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Montana Politics

Montana News

Polling favors Daines; Who are the challengers? Reformers speak out

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union

Watch: The Session 2025 legislative recap

Learn about the key bills, big debates, party politics and what’s next for Montana’s laws from the journalists who were there. Watch the recording of our live legislative recap.

Montana News

Democrat Jonathan Windy Boy joins eastern district House race

Shaylee Ragar

A Democratic state senator from Box Elder entered the race for Montana’s eastern congressional district. Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy has been a state legislator since 2003. He’s a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and has long focused on issues like Native language preservation, state-tribal relations and child welfare.
Montana News

Campaign Beat: Daines keeps his head down; Selling Trump's economy

Sally Mauk, Seaborn Larson, Christopher Muste

Sen. Daines files for reelection, and raises eyebrows over his association with a controversial State Department nominee. Montana's incumbent congressmen stand by Trump's economic policies, but do voters? Will he or won't he? Former UM President Seth Bodnar has yet to announce his political ambitions.
Montana News

Candidates file for office ahead of June 2 primary elections

Shaylee Ragar

Although some 2026 candidates have been campaigning for months, the official registration period opened this week. Political hopefuls have two weeks to turn in their paperwork.
Montana News

Report: Inflation has outpaced state school funding since 2021

Austin Amestoy

New analysis from Montana legislative staff shows the state’s share of school budgets has gone up in dollar amount over the last two decades. But due to inflation, the value of that money has stayed almost exactly the same as it was in 2008.
Montana News

Senators grill State Department nominee over statements on race, anti-semitism

Shaylee Ragar

A Bozeman-based candidate nominated for a top U.S. Department of State job is facing bipartisan backlash after a congressional hearing last week. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioned Jeremy Carl about past statements they called racist and anti-Semitic.
Montana News

Campaign Beat: GOP pushes party loyalty; Governor puts 'sanctuary cities' on notice

Shaylee Ragar, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

The Montana GOP prioritizes judicial elections and party loyalty; Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen launch an investigation over a possible violation of the state’s "sanctuary city" ban; Democratic congressional candidates try to distinguish themselves.
Montana News

Laurel residents raise concerns about mental health facility, public input laws

Aaron Bolton

Laurel residents have been raising concerns about city and state transparency in selecting Laurel for a new facility that would treat criminal defendants before they stand trial. What’s required of the government when it comes to public input isn’t straightforward.
Montana News

Dillon mayor abruptly resigns during council meeting

Victoria Traxler

A southwestern Montana community is searching for new leadership after its mayor abruptly resigned.
Montana News

Governor calls for investigation into Helena immigration enforcement policies

Shaylee Ragar

Montana’s top attorney is investigating the city of Helena. City commissioners recently passed a resolution stating Helena will avoid assisting federal immigration enforcement efforts. Gov. Gianforte called for the investigation and warned of penalties for cities defying state law.
Montana News

Democratic House candidates talk immigration, housing during public forum

Shaylee Ragar

Four Democrats competing for Montana’s western U.S. House seat met for their first public forum Tuesday. The candidates covered a wide range of topics, from housing costs to immigration policy.

Capitol Talk is MTPR's weekly legislative news and analysis program. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center Fellow Rob Saldin.

Capitol Talk

News and analysis from the Montana Legislature.

The Session

A breakdown of the latest action we’re watching in the statehouse.

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Politics

Montana politics, elections and legislative news