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February 5, 2026
A Montana district court judge has denied an injunction to three Republican state senators disenfranchised at a party convention last summer.
Judge Christopher Abbott, of Lewis and Clark County, stated Wednesday that he lacked authority to intervene in Montana GOP’s internal matters, although the party might have breached its bylaws by not allowing the senators to vote in the June 2025 leadership elections.
“The de-credentialing not only denied the Senators the opportunity to vote but also to make nominations and participate in debate,” Abbott noted in his order. “Thus, if the only question for the court were whether the Senators’ de-credentialing comported with the Party’s procedures, the Senators’ complaint would present on its face a potential claim.”
Injunctions enable judges to make parties act or cease actions before a lawsuit’s conclusion. The parties seeking an injunction must demonstrate a likelihood of winning the ongoing lawsuit.
The lawsuit by Sens. Jason Ellsworth, Denley Loge, and Shelley Vance argues they were wrongfully excluded from voting at the June 2025 MTGOP officers’ convention.
At the convention, Sen. Barry Usher, R-Molt, led a vote against recognizing the three senators and others who had voted against more conservative caucus members during key legislative votes. The decision was supported by a majority.
Newly elected party chair, Art Wittich, introduced a “red policy committee” to review legislative proposals and promised candidate endorsements in contested primaries, a move not supported by the Republican National Committee in presidential primaries.
“They will be vetted, and if we determine that they are good for the party, we will endorse them,” Wittich declared. He criticized another Republican faction, stating, “They actually say they’re more conservative, and you are not … It will be very easy to tell the truth.”
The plaintiffs seek a court mandate for a new leadership vote where they can participate fully.
This week, Republicans gather in Great Falls to launch the 2026 election cycle. On Friday, MTGOP leadership will present legislative candidates at Meadowlark Country Club, followed by the Republican Winter Kickoff at the Heritage Inn. Rep. Jane Gillette will speak on Saturday morning. Gillette was pivotal in the disenfranchisement of moderate senators at the officers convention.
Republican incumbents in the House and Senate have faced robocalls and anonymous ads for months. Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus noted his enforcement power is limited to 60 days before an election.
Americans For Prosperity has been identified as the source of attack mailers against Republicans supporting a bill to lower property taxes on primary residences. Legislators with multiple properties oppose the tax break. AFP is scheduled for the Great Falls kickoff.
Republicans who voted to extend the state’s expanded Medicaid program are also targeted by mailers.
A Chapter in Every School
Gov. Greg Gianforte endorsed Turning Point USA’s youth initiative, Club America, to high school students gathered in the Rotunda at the Montana Capitol.
“In Montana, we have about 200 high schools. We’d like to see a Club America chapter in every single one of them,” Gianforte stated.
Turning Point aims to sustain growth after a surge in membership following the death of founder Charlie Kirk in September 2025. Gianforte joined TPUSA field director Andrew Sypher to encourage youth involvement in the conservative Christian group. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, spoke privately with students after the rally.
About 60 students from 20 Montana high schools with TPUSA chapters attended the event, chanting “USA.” All Montana universities, except two, host a chapter. In October, Gianforte and Ohio candidate Vivek Ramaswamy spoke at a Bozeman event honoring Kirk’s legacy focused on faith and non-violence.
Kirk’s death spurred some young Montanans to form faith-oriented Turning Point chapters.
Josie Abbott, a first-year student at Helena’s Carroll College, founded the school’s chapter in fall 2025. She expressed disappointment at its previous absence. Abbott, a Catholic, emphasized her chapter’s focus on faith over politics.
“I view Turning Point as an organization with specific Christian-like values and traditional American beliefs,” Abbott said. “And it’s kind of like how even though the American Founding Fathers weren’t necessarily Catholics, they all had some religious belief, ‘one nation under God, all men are created equal,’ all that stuff has a base Christian flavor.”
High school students Kiera Kraft, Kirsten Kraft, and Isabelle Nelson initiated a similar chapter in Sidney shortly after Kirk’s passing. They traveled to Helena for the event.
“Our goal is to just start spreading the gospel in Sidney, trying to carry on the legacy of Charlie Kirk,” Kirsten Kraft stated.
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