HELENA — The results of June 5 primary elections gave some clues as to the mood of Montana’s electorate, and all signs points to another competitive — and expensive — U.S. Senate race this fall. State Auditor Matt Rosendale, who ran much of his primary campaign as though he was the frontrunner, confirmed that position last week by easily defeating former Billings Judge Russ Fagg, Big Sky businessman Troy Downing and Kalispell surgeon Al Olszewski in the four-way Republican U.S. Senate primary. (more…) Continue Reading →
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Democratic presidential race may be up for grabs on June 7
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Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories looking at the 2016 presidential primary race ahead of Montana’s June 7 primary election. On April 11 we looked at the Republican presidential race. As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination heads deeper into spring, some Montana Democrats are wondering if lightning will strike twice. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Geoffrey Skelley, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Keenan, Sabato's Crystal Ball
June 7 primary gives state GOP a chance to matter
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Editor’s Note: This is the first of two stories looking at the 2016 primary race ahead of Montana’s June 7 primary election. On Tuesday we’ll look at the Democratic race.)
In 2008, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton nearly deadlocked in their race for the Democratic presidential nomination, Montana voters headed to the polls on June 3 not knowing who the party’s nominee would be. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Geoffrey Skelley, Hillary Clinton, Jeff Essmann, John Kasich, Republican primary
Jury says Wittich broke campaign-finance laws
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HELENA — It took a jury of six men and six women four hours Friday to find that Bozeman Republican lawmaker Art Wittich illegally coordinated with non-profit third-party political groups during his 2010 primary election campaign. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Art Wittich, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl, Quentin Rhoades
Wittich testifies for first time in political corruption trial
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HELENA — State Rep. Art Wittich, the man accused of accepting illegal in-kind contributions and services from conservative nonprofit groups during his 2010 Senate race, took the witness stand in his own defense Thursday in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Wittich is on trial in a civil lawsuit brought by Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl, who has accused the Bozeman Republican of illegally coordinating with groups funded by the anti-union National Right to Work Committee. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Art Wittich, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl, Quentin Rhoades
Top political cop testifies in campaign-practices trial
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HELENA — Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl took the witness stand Wednesday in the jury trial of a Republican lawmaker Motl has accused of illegally benefiting from “dark money” contributions during a 2010 GOP primary campaign. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Art Wittich, John Esp, Jonathan Motl, Quentin Rhoades, Shawn Moran
In Wittich trial, campaign’s inner workings are detailed
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HELENA — Jurors heard from two former National Right to Work Committee staffers Tuesday as testimony resumed on day two of state Rep. Art Wittich’s campaign practice lawsuit. Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl is suing the Bozeman Republican, alleging Wittich illegally benefited from coordinated corporate campaign contributions during his 2010 GOP primary race for the Montana Senate. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Andrew O'Neill, Art Wittich, Christian LeFer, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl, Quentin Rhoades, Sarah Arnold
Right-to-work ex-staffer testifies as Wittich trial begins
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HELENA — A highly anticipated civil trial to determine whether Bozeman Republican Rep. Art Wittich violated campaign practice laws during his 2010 primary campaign got underway in Helena on Monday. Wittich, the former Republican Senate majority leader and conservative stalwart in the state House, has been accused by, Jonathan Motl, Montana’s top campaign ethics chief, of violating state campaign finance laws. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Art Wittich, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl, Lucinda Luetkemeyer, National Right to Work Committee, Sarah Arnold
High-stakes political corruption trial opens Monday
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After more than two years of allegations, counter-claims, investigations, and back-and-forth legal maneuverings, the high-profile campaign practices lawsuit pitting a Democratic appointee against a Republican state lawmaker will finally go before a jury on Monday. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: News, Art Wittich, Jonathan Motl, Montana Legislature, Steve Bullock
High court rejects Wittich appeal in corruption case
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This story has been updated. The Montana Supreme Court in a 4-2 ruling rejected Republican Rep. Art Wittich’s appeal seeking a dismissal of a high-profile political corruption lawsuit. (more…) Continue Reading →
