Montana Freedom Caucus

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

Three separate Republican efforts to call a special session have all failed. The proposals would have had lawmakers return to Helena to address immigration policy, judicial elections and state tax revenue.

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?

Republicans ban a trans lawmaker from the House floor, putting Montana in the national news spotlight. Meanwhile, much work remains on the budget as the end of the session approaches.

Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale spoke at a kickoff event in the state Capitol introducing Montana’s newly formed Freedom Caucus. Rosendale reached out to Montana lawmakers last year to help found this local group modeled after the hard-line conservative U.S. House Freedom Caucus.

Montana lawmakers take their oaths of office and begin their work in the state Capitol. Host Nadya Faulx and reporters Shaylee Ragar, Ellis Juhlin, and Arren Kimbel-Sannit discuss a rules debate that's dividing the GOP, how moderate Republicans are working with Democrats, a new Montana Freedom Caucus, and the beginnings of the state budget.

Hard-line Montana House and Senate conservatives have formed a new caucus in the Legislature modeled after the U.S. House Freedom Caucus. Montana’s Freedom Caucus was created through collaboration with state legislators and Rep. Matt Rosendale, who is a member of the similarly named national group.