Montana Politics

By late 2027 Montana may have to shoulder more of the costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. If that happens, Montana’s only statewide food bank says the results would be devastating.

Montana Republicans gathered in Missoula this month to set their party’s rules and policy agenda. Lee Newspapers State Bureau reporter Seaborn Larson joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to share highlights from the convention.

A lawsuit argues the state’s process for redetermining Medicaid eligibility after the pandemic was intentionally devised to kick as many Montanans off the program as possible. Both state and third-party analysis found a large portion of the people unenrolled still qualified.

Some state Medicaid services are on the chopping block due to a budget shortfall. The state health department estimates it will need at least another $7 million, but isn’t saying what services might be cut.

State Senator and U.S. House candidate Jonathan Windy Boy is accused of sexual abuse and has suspended his campaign, according to the Montana Democratic Party.

The U.S. Department of Justice has been asking states for their unredacted voter files, which contain personal information. Montana’s Secretary of State maintains she’s only released what’s publicly available, but state lawmakers are pushing for more answers.

The Montana Supreme Court heard arguments Friday in a case that could impact how voters pass laws from the ballot box. Plaintiffs say a 2023 law passed by legislators puts unconstitutional restrictions on citizen-led initiatives.

Montana’s farmers have been hit particularly hard by the war in Iran. Price increases and market instability are straining producers already under pressure. A federal judge ruled a logging project near Whitefish violated federal environmental laws. A former Montana campaign consultant who pleaded guilty to embezzlement is now in custody.

Thousands of Montanans gathered Saturday in cities across the state to participate in the national “No Kings” protest. Reporters from Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio spoke with protestors in several cities.

Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Governors Marc Racicot and Steve Bullock drew an overflowing crowd to a forum in Helena last weekend. They talked about the upcoming elections, the Trump agenda, and defending democracy. Racicot was a Republican governor from 1993 to 2001. Bullock and Tester were the last Democrats to hold statewide office in Montana.