint, filed by Democratic candidates Ryan Busse and Raph Graybill, accused Gianforte of leveraging state resources through postcards sent to Montana taxpayers to bolster his campaign. In a Read More…
REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN CALLS ON JUDGE MENAHAN TO RECUSE HIMSELF In a strongly-worded statement, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt called on Judge Mike Menahan to recuse himself from the CI-128 case. Kaltschmidt accused the judge of bias, alleging that Menahan has consistently favored pro-abortion activists throughout his career. “Judge Menahan has sold out Read More…
In anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls. MSSA has given Governor Greg Gianforte an A rating and the group endorsed him for the 2024 Election. Gianforte’s Democrat Read More…
In a contentious legal battle unfolding in Montana, two organizations are taking the state’s Secretary of State to court over signature acceptance rules for proposed constitutional initiatives. These initiatives face uncertain prospects for appearing on the November ballot. The dispute centers on the inclusion of signatures from “inactive voters” — individuals who have not participated Read More…
Montana State University Extension’s Local Government Center is gearing up to assist numerous municipalities and counties in Montana as they embark on their decennial local government reviews. With 43 municipalities and 12 counties opting to participate, the center will play a crucial role in providing necessary support and training to study commissioners. According to Dan Read More…
Montana’s latest legislative effort to enhance government transparency went into effect on July 1 with the implementation of House Bill 890, aimed at providing the public with clearer insights into local government proceedings. Sponsored by Rep. Brad Barker, R-Luther, HB 890 mandates that many local government boards across the state record their meetings and publish Read More…
In a significant legal development, a federal court has granted Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s request to halt the Biden administration’s controversial new rule concerning gender-transition treatments. The rule, proposed under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), aimed to tie federal funding to compliance with mandates requiring healthcare providers to offer Read More…
Democratic Senator Jon Tester, currently in his bid for a fourth term in predominantly Republican Montana, faces a pivotal race in 2024. His reelection is crucial for Democrats, who are defending three Senate seats in states won by Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections—Ohio and West Virginia being the others. Tester is Read More…
Jon Tester, the Democratic Senator from Montana, is striving to retain his seat in a state that strongly supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Despite Montana’s conservative leaning, Tester has managed to secure victories in several tough elections over the past decade, maintaining his popularity with the state’s right-leaning voters. This November, Tester Read More…
June 21st marked a crucial deadline for advocates aiming to place ballot measures before Montana voters this year. It was the final day to submit tens of thousands of petition signatures to county election offices across the state. Now, county officials must review the signatures and confirm their validity. To get initiatives on the ballot, Read More…
Montana’s Senator Steve Daines joined a group of Republican senators in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were apprehended at the southern border, underwent vetting and were then released into the United States. “We write to express our grave concerns regarding reports Read More…
The Biden Administration has announced the launch of the Columbia River Task Force by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), aimed at implementing President Biden’s longstanding plan to remove dams on the Snake River system. These dams currently supply western Montana with affordable and reliable electricity, constituting between 60-70% of the power in the Pacific Read More…
On Sunday morning, Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Tim Sheehy squared off in their first general election debate, set to be one of the most closely monitored races this year. The hour-long debate, hosted by the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation, took place at Fairmont Hot Springs in Read More…
U.S. Senator Steve Daines joined his Republican colleagues in calling out the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee corruption and sending a letter to the VA demanding the department repay nearly $11 million in unjustified bonuses that were distributed to senior executives within the VA and calling for the immediate dismissal of the responsible officials. “The egregious mishandling Read More…
(The Center Square) – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of states in defending American firearm makers from being held responsible for Mexico’s gun violence. The government of Mexico says gun companies should be responsible for gun violence there because manufacturers know some of their products are trafficked into Mexico. In January, the First Read More…
In addition to the array of statewide elections on the ballot, Montanans will cast their votes for 125 state lawmakers this year, comprising half of the Montana Senate and the entire Montana House of Representatives. The upcoming 2025 legislative session is already set to see significant changes, partly due to the new legislative district lines Read More…
Montana State Auditor Troy Downing is seeking the Republican nomination but allegations of violent threats and an attempt to underpay child support may derail his campaign. Fellow Republicans have drawn attention to Downing divorce records that show accusations of threatening to kill his wife and he failed to pay the proper amount of child support. Read More…
Recent campaign finance filings reveal that with just a month remaining until Montana’s June 4 primary, Governor Greg Gianforte holds substantial financial advantages over his opponents. During the fundraising period from March 16 to April 15, the incumbent Republican, Gianforte, amassed $157,000 for the primary and an additional $72,000 for the General Election, totaling $921,000 Read More…
Recent campaign finance filings reveal that with just a month remaining until Montana’s June 4 primary, Attorney General Austin Knudsen holds substantial financial advantages over his opponents. Incumbent Republican Knudsen secured over $56,000 during the month raising his total raised to $394,000. With expenditures totaling approximately $19,000, he concludes the period with over $230,000 in Read More…
Recent campaign finance filings reveal that with just a month remaining until Montana’s June 4 primary, Bowen Greenwood holds substantial financial advantages over his opponents in the race for Clerk of Supreme Court. Incumbent Republican Bowen Greenwood collected close to $25,000 in contributions during the month leading up to the primary, with expenditures totaling around Read More…
Earlier this month, a Montana environmental activist group took legal action against the state Department of Justice, alleging a violation of their constitutional right to access information by withholding communications between the department and a Canadian coal mining company. The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC)has long fought natural resource development in Montana. The group has Read More…
HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with 24 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Biden Administration’s unlawful electric vehicle (EV) mandate that threatens the economy, puts jobs at risk, and undermines the reliability of the electric grid. This is the 42nd lawsuit Attorney General Knudsen has filed against the Biden Read More…