AGP Executive Report

Trump in Montana: Donald Trump is due in Kalispell Wednesday to rally for Republican Aaron Flint in the western House race, as he campaigns to shore up GOP midterm prospects. It will be his fifth visit to Montana as president and the state’s 19th presidential visit. Senate Shake-up: Montana Democratic Party chairperson stepped down and endorsed independent U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar, adding a jolt to a race whose four candidates recently debated issues affecting the state. Ballot Battles: Voters will weigh proposals involving corporate spending in state politics and whether to protect Montana’s citizen-initiative process. Nonpartisan elections for the state Supreme Court are also drawing scrutiny. Voting Access: A new report says Native voters face barriers including unreliable mail, limited internet and inadequate polling resources; Montana is among the states examined. Absentee ballots are already in circulation.

Senate Shake-up: Montana’s Democratic Party chair has resigned and endorsed independent Seth Bodnar over the party’s nominee, Alani Bankhead. Bodnar has asked President Trump to meet during his Montana visit and says he wants to work across party lines on costs, housing and fentanyl. Campaign Trail: Trump is due in Kalispell Wednesday to campaign for Republican Aaron Flint. The western House race with Democrat Sam Forstag is drawing attention, while the eastern district appears more favorable to incumbent Troy Downing. Ballot & Courts: Montana voters face proposals on anonymous and corporate political spending, protections for citizen initiatives and whether Supreme Court elections should remain nonpartisan. Health Costs: More than 14,000 Montanans are set to receive ACA refund checks totaling $7 million.

Campaign Trail: President Donald Trump is due in Kalispell Wednesday to boost Republican Aaron Flint in Montana’s western House race against Democrat Sam Forstag. The candidates debated Tuesday as both parties vie for the seat. Senate Race: Montana hopeful Seth Bodnar joined independent candidates from Nebraska and South Dakota in pledging not to caucus with either party if elected. The pledge comes as Democrats split over Bodnar’s challenge to Republican Kurt Alme. Ballot Measures: Montanans will consider two constitutional initiatives: CI-132 would protect nonpartisan judicial elections, while CI-133 would bar government from burdening citizens’ initiative and referendum rights without a compelling reason. Voting: Nearly 600,000 general-election ballots have been mailed. A judge struck down the requirement to include a birth year on absentee ballots, and voters can still register in person through Election Day.

Campaign Trail: Great Falls newcomers Margaret Mitchell and Jessica Dyrdahl are competing for open Senate District 10. Mitchell says she wants to expand affordable housing and protect community services. U.S. Senate Race: Four candidates debated in Bozeman, with affordability, health care and housing among the top issues. Republican Kurt Alme drew criticism over his support for GOP policies; candidates are set to meet again Oct. 18 in Billings. Voting: Missoula County mailed absentee ballots to more than 64,000 voters. Ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. Nov. 3; postmarks don’t count. Judicial Elections: Montana voters will decide whether to enshrine nonpartisan state Supreme Court elections in the constitution, putting the system under scrutiny. A separate proposed amendment, CI-133, would protect the ballot initiative process from delays and changes to citizen-drafted language. Western District: Republican Aaron Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag are making their cases in the U.S. House race, drawing on their Montana roots and backgrounds in military service and wildland firefighting.

Senate Race: Republican Kurt Alme, Democrat Alani Bankhead, independent Seth Bodnar and Libertarian Kyle Austin met for their first joint debate in Bozeman. They sparred over housing, health care, inflation and federal spending ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Judicial Elections: Montana voters will decide CI-132, a proposed constitutional amendment to keep judicial races nonpartisan. The debate over the measure comes as millions flow into high-profile court races. Voting Access: More than 575,000 absentee ballot packets are being sent to voters. Separately, a Montana judge ruled unconstitutional a requirement that voters include their birth year on ballot envelopes. Local Oversight: A Beaverhead County resident is suing over surveillance cameras at trash sites, arguing they violate privacy rights and asking a court to order their removal. The county says cameras help identify illegal dumping.

Judicial Elections: Montana voters will decide whether CI-132 should protect nonpartisan judicial elections in the state constitution, even as party groups back opposing candidates in a closely watched Supreme Court race. Voting: More than 575,000 absentee ballots are being mailed statewide. They must reach election offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks don’t count. U.S. Senate Race: Democrat Alani Bankhead is staying in the four-way race despite calls to step aside for independent Seth Bodnar, insisting that primary voters chose her. Senate Rules: Montana Sen. Steve Daines and Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley propose changes to speed up Senate business, including easing some procedural hurdles and limiting dead floor time. Trade Mission: Gov. Greg Gianforte wrapped up meetings in Sri Lanka on expanding trade in agriculture and critical minerals and strengthening security ties.

Fuel Policy: Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras temporarily suspended dyed-fuel enforcement for some commercial vehicles serving agriculture and timber businesses, offering a 45-day break from rules amid high fuel costs. Trade and Security: Gov. Greg Gianforte met Sri Lankan officials to discuss Montana agricultural exports, critical minerals, industrial hemp and National Guard cooperation. Election Administration: Montana mailed more than 575,000 absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 general election; Missoula County sent ballots to over 64,000 voters. Voting Rights: A Montana judge ruled the state’s ballot birth-year verification requirement unconstitutional. Voters also faced a proposal to keep judicial elections nonpartisan, as well as county and city measures. Local Government: Glendive’s ballot asked residents whether to reduce the City Council from eight members to six and whether to change its ward-based representation system. Energy: Bridger Pipeline has proposed a 647-mile crude-oil line from Phillips County to Wyoming, including about 435 miles in Montana; environmental review is underway.

Election Watch: Montana has mailed more than 575,000 absentee ballots ahead of Nov. 3. A judge struck down the birth-year requirement on ballot envelopes, and voters will decide whether to enshrine nonpartisan judicial elections in the state constitution. Local Ballot Questions: Glendive voters will weigh reducing the City Council from eight seats to six and keeping its four-ward system or switching to a mix of ward and at-large representation. State Government: Gov. Greg Gianforte wrapped up a Sri Lanka trade mission with talks on Montana agricultural exports, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and security cooperation. Access to Justice: The Montana Supreme Court adopted rules allowing certified community justice workers to provide limited legal help in certain civil cases, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Election Watch: Montana has mailed about 570,000 absentee ballots—more than two-thirds of the number registered for the primary. Voters can track ballots and find election information through the Secretary of State’s website. Voting Rights: A judge struck down the requirement that voters write their birth year on absentee-ballot envelopes. The Montana Supreme Court also rejected GOP-backed restrictions on citizen ballot initiatives. Judicial Politics: Supreme Court candidates Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson are drawing contrasts over party influence: Eddy says she won’t accept party donations, while Wilson has accepted Republican Party contributions and endorsements. Voters will also weigh I-132, which would preserve nonpartisan judicial elections. Local Ballot Choices: Dawson County voters will decide whether to remove party labels from county-office ballots. State Oversight: Montana is among four states suing TP-Link, alleging the router maker misled consumers about product security and its ties to China.

Voting Access: A Montana judge struck down the requirement that absentee voters write their birth year on ballot envelopes, ruling it unconstitutional. The decision comes as counties began mailing requested absentee ballots Oct. 9; Yellowstone County voters must use the election office at Cedar Hall for drop-offs while courthouse renovations continue. Campaign Trail: Montana’s Western House race is described as a statistical tie, and President Trump is expected to visit Kalispell to boost Republican Aaron Flint. Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag are set to debate in Missoula. Ballot Measures: Candidates and advocates are clashing over I-194, with critics arguing it would leave federal campaign spending untouched while restricting some Montana groups. Voters also face differing local ballot questions across counties.

Voting Rights: A Montana district judge struck down the law requiring voters to write their birth year on absentee ballot envelopes, ruling it unconstitutional. The requirement had led counties to reject thousands of ballots; more than 500,000 absentee ballots are set to go out Friday. Western House Race: Republican Aaron Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag clashed over affordability and how to address it in a televised debate. President Donald Trump is expected in Kalispell next week to campaign for Flint in a race polling suggests is tight. Local Ballots: Big Sky voters will see different county questions depending on where they live, including Madison County proposals on its commission structure and a possible charter government. Wild Montana Action Fund also released a voter guide covering public lands and candidates in several key races. State Government: Gov. Greg Gianforte met with Karnataka officials in India to discuss potential partnerships in technology, bioscience, agriculture and aerospace.

Voting Access: A Montana judge struck down the state’s birthdate requirement for absentee-ballot envelopes, ruling it unconstitutional after officials said the rule led to thousands of ballots being rejected. Early voting is underway, with mail ballots set to go out Oct. 9. Ballot Initiatives: The Montana Supreme Court has also struck down GOP-backed restrictions on citizen initiatives. Voters will decide CI-133, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect the initiative process, in November. Supreme Court Race: Candidates Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson made their closing arguments in a closely watched race for the state’s high court, where outside spending and the role of politics in judicial elections remain key issues. Trade Mission: Gov. Greg Gianforte is visiting Sri Lanka to promote Montana pulse exports and expand security ties through the state’s National Guard partnership. Consumer Protection: Attorney General Austin Knudsen joined other states in suing router maker TP-Link, alleging it misled consumers about product security and its ties to China.

Voting Rights: A Montana judge ruled the birthdate requirement on absentee ballot envelopes unconstitutional, saying it cost about 6,000 Montanans their votes. The decision comes as absentee ballots begin mailing Oct. 9. Election Law: The Montana Supreme Court also struck down GOP-backed restrictions on citizen-initiated ballot measures, adding another major court ruling to a midterm season shaped by fights over voting and ballot access. Consumer Protection: Attorney General Austin Knudsen sued router maker TP-Link, alleging it misled consumers about its China ties and put Montanans’ personal data at risk; three other states filed similar suits. Mining and Jobs: More than 400 Sibanye-Stillwater workers are returning to work after a month-long strike ended with a three-year contract, bringing relief to workers and businesses in Columbus and Nye. Campaigns: Montana’s four U.S. Senate candidates are set to appear at a public Billings town hall, while candidates for federal office are being pressed on healthcare costs and access.

Voting Rights: A Montana district judge struck down the rule requiring voters to write their birth year on absentee ballot envelopes, saying it led to thousands of valid ballots being rejected without improving election security. The Montana Supreme Court also voided several restrictions on citizen initiatives, including a steep filing fee and a required legislative review. Election 2026: Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen opened YouthVote, a statewide mock election for K-12 students, as early voting gets underway. Consumer Protection: Attorney General Austin Knudsen sued router maker TP-Link, alleging it misled consumers about device security and the company’s ties to China. Local Governance: Yellowstone County is asking a court to review the legality of a proposed data center initiative before signature gathering proceeds. Trade and Diplomacy: Gov. Greg Gianforte continued his India trade mission, promoting Montana industries and praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi; the trip has drawn criticism from some conservative voices back home.

Montana Supreme Court & Elections: The Montana Supreme Court struck down GOP-backed restrictions on citizen ballot initiatives, ruling the Legislature can set neutral rules but can’t burden the people’s constitutional initiative power. Voting Rights: A judge also blocked Montana’s absentee ballot birth-year envelope requirement, saying the state failed to show it prevents fraud and that it disenfranchised thousands. U.S. Senate Race: Independent candidate Seth Bodnar pushed back on claims he’s a “liberal in disguise,” while Democrat Alani Bankhead and Republican Kurt Alme both framed their campaigns around getting things done in D.C. versus Montana roots and experience. State Politics & Courts: Montana’s election administrators and the push for nonpartisan judicial elections remain in focus as groups seek to keep judges off party ballots. Trade Mission: Gov. Greg Gianforte’s India trip drew backlash from some conservatives even as the administration highlighted technology and agriculture partnerships. Local Governance: Park County scheduled listening sessions on a proposed citizen-initiated zoning district process, and Madison County set a forum on whether to move to charter government. Public Safety/Legal: Montana AG JB McCuskey joined a coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to let 9/11 victims access frozen Taliban funds. Culture & Community: A Daily Wire “Pawn Shop” film fight in Livingston spilled into local food pantry access concerns.

Montana Courts & Elections: A Lewis and Clark County judge struck down Montana’s requirement that voters write their birth year on absentee ballot return envelopes, saying it violated the state constitution and had disenfranchised nearly 6,000 voters; election officials say ballots missing the birth year won’t be rejected as the Nov. 5 election ramps up. Local Governance: Kalispell residents have launched a recall effort targeting Mayor Ryan Hunter over his April deciding vote in a land use plan tied to migratory bird habitat, with organizers seeking signatures for a potential special election. State Politics: Two district judges, Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson, are competing for the open Montana Supreme Court seat, with the general election set after a tight June primary. Energy & Agriculture Politics: Across the country, President Trump signed an order easing limits on tax-free red-dyed diesel, framing it as a cost relief move for farmers ahead of the midterms. Midterm Politics: New polling and analysis suggest Democrats have gained ground in both House and Senate races, with third-party candidates flagged as potential vote-scramblers in key contests.