LATEST GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING
On the Record: Montana election administrators
Tracking absentee ballots. Reassuring voters. Getting it right. Here’s what it takes to run elections in Montana.
Livingston officials allow ‘Pawn Shop’ film to continue
The production, backed by the Daily Wire, sparked local backlash over potentially dangerous set operations and the film’s positive narrative about immigration enforcement.
State judge strikes down ballot envelope birth year requirement
The requirement has voided nearly 6,000 Montana votes since 2025.
How candidates for U.S. House and Senate would try to make Montana more affordable
Voters say affordability is their No. 1 issue going into the midterm elections, so we asked the candidates what they’d do about it.
Get an insider’s look into what’s happening in and around the halls of power with expert reporting, analysis and insight from the editors and reporters of Montana Free Press. Sign up to get the free Capitolized newsletter delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
CAPITOLIZED
Poll fishing in Montana’s hottest House race
PLUS: Bodnar guns for conservative cred.
SupCo candidates try to out-impartial each other in Bozeman
PLUS: Changing of the Republican guard in the Flathead.
Jacobsen shares what Jacobsen shared
PLUS: Congressional candidates shed primary colors.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
On the Record: Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell
As a Supreme Court ruling approaches, Cromwell talks about her stance on immigration enforcement, the dispute with Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and what’s at stake.
Court rejects Butte data center ballot initiative
Judge: Plaintiffs’ responsibility to ‘read and understand the statute they were proceeding under.’ Organizer will appeal.
Butte nonprofit sues county after data center ballot initiative reversal
A district court judge has temporarily ordered Butte-Silver Bow County election officials to ensure the initiative gets on the ballot.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Gov. Greg Gianforte taps Larry Flynn to head Montana Department of Transportation
Flynn has spent almost 20 years at the Montana Department of Transportation.
Union and governor’s office sign agreement to reduce state employees’ healthcare rate hike
The deal softens a proposed deductible spike, but leaves monthly premium increases in place.
State committee votes to replace Capitol’s iconic ‘Montana’ statue
Officials say that the statue has sustained extensive damage and that repairs are ‘infeasible.’
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Poll: Men, Republicans and older Montanans more likely to support ICE
Poll finds divides fall along political party, gender and age lines.
Downing seeks HUD cuts for sanctuary cities
Bill would deny federal housing funding to communities that don’t share information about immigrants with federal officers, or that don’t detain people arrested by immigration agents.
Judge hears arguments in immigration class action
The case comes amid a national rise in petitions for release, as the Trump administration deploys federal immigration agents across the U.S. to enact deportation policies, sometimes without clear processes.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.