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 2024 election debrief

November 8, 2024 • 13 mins
Republicans sweep to victory in Montana's top races. Montana's newly elected Senator promises to bring people together. Voters say ‘yes’ to protecting the right to an abortion. "Campaign Beat" wraps up for the year.
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Early voting, tight races and relief from all the ads. Election day is almost here

November 1, 2024 • 14 mins
Polls and pundits will soon be proven right or wrong. Last-ditch ads stray further from the facts. Early voting is higher in some counties than others.
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Knudsen sanctions; Bullet wounds and business deals; Courts and the culture war

October 25, 2024 • 13 mins
Montana’s attorney general faces an unprecedented sanction, but he still expects to be re-elected. A former park ranger insists Senate candidate Tim Sheehy accidentally shot himself in Glacier Park, despite the candidate’s denials. An outside group tries to insert the debate over trans athletes into a Montana Supreme Court race.
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Top contenders for House and governor focus on hot-button issues in recent debates

October 18, 2024 • 13 mins
The two main candidates for governor spar over property taxes, housing costs, and abortion. And the two candidates for the western district congressional race tussle over the same issues in recent debates.
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Campaign Beat: Politics, courts and professional misconduct

October 11, 2024 • 12 mins
State Attorney General Austin Knudsen is making headlines — but not the kind you want when you're seeking reelection. Two state Supreme Court candidates are hoping to get voters' attention.
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No surprises in the Senate debate; A shotgun enters the chat

October 4, 2024 • 13 mins
Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy land the punches they want to land in their debate. And U.S. House candidate Monica Tranel turns to the time-honored Montana campaign tradition of shooting something out of the sky.
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A ballot blunder, border bluster and a broken bibliography

September 27, 2024 • 14 mins
A quickly corrected ballot error raises questions; A new ad questions Monica Tranel's stance on the border; Controversial South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stumps for Tim Sheehy, who has no comment on evidence he plagiarized portions of his memoir.
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Governor candidates agree to debate; Housing costs are in the spotlight; NRA enters the fray

September 20, 2024 • 13 mins
Voters will get one chance to see candidates for governor debate. Housing costs are in the spotlight. The NRA enters the fray in the U.S. Senate race.
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Crow Tribe calls out Sheehy; Dems keep quiet on Harris; Ads focus on borders, gender & race

September 13, 2024 • 13 mins
Montana Democratic candidates are not anxious to ride Kamala Harris's coattails. Monica Tranel vows to make the border safer, while her opponent Ryan Zinke vows to protect girls sports from trans athletes. Tim Sheehy remains silent about insulting Montana's Crow Tribe. And Republicans accuse Jon Tester of bias against white farmers.
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Campaign Beat: New poll puts Sheehy in the lead, new audio puts him in the hot seat

September 6, 2024 • 14 mins
Tim Sheehy leads Jon Tester in a new Senate race poll. Audio of a racist comment from Sheehy surfaces. Campaign ads feature familiar themes. And, the two leading candidates for governor may soon square off to debate. Campaign Beat is back for the general election!
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Primary election wrap-up; Candidates roll out new attack ads; We'll be back in the fall!

June 7, 2024 • 14 mins
The primary election had few surprises — but laid the groundwork for some bruising general election races. New ads in the Senate and gubernatorial races come out swinging. Campaign Beat will return in September.
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Republicans rush to Trump's defense; Don't forget about dark money! The primary is on June 4

May 31, 2024 • 14 mins
Montana's Republican congressmen stick with Trump, despite his criminal conviction. Democrat Jon Tester is well ahead of his Republican opponent Tim Sheehy in fundraising. Dark money groups are also spending heavily in that Senate race. Tuesday's primary features intriguing contests in the eastern district Republican congressional race, and in the Republican race for Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court.
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Property tax blame game; Gianforte weighs-in on legislative races

May 25, 2024 • 13 mins
Voter outrage over high property taxes is a big campaign issue, but how will that translate at the polls? Gov. Gianforte's primary endorsements aren't sitting well with some Republicans. Jon Tester unveils a new hard-hitting ad against his opponent Tim Sheehy. Tim Sheehy has a new ad with a powerful message about his military service.
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Property tax blame game; Gianforte weighs-in on legislative races

May 20, 2024 • 13 mins
Voter outrage over high property taxes is a big campaign issue, but how will that translate at the polls? Gov. Gianforte's primary endorsements aren't sitting well with some Republicans. Jon Tester unveils a new hard-hitting ad against his opponent Tim Sheehy. Tim Sheehy has a new ad with a powerful message about his military service.
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Migrant family draws ire in the Flathead; Tester backs immigration bill; Will there be a special session?

May 11, 2024 • 13 mins
Republicans clamor over the arrival of a migrant family in the Flathead. Tester signs on to a Republican immigration bill. And calls for a special legislative session are racking up.
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Shying away from the spotlight; Ducking the debates; Trashing transplants

May 4, 2024 • 13 mins
Tim Sheehy seemed to shy away from the spotlight when Don Jr. came to campaign. Congressional candidates who showed up to debate talk immigration, climate change and transplants; Schools superintendent candidate faces legal troubles.
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The best of times, the worst of times; One of these ads is not like the others

April 26, 2024 • 13 mins
A Republican candidate's new ad stands out for its subtlety. Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy says times are bad and change is needed, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte argues times are good and he should get another term. A national group opposed to abortion is going door-to-door in Montana. Rep. Zinke votes no on more aid for Israel.
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Cash pours into the Senate race; Sheehy bullet story doesn't add up; The press gets pushed out

April 19, 2024 • 13 mins
The mystery of the lodged bullet continues. Is it fair for candidates to both criticize and shun the press? As expected, campaign fundraising is breaking records. Learn more now on Campaign Beat.
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Did Sheehy shoot himself in the foot? Can an anti-Trump Republican win in Montana?

April 12, 2024 • 13 mins
Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy faces scrutiny over a mysterious bullet wound and his company’s finances. New polling illustrates just how close and competitive that Senate race is. And at least one candidate in the crowded Eastern District House race turns his back on Trump.
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Abortion amendment fuels feud between the Legislature and courts; Who loves Trump the most?

April 6, 2024 • 13 mins
A constitutional amendment to protect abortion moves closer to getting on the ballot. The Republican fight with the judiciary keeps escalating. And the winner of the Republican eastern district congressional primary may boil down to who loves the Trump the most.
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