Montana’s Political Battlefield Heats Up: A Look at Campaign Finances in the Primary Election

Well folks, it’s that time again: election season. You know, the time of year when politicians pretend to care about what you think and promise you the moon and stars, all while throwing around more money than you’ve probably ever seen. And let me tell you, the run-up to Montana’s June fourth primary is already hotter than a rattlesnake in a tanning bed.

The latest campaign finance reports, filed just the other day, give us a sneak peek into who’s spendin’ big and who’s, well, kinda just showin’ up. And trust me, there are some real head-scratchers in the mix.

Money Talks, But Is Anyone Listening?

The recent filing deadline gave us a glimpse into the financial wheelin’ and dealin’ of Montana’s political hopefuls between April sixteenth and May fourteenth. And boy, were there some eye-poppin’ numbers.

Unsurprisingly, incumbents Governor Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen have been throwin’ their weight – and their cash – around like nobody’s business. They’ve been plastering the airwaves with ads like they’re goin’ out of style, clearly thinkin’ ahead to the general election in November. But hey, more on that later.

Meanwhile, the races for the Montana Supreme Court have turned into a real nail-biter, with some candidates shellin’ out serious dough on advertising and fundraising. It seems like everyone wants a piece of the judicial pie, and they’re willing to pay for it.

Oh, and did I mention that there are already nearly half a million absentee ballots out there in the wild? Yeah, you read that right. This election is already shapin’ up to be a wild ride, and we’re just gettin’ started, folks.

The Gubernatorial Gauntlet: Gianforte Flexes His Financial Muscles

Alright, let’s talk about the big one: the race for Governor. Now, I’m not sayin’ that money is everything in politics, but it sure as heck doesn’t hurt. And in this race, it looks like incumbent Governor Greg Gianforte is tryin’ to buy himself a second term.

Gianforte, the multi-millionaire tech mogul turned politician, raked in a cool quarter of a million dollars last month. But that’s nothin’ compared to what he’s spendin’. The guy dropped a whopping eight hundred and forty-five grand – mostly on TV, cable, and digital ads that’ll be runnin’ all the way through November. Talk about a campaign blitz!

But hey, at least he’s got plenty of cash left in the bank, right? Gianforte is sittin’ pretty with a cool one hundred and seventy-seven thousand dollars in his primary war chest, plus another five hundred and thirty-two grand stashed away for the general election. Yeah, I told ya, money ain’t a problem for this guy.

Now, let’s see how Gianforte’s opponents stack up, shall we?

Tanner Smith: The Underdog With a Loan

Tanner Smith, Gianforte’s Republican challenger, is kinda like that friend we all have who shows up to a potluck with a bag of chips and a smile. He’s tryin’ his best, bless his heart, but he’s clearly outmatched in the money department.

Smith managed to scrounge up thirty-seven thousand dollars last month, but here’s the kicker: twenty-three thousand of that was from loans. Yep, the guy’s already dippin’ into his own pockets to try and keep up with Gianforte’s spendin’ spree.

So far, Smith has spent a modest twenty-eight thousand dollars, mostly on campaign staples like signs, letters, and decals. Hey, gotta start somewhere, right? Still, he’s got a long way to go if he wants to make this a real race.

Ryan Busse: The Democrat with a Fighting Chance?

Okay, now for the Democrat in the room: Ryan Busse. This guy is actually givin’ Gianforte a run for his money – literally. Busse pulled in a respectable one hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars last month, proving that he’s got some serious fundraising chops.

And he’s not afraid to spend it, either. Busse has already shelled out one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, mostly on staff salaries and – get this – billboard advertising. That’s right, folks, billboards. Looks like Busse’s takin’ a page out of the old-school campaign playbook.

With two hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars in the bank for the primary and another hundred and twenty-two thousand for the general, Busse is definitely a contender. Could he be the one to finally unseat Gianforte? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: this race just got a whole lot more interestin’.

Jim Hunt: The Mystery Man

Now, let’s talk about Jim Hunt, the other Democrat in the gubernatorial race. Or rather, let’s talk about the lack of Jim Hunt. You see, Mr. Hunt didn’t actually file a campaign finance report. Nope, not a single one.

Now, I’m not sayin’ he’s out there livin’ like a hermit and fundraisin’ via carrier pigeon, but it’s startin’ to feel that way. Maybe he’s just playin’ his cards close to his chest, or maybe he’s hopin’ to win this thing on good vibes and a shoestring budget. Whatever his strategy, it’s definitely… different.

Kaiser Leib: The Libertarian Longshot

Last but not least, we’ve got Kaiser Leib, the Libertarian candidate for Governor. Now, Kaiser’s campaign is kinda like a microbrew in a world of Bud Light: small batch, independently owned, and probably not gonna be everyone’s taste.

He raised a modest four hundred dollars last month, which is kinda like findin’ a twenty dollar bill in your winter coat pocket – nice surprise, but not gonna change your life. He then spent two hundred and fifty of that, which, gotta hand it to him, is pretty thrifty. With a hundred and fifty bucks (plus whatever change he’s got lyin’ around), Kaiser’s definitely runnin’ a grassroots campaign.

The Attorney General Arena: Knudsen’s War Chest and a Candidacy Conundrum

Alright, let’s move on to the race for Attorney General, where incumbent Austin Knudsen is facin’ off against a couple of challengers who are, well, let’s just say they have their work cut out for them.

Knudsen, never one to shy away from a fight (or a controversial lawsuit), is comin’ out swingin’ with a war chest that would make a Roman emperor jealous. He hauled in sixty-three thousand dollars last month and promptly dropped a cool two hundred and two grand, mostly on – you guessed it – ads. We’re talkin’ broadcast, digital, cable, the whole shebang.

And his message? Well, let’s just say it’s not exactly subtle. Think “predators,” “Biden,” and maybe a dash of “poisoning” thrown in for good measure. Yeah, Knudsen’s not afraid to go there.

Logan Olson: The Silent Challenger?

Now, let’s talk about Knudsen’s Republican opponent, Logan Olson. Or rather, let’s talk about the fact that there’s not much to talk about. You see, Olson didn’t report any fundraising or spending. Nada. Zilch.

To make matters even more interestin’, there’s actually a complaint filed against Olson’s candidacy, questionin’ whether he actually meets the residency requirements to run for office. Talk about a campaign drama! At this point, it’s lookin’ like Olson’s campaign might be DOA – and that’s not even gettin’ into the whole “no money” thing.

Ben Alke: The Democrat with an Uphill Battle

On the Democratic side, we’ve got Ben Alke, who’s tryin’ to unseat Knudsen. Alke managed to raise a respectable twenty-one thousand dollars last month, which ain’t too shabby. He’s also been pretty responsible with his spendin’, only shellin’ out eight thousand seven hundred dollars so far.

But let’s be real, folks: Alke’s got a steeper hill to climb than a mountain goat in a blizzard. Knudsen’s got the name recognition, the incumbency advantage, and oh yeah, about a gazillion times more money. It’s gonna take a miracle – or maybe just a whole lot of voter dissatisfaction with Knudsen – for Alke to pull off an upset.

The Race for the Courts: Big Bucks and Bigger Stakes

Hold onto your hats, folks, ’cause things are about to get downright judicial up in here! We’re talkin’ about the races for the Montana Supreme Court, where the gavel’s about to drop on some serious campaign spendin’.

Chief Justice Showdown: Lynch vs. Swanson

First up, we’ve got the battle for Chief Justice, where incumbent Justice Jeremiah “Jerry” Lynch is lookin’ to hold onto his spot on the bench. Lynch, who clearly believes in the power of television, dropped a cool forty-eight thousand dollars on cable ads last month, part of his sixty-one thousand dollar spendin’ spree. He’s also got a respectable one hundred and three thousand dollars in the bank, so don’t expect him to back down from a challenge anytime soon.

But challengers, he’s got. Cory Swanson, one of Lynch’s opponents, is makin’ sure voters know his name by plasterin’ it across billboards all over the state. He’s already spent ten thousand dollars on those bad boys, part of his nineteen thousand dollar total spendin’. And with a hundred and six thousand dollars in cash on hand, Swanson’s got the resources to keep the pressure on Lynch.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Doug Marshall, the other contender in the Chief Justice race. Marshall’s campaign strategy seems to be shrouded in mystery, kinda like those cases the Supreme Court handles. Why? Well, he decided to skip the whole “filing a campaign finance report” thing. Maybe he’s a minimalist, or maybe he’s just really good at hide-and-seek. Whatever the case, his lack of financial transparency is certainly… intriguing.

The Fight for Seat No. 3: Bidegaray Takes the Lead

Now, let’s turn our attention to the race for Supreme Court Seat No. 3, where the competition is just as fierce. Katherine Bidegaray, one of the candidates, is clearly a believer in the “go big or go home” philosophy of campaignin’. She’s already dropped a whopping thirty-six thousand dollars on media buys, part of her fifty-one thousand dollar total spendin’. But hey, it seems to be workin’, ’cause she’s also raked in a cool sixty-eight thousand dollars in contributions. With a hundred grand in the bank, Bidegaray’s lookin’ like a force to be reckoned with.

Her opponent, Dan Wilson, is takin’ a slightly more low-key approach. He’s spent a modest eleven thousand dollars, mostly on campaign management and those good ol’ fashioned mailers that always seem to end up in our recycling bins. Still, with eighty-one thousand dollars in cash on hand, Wilson’s got plenty of ammunition left to make a run for it.

And then there’s Jerry O’Neil, the third contender for Seat No. 3, who, like Doug Marshall in the Chief Justice race, seems to have missed the memo about campaign finance reports. No reported fundraising, no reported spending, just a cool one hundred and thirty-two dollars in the bank. Hey, at least he’s got somethin’, right?

Clerk of the Supreme Court: A Crowded Field and Familiar Faces

Buckle up, folks, because the race for Clerk of the Supreme Court is like a Montana rodeo: crowded, unpredictable, and full of colorful characters. We’ve got incumbents, challengers, and even a few familiar faces from other political arenas.