Politics and government news

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

32 stories · page 1 of 2

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Tyson Running Wolf

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Tyson Running Wolf is running in Montana House District 16 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskOct 4, 2026

News · MT

Montana 2026 election guide pairs races with past results

Elections and voting

An NBC News election guide groups Montana’s 2026 races with the state’s historical presidential election results.

The Ballot Montana News DeskOct 4, 2026

News · MT

Montana court blocks mail voting law

Elections and voting

The ruling stops enforcement of a Montana law linked to thousands of rejected absentee ballots last year.

The Ballot Montana DeskOct 4, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Paul Fielder

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Paul Fielder is running in Montana House District 14 in an uncontested 2026 general election race.

The Ballot Montana News DeskOct 3, 2026

News · MT

Daines Releases Crypto Tax Proposal

Economy and jobs

The ADAPT Act would change federal tax rules for stablecoins, small network fees, crypto sales, staking and lending.

The Ballot Montana DeskOct 3, 2026

Explainer · MT

Voter guide to Montana’s 2026 general election

Elections and voting

A practical checklist for confirming election dates, reviewing your ballot, registering and following official voting instructions.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskOct 2, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Jerry Schillinger

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Jerry Schillinger is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for Montana House District 34.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 30, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Greg Kmetz running in Montana House District 36

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Greg Kmetz is the only candidate listed in the 2026 general election race for Montana House District 36.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 29, 2026

News · MT

What to know about Montana’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Montana voters will decide one U.S. Senate race and elections in both U.S. House districts on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 29, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Jamie Isaly seeks reelection in Montana House District 58

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Jamie Isaly is running in the uncontested 2026 general election for Montana House District 58.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 28, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Eric Tilleman for Montana House District 23

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Eric Tilleman is the only listed candidate in the 2026 general election for Montana House District 23.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MT

Court lets Butte-Silver Bow data center initiative proceed

Elections and voting

The Supreme Court cleared the Butte-Silver Bow data center initiative to continue through the local initiative process.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MT

Montana court returns Butte data center measure to ballot

Elections and voting

The Montana Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had blocked a proposed data center initiative in Butte-Silver Bow County.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MT

Federal judge blocks Montana political deepfake ad law

Elections and voting

The federal court action stops Montana’s political “deepfake” advertising law from operating under the terms of the judge’s order.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Donavon Hawk in House District 72

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Donavon Hawk is running in Montana State House District 72 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 24, 2026

News · MT

Montana court puts Butte data center measure on ballot

Elections and voting

A temporary Montana Supreme Court order places the proposal before Butte-Silver Bow voters while an appeal continues.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 24, 2026

News · MT

DOJ announces mail-ballot crime amid search for more cases

Elections and voting

The Trump administration is expanding its effort to identify mail-ballot crimes, but the development is not tied to a specific election.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Curtis Schomer

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Curtis Schomer is running in Montana House District 48 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 22, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Caleb Hinkle: Candidate for Montana House District 68

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Caleb Hinkle is a candidate for Montana House District 68 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 21, 2026

News · MT

Judge blocks AI ad law against Montana PAC

Elections and voting

The order stops Montana officials from applying the state’s AI campaign-ad restrictions to Dan Bartel and the Accountability in State Government PAC.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 21, 2026

News · MT

ExxonMobil sues Montana DOT over Billings cleanup costs

Energy and environment

The lawsuit concerns cleanup expenses connected to a former oil refinery site in Billings.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · MT

Daines rural water bill heads to president

Elections and voting

The Senate passed Daines’ measure to preserve a rural water system in Montana, moving it to the president for action.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 20, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Bob Carter runs for Montana House District 96 in 2026

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Bob Carter is running in a race that is not listed as contested in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 19, 2026

News · MT

Federal judge blocks Montana deepfake law for PAC

Elections and voting

The ruling stops Montana from applying its new election deepfake law to a conservative PAC that mailed AI-generated candidate images.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 19, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Mike Fox in Montana House District 32

Elections and voting

Democratic incumbent Mike Fox is running in the currently uncontested 2026 general election for Montana House District 32.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 18, 2026

Explainer · MT

Voter guide to Montana’s 2026 general election

Elections and voting

Montana voters should verify election dates, registration rules, voting options and their ballot before casting a vote in 2026.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 17, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Dave Von Eschen

Elections and voting

Dave Von Eschen is the Libertarian candidate for Montana’s U.S. House District 22 in the 2026 general election.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 16, 2026

Explainer · MT

Voter guide: Montana’s 2026 general election

Elections and voting

Montana voters can prepare by checking election dates, registration details, their ballot and voting instructions before casting a ballot.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 14, 2026

News · MT

Zinke announces A River Runs Through It Act

Elections and voting

Zinke announced the introduction of legislation called the A River Runs Through It Act, a development not directly tied to an election.

The Ballot Montana Policy DeskSep 13, 2026

Candidate profile · MT

Candidate profile: Steve Daines

Elections and voting

Republican incumbent Steve Daines is among 13 candidates in Montana’s contested 2026 U.S. Senate race.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 9, 2026