Holly Michels

In the western U.S. House primaries, The Zinke-Olszewski race was surprisingly close, and Tranel's margin of victory over Neumann was surprisingly large. What's in store for the general election? Will Montana Dems show up?

Super PACs may be following the law but are they playing fair? Ryan Zinke's new ad wants to reassure voters he doesn't live in California. Democrats may have to reckon with a deceased candidate winning the eastern congressional district primary. And the contested western congressional district could boost voter turnout in this mid-term election. Listen now on Campaign Beat.

Another round of thoughts and prayers from political leaders. The Supreme Court race turns explicitly partisan. The commissioner of political practices says state leaders need to join the fight against election disinformation. And the health department issues an emergency rule to keep trans Montanans from changing their birth certificates.

Former vice president Mike Pence makes an unannounced visit to the Capitol. New restrictive voting laws are back in effect. Democrat Cora Neumann rails against "rich outsiders." Schools superintendent Elsie Arntzen wants to cut the number of required school counselors.

Sen. Steve Daines wants to protect kids from gay TV characters, and compares women to sea turtles and eagles. Ryan Zinke touts his record as former Interior Secretary in a new ad, despite being fired from that job. And Democrats Cora Neumann and Monica Tranel get testy over a super PAC attack ad.

A Supreme Court leak adds more drama to the 2022 midterm election in Montana and elsewhere. Overturning Roe will also drive a spate of new anti-abortion bills in the next Legislature. New campaign ads from both parties try to define who's a "real Montanan."

CI-121 draws bipartisan opposition. Matt Rosendale worries an independent candidate in his race could help Democrats. New campaign ads take both a humorous and hard-hitting approach. And Montana State University is urged not to name a new building after the sitting governor and his family.

Democrats compete over the working class vote. Ryan Zinke opts out of a Republican debate. Not every Republican congressional candidate believes the presidential election was stolen. Another law passed by the last Legislature hits a legal snag.

Gov. Gianforte touts his success working with political opponents. Two Democratic congressional candidates debut their first TV ads. The Board of Public Education is sued over lack of public input on a recent decision over the word "equity." And Sen. Daines sees firsthand the horror of the war in Ukraine.

Federal officials are expected later this year to end a pandemic-era safety net for recipients of subsidized health coverage through Medicaid. Advocates worry some people will lose their coverage unnecessarily. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar talks with the Montana State News Bureau’s Holly Michels about what’s changing and how recipients can prepare.