Kim Abbott

Just a week after the election, 150 representatives and senators from around the state descended on Helena to begin legislator orientation and choose their leaders.

In legislative races between hard-right GOP candidates and more moderate conservatives, each faction picked up wins and losses.

A panel of Republican lawmakers met on Monday to discuss their concerns over what they’ve called “troubling judicial rulings.” Democratic legislators declined to participate.

Sen. Tester's position on the war in Gaza could cost him some young voters. State school superintendent and Republican congressional candidate Elsie Arntzen has angered some members of her party. Democrats hope to pick up a few more legislative seats this year.

Democrats will compete in more legislative races this year than last election cycle. The party hopes that, along with new district maps, it could disrupt Republicans' supermajority.

Montana Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is walking a fine line as he seeks a fourth term. And this year could determine control of the Senate. Tester’s appeal-to-the-middle brand of politics faces another tough test in increasingly polarized times.

A district court judge earlier this week partially stalled state lawmakers’ plans to set up a new system of charter schools in Montana. The decision does allow the newly formed commission in charge of charter schools to begin meeting.

Montana’s attorney general has joined nine other states in suing the federal government over rate increases for national flood insurance.

The state policymaking process is still ongoing about a month after the 68th Legislature adjourned. Legislators have more than a dozen of the governor’s vetoes to consider overriding, and there are still bills that have yet to be signed or vetoed. Democrats say the process is taking unnecessarily long.

Republican lawmakers say they delivered for Montanans. Democrats say they kept a lot of bad things off the books. The Regier family reigned over much of the action. And this session marked a political turning point — but in what direction?