Republicans win Montana PSC races following delays in AP call

In the era of artificial intelligence data centers, the Public Service Commission could play an important role in regulating the amount customers pay for energy, as well as how data centers generate power or build out infrastructure. NorthWestern has already signed several agreements to power data centers. At a time of rising costs, affordability is…

Statewide Race Results

Credit: Montana final 2020 vote counts by Eric Dietrich

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Election News

Amy Eddy defeats Dan Wilson for Montana Supreme Court seat

Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy defeated her District Court colleague Dan Wilson to win an eight-year term on the Montana Supreme Court, extending a run of victories by women candidates in contested court elections since 2016. The race drew millions in television advertising and highlighted a debate about the role of partisan politics…

What we know about Tuesday’s election results

Hundreds of thousands of votes have been cast in Montana for state and federal candidates and ballot issues. Here’s the latest news on where those races stand, from U.S. Senate and House seats to the Public Service Commission.

Shared State Podcast

Shared State: The politics of death and dying

In 2009, Montana was caught up in a heated national debate over whether terminally ill patients could expedite their deaths by taking lethal, physician-prescribed medication. More than a decade later, the state is still mired in disagreement about medical aid in dying, in part because courts and elected lawmakers have sidestepped the political hot-potato. Meanwhile, individual Montanans are confronting profound and personal questions about death in their own ways — including whether “good” deaths are even possible. 

In 2009, Montana was caught up in a heated national debate over whether terminally ill patients could expedite their deaths by taking lethal, physician-prescribed medication. More than a decade later, the state is still mired in disagreement about medical aid in dying, in part because courts and elected lawmakers have sidestepped the political hot-potato. Meanwhile,…

Shared State: Colstrip’s next chapter

There’s not much certainty for the coal industry these days. In Montana, four of the six owners of the Colstrip Power Plant live in states where legislation is requiring companies to wean themselves off of coal energy. Residents of Colstrip — a town that has grown and prospered because of that resource —  fear that any bad news for the industry will be even worse for them. Up against shifting markets and corporate interests, how can advocates for Colstrip ensure future stability for its residents?

Shared State: Bozeman is in a housing death spiral. Can local politics fix anything?

For decades, housing affordability has been a hot-button issue in Bozeman politics, a clear community pain point where the city’s elected leaders haven’t managed to deliver significant relief. As insider and outsider candidates campaigned for city offices in 2021, housing policy became the election’s key issue. The solution, some residents argued, was to elect working class advocates to positions of power. Key to getting the job done, others countered, is experienced, incumbent leadership. 

Shared State: Popularity’s slippery slope

Whitefish has a reputation as a charming ski destination in Montana’s northwest corner that welcomes wayward strays, whether that’s for a season or a lifetime. That attitude has helped grow small businesses and local watering holes, and keep friendly faces on the slopes and behind the bar. But in recent years, more and more people have been drawn to the good thing Whitefish has going on. Locals fear that surging popularity — and skyrocketing cost of living — could push out the very characters that make this place so special.

More Shared State


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MORE ELECTIONS COVERAGE

Confusion remains over ballot requirement after secretary of state’s guidance

A Montana law requiring that voters write their birth year on absentee ballot return envelopes was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge last month. The ruling ended a requirement that had caused thousands of absentee ballots to be rejected during elections held over the past year. But an email issued by the Montana secretary…

Judging the president’s diesel-price play

Since mid-October, President Trump has paused Russian sanctions recently passed by Congress with broad support, while also lifting a ban on Russian diesel sales until April 7, 2027. The latter move means Russia can sell 2.25 million barrels of diesel globally, including to the United States. Some incumbents and candidates who responded to questions from…


MORE ELECTIONS HEADLINES

How Montana’s federal campaigns are funded

Montana’s federal candidates have arrived at the final stage of the general election largely fueled by individual contributions. National political action committee donations and contributions from congressional leadership committees also play a major role. Here’s a summary of the financial picture for each major candidate who raised at least $90,000 in individual contributions leading up…

Vice President JD Vance to visit Belgrade Oct. 26

Vice President JD Vance will speak at an airplane hangar in Belgrade on Monday, Oct. 26. His arrival will mark the third visit to Montana in two weeks by the federal government’s most powerful Republicans.

Can Montanans be persuaded by Seth Bodnar’s anti-partisan platform?

Since the start of his campaign, Seth Bodnar has insisted that there’s political space between Republicans and Democrats where a candidate might find or form a core of Montanans defined and driven by frustrations with partisan conflict and rising costs. Is there a coalition in that space willing to elect Montana’s first independent U.S. senator?

Two PSC districts on Montana ballot: Meet the candidates

Two Montana Public Service Commission seats are up for election this year. Candidates running to serve on the PSC would be tasked with regulating monopolies, like utility companies, including new emerging sectors such as power for data centers.

Aaron Flint’s fighting form

Across issues — immigration, wildfire management, abortion and foreign policy — Western District U.S. House candidate Aaron Flint consistently returns to the same line of argument: Montana is under threat from “big government,” “far-left judges” and policies he says have eroded the state’s “way of life.” After years of “fighting behind the microphone,” he’s asking…

Trump rallies for Flint in Kalispell

President Donald Trump, on tour to motivate voter turnout in hotly contested midterm elections, rallied in Kalispell to praise Republican candidate Aaron Flint and bash his Democratic opponent.

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