Campaign Beat: Debates, defections and Donald Trump
Montana's western district House race draws a presidential visit. The two candidates in that race get feisty in a recent debate. The chair o...
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Campaign Beat
"Campaign Beat", Montana Public Radio's weekly political analysis program is hosted by MTPR's Sally Mauk, with UM Political Science Professor Rob Saldin, and former Capitol Reporter Chuck Jo...
Episodes
20 of 31 episodesCampaign Beat: Ballots, birth dates and betting on Trump
Ballots hit the mail today and voters will have to start making decisions. Recent court rulings overturn restrictive ballot initiative laws...
Campaign Beat: New polling, new ads, new challenges
Recent polls show the Republican ahead in Montana's Senate race, and the Democrat and Republican in the western district House race in a vir...
Campaign Beat: Dark money talks; Senate candidates debate; Gas prices speak volumes
Montana's Democratic and independent Senate candidates take the gloves off. A TV ad smearing the Republican Senate candidate raises question...
AI enters the chat; Poll results reveal surprises; New ads probably sound familiar
The dangers of unregulated AI are a focal point in the 2026 campaign. Shooting things out of the sky has become a staple of Montana campaign...
Divided Democrats, candidate conspiracies and new ads: Campaign Beat returns
Montana Democrats continue to bicker over which candidate to support in the U.S. Senate race. New campaign ads highlight the Iran war, taxes...
Campaign Beat: Surprises, schisms and lopsided turnout
The 2026 primary results yielded a couple of surprise congressional candidates for Democrats. Republican congressional candidates won as exp...
AOC stumps for Forstag; Money pours in; Windy Boy urged to retire
Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag hopes a Montana visit from AOC will help propel him to victory. Democratic Senate candidates are...
Campaign Beat: Buttigieg in Butte; Dark money mischief; Who's the spoiler?
A rising Democratic star and possible presidential candidate gets a warm reception in Montana. Republican "dark money" groups take a keen in...
Parties find common ground; PAC money raises questions; What will the Trump effect be?
AOC's return visit to Montana pleases both progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans – for different reasons. President Trump's eff...
Sexual abuse allegations abound; 'Dark money' meets AI; ICE dispute moves to Supreme Court
A congressional candidate reenters the race despite allegations of sexual misconduct. A legislative candidate faces sexual abuse allegations...
Campaign Beat: Ballrooms, brutality and big bucks
A Montana senator's push for the Trump ballroom could backfire at the polls. Threats of violence mar present-day politics. Prominent endorse...
Democrats vs. independents; Republicans vs. Republicans; Busse vs. social media
Democrats are fighting with independents, Republicans are fighting with Republicans. A debate between two House candidates is more lovefest...
Democrats dump on unions; Republican resentment surfaces; Windy Boy faces abuse allegations
A Democratic candidate drops out of the race after allegations of sexual abuse. Rep. Ryan Zinke criticizes President Trump and a Republican...
Campaign Beat: Establishing a name and shifting the blame
Democratic House candidates try to separate from the pack. Senate Republican candidate Kurt Alme tries to downplay the last-minute maneuver...
Campaign Beat: 'No Kings'; Shirtless on social media; Strange bedfellows
"No Kings" rallies draw thousands from across Montana. What effect are they having? Candidates have their hands – and chests – out. Moderate...
Republicans embrace Trump; Education or electioneering? Will Dems back Bodnar?
Republican Senate candidate Kurt Alme comes out of the shadows. Former Sen. Jon Tester says he is "wait and see" on endorsing independent ca...
Alme's been quiet, Bodnar's been busy; Mudslinging begins; Protest pushback
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 reso...
Campaign Beat: Little to debate among Dems; A new way to fight dark money?
Democratic candidates for the western district House seat try to differentiate themselves from the pack. One area they differ: whether or no...
Campaign Beat: A wild week in Montana politics!
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 pol...