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Campaign Beat

Montana News

Campaign Beat: Dark money talks; Senate candidates debate; Gas prices speak volumes

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

Montana's Democratic and independent Senate candidates take the gloves off. A TV ad smearing the Republican Senate candidate raises questions about accuracy. The Terminator endorses Montana's Seth Bodnar for Senate. A new billboard targets Republican House candidate Aaron Flint. And a new poll shows Montana gives Trump a lot higher approval rating than the country as a whole.

Independent Seth Bodnar (left) and Democrat Alani Bankhead (right) at a candidate forum hosted by the group Indivisible Missoula on September 20, 2026.

Sally Mauk

Montana News

Bankhead and Bodnar trade barbs Senate race campaign funding

Clayton Murphy

Campaign Beat

Montana News

AI enters the chat; Poll results reveal surprises; New ads probably sound familiar

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

Montana News

Interest group money rolls in to Montana's congressional races

Clayton Murphy

More political action committee money is coming to Montana ahead of the November election. Two large organizations have announced endorsements for two candidates in the state’s race for U.S. Senate.
Montana News

Divided Democrats, candidate conspiracies and new ads: Campaign Beat returns

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

Montana Democrats continue to bicker over which candidate to support in the U.S. Senate race. New campaign ads highlight the Iran war, taxes and women. And upcoming debates could be pivotal in that Senate race.
Montana News

Legislators subpoena Secretary of State for details on voter rolls sent to the feds

Clayton Murphy

Montana lawmakers have voted to subpoena the Secretary of State. They’re ordering a record of what private voter information the office has sent to the federal government.
Montana News

Capitol dome restoration underway

Keely Larson

Montana’s Capitol building is getting a refresh with funding appropriated by the state Legislature. The multi-million dollar restoration has started at the very top.
Montana News

Briefs: Gov. fills PSC seat; Court pauses new GOP bylaws; Meta settlement nets Montana $89 million

Clayton Murphy

The governor has filled a utility commission seat left vacant after sexual harassment claims against the former commissioner. A judge has ruled that the Montana Republican Party’s new bylaws infringe on state primary elections. The Meta settlement over social media harms to minors will send at least $89 million to Montana.
Montana News

Campaign spending, judicial elections initiatives to appear on November ballot

Clayton Murphy

Montana’s general election ballots are finalized, including three ballot initiatives for the November election.
Montana News

Utility regulators give NorthWestern 30 days to revise 'deficient' power plan

Clayton Murphy

NorthWestern Energy must go back to the drawing board after state regulators said their 20-year proposal for providing electricity is “deficient.” The utility company has 30 days with an optional extension to return an edited plan.
Montana News

Judge blocks attorney general's attempt to disqualify two Republican candidates

Clayton Murphy

After Montana’s Attorney General made an opinion that would kick two moderate Republican lawmakers off the ballot, a district judge has issued a restraining order on the decision – keeping both lawmakers in the race.
Montana News

Schools commission wraps up work on budget recommendations

Clayton Murphy

From special education programs to building renovations, commissioners approved a package of recommendations they believe will help patch holes in Montana’s public education system; chief of which is a plan to simplify the schools budget.
Montana News

Bankhead, Bodnar remain on the Senate ballot, setting up a three-way race

Clayton Murphy

The deadline has passed for Montana candidates to withdraw from their races, and all Senate candidates are still in the running — but not without a last-minute push to get the Democrat to drop out.

Campaign Beat

Montana Public Radio's weekly political analysis program.

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Candidate Q&A

MTPR interviews with candidates running for federal office in Montana in 2026.

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Politics

Politics

Montana government, elections and legislative news