Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Sam Forstag declares victory in Dem primary for US House
Missoula smokejumper Sam Forstag declared victory Wednesday morning in a four-way contested primary among Democrat…
Zinke says lesson learned in travel expense audit
HELENA — Republican U.S. House candidate Ryan Zinke of Whitefish said Tuesday that he learned a lesson after being cited for lapses of judgment in a Navy evalu…
Colleague questions candidate's skills for court
HELENA (AP) — A former co-worker of Montana Supreme Court candidate Lawrence VanDyke is questioning whether the ex-solicitor general has the experience and temperament for a seat on the state’s highest court.
U S House Debate, Kalispell MT, Oct 19, 2014
Candidates for the at-large U.S. House seat in Montana met in Kalispell, Montana, on Oct. 19 to debate at Flathead Valley Community College. Republican Ryan Zinke, Democrat John Lewis and Libertarian Mike Fellows s…
Curtis, Daines clash on government role in energy
SIDNEY — Republican Steve Daines and Democrat Amanda Curtis clashed over energy and the government’s proper role in the industry during the first U.S. Senate d…
U.S. House candidates meet in final debate
GREAT FALLS — Republican Ryan Zinke and Democrat John Lewis sparred Tuesday over the nation’s health-care overhaul in the final debate before voters decide who…
Senate debate reveals contrasts between candidates
BILLINGS — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Curtis cast Republican Rep. Steve Daines as a conservative ideologue out of step with Montana voters during …
House candidates debate in Kalispell
Candidates for Montana’s lone U.S. House seat covered a lot of ground during a Sunday evening debate in Kalispell, starting with the Ebola crisis and touching …
Fellows: Libertarian says he's the true fiscal conservative
HELENA — Mike Fellows said he’s running for the U.S. House for three reasons: to try to balance the federal budget, reduce the federal debt and protect Second …
Zinke: GOP candidate touts leadership background
BUTTE — Speaking to the Montana Medical Association trustees recently, House candidate Ryan Zinke of Whitefish wasted no time telling the doctors what he think…
Groups working to keep same-day voter sign-up
Progressive groups are putting money and shoe leather into defeating a Republican-sponsored ballot measure that would end Election Day voter registration in Montana.
Senate candidate Curtis releases her first TV ad
HELENA — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amanda Curtis, who’s been in the race just nine weeks, put up her first TV ad Thursday — less than three weeks before the Nov. 4 election.
House District 10 contenders see varied uses for state surplus
In the race for House District 10, retired special education teacher Ruby Dynneson, a Democrat, faces Republican Mark Noland, a small business owner, in the No…
Former police chief, FHS graduate on House District 7 ticket
Republican the only contender in House District 12 race
Greg Hertz is an experienced businessman — he’s the president and chief executive officer of a company that oversees numerous grocery stores in the area — and …
Seasoned legislator, educator face off in Senate District 4
The Montana speaker of the House, Republican Mark Blasdel, aims to pit his political experience against former educator Diane Taylor in Senate District 4.