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Montana Politics

Montana News

Campaign Beat: Independents, culture and conspiracy

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Holly Michels

The Montana political world awaits UM president Seth Bodnar's decision about his future, and Republicans aren't waiting to put out an attack ad. Democratic Senate candidate Reilly Neill thinks a conspiracy is behind a possible Bodnar Senate run. And new candidates with no political experience continue to enter the congressional races.

Watch: The Session 2025 legislative recap

Learn about the key bills, big debates, party politics and what’s next for Montana’s laws from the journalists who were there. Watch the recording of our live legislative recap.

Montana News

BLM cancels bison grazing permits for Montana nature reserve

Victoria Traxler

The Bureau of Land Management announced its decision Friday to cancel key bison grazing permits for American Prairie, which is working to build a 3 million-acre nature reserve in northeastern Montana.
Montana News

Bozeman Republican joins U.S. Senate race

Shaylee Ragar

A Bozeman Republican has launched a challenge to Montana’s senior senator.
Montana News

Montana delegates voice mixed reactions to president's actions on Greenland, Venezuela

Shaylee Ragar

Montana’s congressional delegates are vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. However, they’ve been quieter on Trump’s push to take Greenland.
Montana News

Montana's Senate race just got a lot more interesting

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Holly Michels

A text from former-Sen. Jon Tester has Democrats all shook up. University of Montana President Seth Bodnar may enter the Senate race. And the Democratic candidates for the western district House race have similar sounding campaign messages.
Montana News

Federal reversal restores addiction, mental health funding after unexplained cuts

Aaron Bolton

The Trump administration has reversed its decision to cut billions of dollars worth of grants for addiction and mental health care across the country. Grant recipients in Montana were taken off guard by the cuts and sudden reversal.
Montana News

Tester slams Democrats, voices support for potential independent in Senate race

Shaylee Ragar

Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has weighed-in on the state’s 2026 race for the Senate. In a widely circulated text message, the Democrat indicated support for a potential independent candidate.
Montana News

Supreme Court upholds warrantless entry for emergency aid

Shaylee Ragar

In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed that law enforcement officers had probable cause to enter a Montana man’s home without a warrant. The Court wrote that probable cause does not only apply to criminal activity, but also to emergency aid.
Montana News

State officials urge awareness of human trafficking warning signs

Elinor Smith

Gov. Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen are working to raise public awareness during Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and enable state officials to prevent the “heinous crime.”
Montana News

Midterms approach, candidates multiply and Campaign Beat returns for 2026

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Holly Michels

Midterm elections typically don't attract much attention, but 2026 may be different. With three of Montana's four seats in Congress on the ballot, nearly a dozen challengers have thrown their hat in the ring. Republican incumbents are favored in all three races, with the western district race seen as the most competitive.
Montana News

Supreme Court blocks proposed initiative limiting corporate campaign spending

Shaylee Ragar

A ballot proposal to limit campaign spending in Montana is blocked from advancing. The state’s high court Tuesday ruled it doesn’t pass legal muster.

Capitol Talk is MTPR's weekly legislative news and analysis program. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center Fellow Rob Saldin.

Capitol Talk

News and analysis from the Montana Legislature.

The Session

A breakdown of the latest action we’re watching in the statehouse.

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Politics

Montana politics, elections and legislative news