A slew of bitterly contested Republican state legislative primaries highlighted dividing lines in the caucus ahead of the 2023 legislative session, in which Republicans hope to solidify a bicameral supermajority and build on the right-wing agenda they advanced in the first year of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s tenure. Candidates hashed out those divisions in 31 contested Republican primaries across the House and Senate this year. In nine cases, GOP incumbents faced challengers from within the party. Several of the races were in Flathead County, the de facto seat of Republican power in the state.
