SaysWho? Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Montana G.O.P. Looks to Change Election Rules Ahead of Senate Race - The New York Times WWW.NYTIMES.COM An election bill moving through the Republican-led Legislature would rewrite the rules for a single race: the looming battle against Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat. Quote The bill would rewrite the rules for the state’s next U.S. Senate race, and only that race, for 2024. The effort to oust Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, is expected to be one of the tightest in the country. The legislation would shift the contest from a traditional election into a “top two” primary system, making it exceedingly difficult for third parties to reach a general election ballot. Some believe the system would keep the state’s vibrant Libertarian Party from siphoning votes from the Republican nominee. Quote Brad Molnar, a Republican state senator who opposes the bill, criticized Washington meddling in Montana politics, saying that if national Republicans get involved, “we will lose.” He predicted that the bill would backfire on Republicans if angry Libertarians flocked to Democrats: “They will be angry. Why wouldn’t they be? I’m not a libertarian, and I’m angry.” Quote The hearing lasted more than 90 minutes, with several opponents, including the chairman of the Libertarian Party, testifying against the bill. The Montana Republican Party and others testified in support. The committee opted to take up a vote on the bill on Monday. The state’s governor, a Republican, has not weighed in. Quote “We would like it to apply only to United States Senate races,” Mr. Denowh said in an email sent on March 26 to multiple lawmakers, including Mr. Hertz. “We’d like a sunset in 2025,” he added. It was not clear whom “we” was referring to, and Mr. Denowh declined to answer questions. Quote At least two Republican lawmakers in Montana said they had been pressured by Mr. Daines’s office to support the bill. And one Republican state senator received a text message from state Republican Party officials explicitly saying the bill was needed to defeat Mr. Tester. The lawmakers asked for anonymity to disclose private discussions. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CastletonSnob Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 They're doing this as if Montana isn't one of the reddest states in the Union. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSpreader Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 I hope they just end up splitting their own vote 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ominous Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Is this Merrygandering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaysWho? Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 Shelved Montana shelves GOP proposal to alter US Senate primary | AP News APNEWS.COM A proposed change to next year’s Montana U.S. Senate primary that could have hurt Democratic Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection chances is likely dead. A legislative committee... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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