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. June 04, 2026 Montana’s June 2 congressional
The Montana Republican Party’s long-standing internal divisions shaped a hotly contested primary election, with both centrist and far-right factions claiming victories, as reported by The Associated Press. The state’s political scene has been dominated by these splits, drawing significant attention and heavy campaign spending on each side. With limited competition
This article was last updated at 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3. Aaron Flint and Sam Forstag found themselves leading in their respective primaries early Wednesday morning. The Associated Press declared Flint, a conservative radio show host, the winner of the Republican primary at 8:49 p.m., with him securing 50%
Nearly four years after a $516,567 fine, Montana’s DEQ has reached an agreement with the Zortman mine’s current owner.
Amidst a flurry of campaign mailers and digital ads, Rep. Curtis Cochran, a St. Regis Republican, found humor in his neighbors’ reactions to the misleading portrayal. The image used by School Freedom Fund, a D.C.-based super PAC, was not him but a motivational speaker from San Diego. This incident highlights
After hearings, the Missoula County commissioners approved zoning to block a Town Pump project, though it might proceed.
A bipartisan majority of Montana state senators is urging Jonathan Windy Boy to resign due to sexual abuse allegations.
Approximately 800 people braved the 85-degree heat and rain in Missoula to watch New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorse Sam Forstag, one of four Democrats in Montana’s Western Congressional District primary. Forstag competes against Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, and Matt Rains for a spot on the November ballot. Ocasio-Cortez, a
Many Montanans are struggling with high costs of healthcare, fuel, and groceries amid rising inflation concerns.
As the primary election nears, a major spender in the Democratic U.S. Senate race is a PAC originally set to back Tim Sheehy in 2024, now spending $700,000 on ads targeting two Democratic candidates. This reflects a significant investment in shaping the Democratic field as funding remains low. More Jobs,
More than 1,000 cows and sheep died in the 2024 Remington fire, burning 200,000 acres. Proposed grazing laws aim to use livestock for wildfire risk reduction, but critics highlight environmental risks and limited effectiveness.
This story was adapted from The Arrest That Shook Froid newsletter. On May 14, amid a dust storm in northeast Montana, Main Street in Froid was filled with cars as residents awaited Roberto Orozco-Ramirez’s return. After over 100 days in various detention centers, Orozco-Ramirez was back in the community that
