Campaign Beat

Campaign Beat

Campaign Beat is Montana Public Radio's weekly political analysis program. It's hosted by Sally Mauk and features Lee Newspapers State News Bureau Chief Holly Michels and Rob Saldin of the University of Montana’s Mansfield Center and Political Science Department.

Episodes

Campaign Beat: Surprises, schisms and lopsided turnout

June 5, 2026 • 12 mins
The 2026 primary results yielded a couple of surprise congressional candidates for Democrats. Republican congressional candidates won as expected. Legislative races pitting conservative versus moderate Republicans ended with mixed results. And Republican primary voters turned out in much bigger numbers than Democratic primary voters.
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AOC stumps for Forstag; Money pours in; Windy Boy urged to retire

May 29, 2026 • 14 mins
Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag hopes a Montana visit from AOC will help propel him to victory. Democratic Senate candidates are being walloped in the fundraising wars. And most of Jonathan Windy Boy's Senate colleagues want him gone.
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Campaign Beat: Buttigieg in Butte; Dark money mischief; Who's the spoiler? 

May 22, 2026 • 13 mins
A rising Democratic star and possible presidential candidate gets a warm reception in Montana. Republican "dark money" groups take a keen interest in Montana's Democratic Senate primary, and those Senate candidates make their case at a forum in Missoula.
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Parties find common ground; PAC money raises questions; What will the Trump effect be?

May 15, 2026 • 14 mins
AOC's return visit to Montana pleases both progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans – for different reasons. President Trump's effect on Montana's election is yet to be measured. A last minute infusion of PAC money to a Democratic Senate candidate raises questions. Voter interest in this mid-term election is hard to gauge.
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Sexual abuse allegations abound; 'Dark money' meets AI; ICE dispute moves to Supreme Court

May 8, 2026 • 13 mins
A congressional candidate reenters the race despite allegations of sexual misconduct. A legislative candidate faces sexual abuse allegations. A GOP "dark money" PAC uses AI to disparage other Republicans. A battle between the A.G. and a county attorney ends up at the state Supreme Court.
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Campaign Beat: Ballrooms, brutality and big bucks

May 1, 2026 • 14 mins
A Montana senator's push for the Trump ballroom could backfire at the polls. Threats of violence mar present-day politics. Prominent endorsements start to surface as the election gets closer. And a rising Democratic party star is headed to Butte to campaign for a proposed Montana ballot initiative.
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Democrats vs. independents; Republicans vs. Republicans; Busse vs. social media

April 24, 2026 • 14 mins
Democrats are fighting with independents, Republicans are fighting with Republicans. A debate between two House candidates is more lovefest than contest. A House candidate's son tangles with a Bozeman rabbi. And a new campaign ad hopes an anti-war message will resonate with voters.
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Democrats dump on unions; Republican resentment surfaces; Windy Boy faces abuse allegations

April 17, 2026 • 13 mins
A Democratic candidate drops out of the race after allegations of sexual abuse. Rep. Ryan Zinke criticizes President Trump and a Republican candidate. And Democratic House candidates take swipes over dark money and data centers.
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Campaign Beat: Establishing a name and shifting the blame

April 10, 2026 • 13 mins
Democratic House candidates try to separate from the pack. Senate Republican candidate Kurt Alme tries to downplay the last-minute maneuver that put him into the race. Senate Democratic candidate Reilly Neill promises to hold President Trump accountable if she's elected. And this may be the last time voters elect members of the state Public Service Commission.
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Campaign Beat: 'No Kings'; Shirtless on social media; Strange bedfellows

April 3, 2026 • 14 mins
"No Kings" rallies draw thousands from across Montana. What effect are they having? Candidates have their hands – and chests – out. Moderate Republicans acquaint themselves with Democratic consultants for legislative races.
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Republicans embrace Trump; Education or electioneering? Will Dems back Bodnar?

March 27, 2026 • 12 mins
Republican Senate candidate Kurt Alme comes out of the shadows. Former Sen. Jon Tester says he is "wait and see" on endorsing independent candidate Seth Bodnar. Republican House candidate Christi Jacobsen crams a lot of activities into her new ad. And the Gianforte administration backtracks on its ban of weekend rallies at the Capitol.
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Alme's been quiet, Bodnar's been busy; Mudslinging begins; Protest pushback

March 20, 2026 • 13 mins
The supposed Republican frontrunner in the U.S. Senate race is off to a timid start. The independent candidate in that race vows not to resort to namecalling. Two of the candidates for the U.S. House make no such promise. A national Conservative group is working hard to defeat moderate Republicans running for the Legislature. And the Gianforte administration reconsiders its ban on weekend rallies at the Capitol.
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Campaign Beat: Little to debate among Dems; A new way to fight dark money?

March 13, 2026 • 12 mins
Democratic candidates for the western district House seat try to differentiate themselves from the pack. One area they differ: whether or not to take PAC money. Montana voters may get a chance to change campaign spending laws in the state. And one of the Democratic candidates hopes to channel the campaign success of a former governor.
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Campaign Beat: A wild week in Montana politics!

March 6, 2026 • 12 mins
Daines is out, Alme and Bodnar are in. Flint is in, Zinke is out. Sheehy is in ... a scuffle in the Senate. Just another week in Montana politics.
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Polling favors Daines; Who are the challengers? Reformers speak out

February 27, 2026 • 13 mins
A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union
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Campaign Beat: Daines keeps his head down; Selling Trump's economy

February 20, 2026 • 13 mins
Sen. Daines files for reelection, and raises eyebrows over his association with a controversial State Department nominee. Montana's incumbent congressmen stand by Trump's economic policies, but do voters? Will he or won't he? Former UM President Seth Bodnar has yet to announce his political ambitions.
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Campaign Beat: GOP pushes party loyalty; Governor puts 'sanctuary cities' on notice

February 13, 2026 • 13 mins
The Montana GOP prioritizes judicial elections and party loyalty; Gov. Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen launch an investigation over a possible violation of the state’s "sanctuary city" ban; Democratic congressional candidates try to distinguish themselves.
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Campaign Beat: 'Nationalizing' elections; 'woke' signs; Religion in schools; Epstein files 

February 6, 2026 • 14 mins
Montana Republican leaders are mum on President Trump's threat to "nationalize" elections. Tribal leaders vow to fight Trump administration efforts to remove "woke" exhibits from national parks and monuments. Gov. Gianforte pushes for the establishment of a conservative religious club in Montana schools. And the Epstein files become an issue in Montana's congressional race.
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Minnesota shooting, ICE protests frame the week in Montana politics

January 30, 2026 • 13 mins
Montanans respond to the Minnesota protester shootings with peaceful protests and policy changes. Democratic congressional candidates denounce the shootings. Sen. Steve Daines calls for an investigation and defends ICE. And the jury is still out on the long-term political impact of the shootings and the government response.
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Campaign Beat: Independents, culture and conspiracy

January 23, 2026 • 13 mins
The Montana political world awaits UM president Seth Bodnar's decision about his future, and Republicans aren't waiting to put out an attack ad. Democratic Senate candidate Reilly Neill thinks a conspiracy is behind a possible Bodnar Senate run. And new candidates with no political experience continue to enter the congressional races.
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