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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

President Trump May Visit Missoula Oct. 18

President Donald Trump speaks in Great Falls, MT, July 5, 2018.
Corin Cates-Carney
/
Montana Public Radio
President Donald Trump speaks in Billings, MT, Sep. 6 2018.

Rumor has it that President Donald Trump will visit Montana again next week.

If true, it would be Trump’s third rally in Big Sky Country this year. It would be his first appearance west of the divide.

The Missoula County Sheriff’s Department posted this on its webpage this morning:

“Members of our office have been invited to a meeting by the U.S. Secret Service addressing security measures in the event of a potential Presidential visit to Missoula, MT.”

News outlets are quoting unnamed Republican sources as saying the visit will be Thursday, October 18.

“We are hearing from a lot of sources that that is expected. I can confirm that law enforcement is involved. That’s where that information is coming from,” says Vondene Kopetski, chairwoman of the Missoula County Republican Central Committee. “We’ve had people walking in one after the other and phone calls – the phone’s ringing off the hook.”

Kopetski says Montana voters might just determine control of the U.S. Senate. Most polls show a tight Senate race between Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and his Republican challenger Matt Rosendale.

About 40 people opposed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation protested at the Missoula Republican Central Committee last Friday.

Tootie Welker was part of that protest and is no fan of Donald Trump.

"I think it’s pretty interesting he’s willing to come to Missoula, but it’s part of Democracy to speak and get your message out. It’s his right.”

Welker, a member of the western chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, say if Trump visits Missoula she’ll exercise her right to speak out in opposition.

“Well, you know, we don’t like to share our hand too much in advance, but I suspect that we will have something planned if he decides to show up in Missoula, Montana.”

Welker says whatever gets planned would be peaceful and non-violent.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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