Montana

Democrat Senate campaign org fires employee accused of ‘tampering’ with Montana ballot box

Published

1 year ago

October 23, 2024

Democrat Senate campaign org fires employee accused of ‘tampering’ with Montana ballot box

The main campaign committee for Senate Democrats has fired an employee who was accused of “tampering” with a ballot box in Montana, a must-win state for the party to keep its majority in the upper chamber.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) canned Laszlo Gendler after he was recorded walking up to a ballot box in Glacier County Sunday, shaking it briefly and then leaving the scene, according to an alarming video obtained by Fox News.

In the video, a young man, later identified by the office of Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen as Gendler, approaches the box and tries to move it slightly with both hands before giving up and taking out his cell phone. He then seemingly takes a picture or video of the location.

“Poll observers are instructed not to touch ballot boxes. This individual was attempting to ensure a new ballot box was secured to the wall, neither the ballot box nor ballots were affected,” said DSCC spokesman David Bergstein in a statement to Fox. “Their actions were not in accordance with our procedures and out of an abundance of caution they will no longer be doing this work moving forward.”

The DSCC paid Gendler $42,909.20 in salary and travel expenses between Sept. 15, 2023, and Aug. 30, 2024, per Federal Election Commission filings.

The most recent salary payment of $1,824.60 was made to Gendler on Sept. 13, the latest monthly filing shows.

“The suspect and details were turned over to Glacier County law enforcement,” Richie Melby, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office told The Post. “Our elections director was pleased that the individual was not able to remove the ballot box from the wall, although, as the election administrator signified in her email, the activity was certainly highly suspicious and concerning.”

Glacier county election administrator Crystal Cole had flagged the video to the secretary of state’s office, citing concerns that Gendler — and by extension the state’s Democratic Party — was “tampering” with the box.

“Laslo [sic] with the MT Dem Party was on camera tampering with the Box [sic],” she wrote in a Monday email to election officials. “I did call him to ask what his reasoning was, he stated ‘they’ sent him to the location to see how secure the box was.”

Cole said state Democrats hadn’t given her office a heads-up about Gendler’s visit or separate plans to contact a local college “to see if voters can park in their parking lot.”

“The MT Dem party did not reach out to me in any way to ask for their assistance in this matter,” she added. “(I informed Laslo that I was already in the process of talking to the college for this very same matter, and that I would be contacting the [Secretary of State] as this seems like a situation that could get me in trouble as the administrator, as I believe I cannot accept their assistance lawfully).”

Republican Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, is polling well ahead of Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in the Treasure State and is currently expected to triumph over the seven-fingered dirt farmer this November.

“This video is incredibly damning,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Maggie Abboud claimed in a statement. “Jon Tester and Senate Democrats know they are losing to Tim Sheehy, so it appears they are trying to cheat in the election.”

A Sheehy win would give Republicans a one-seat majority in the upper chamber, so long as GOP West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice replaces retiring independent Sen. Joe Manchin and no incumbents unexpectedly lose their seats.

Incumbent GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke is running for re-election in Montana’s First Congressional District, which includes Glacier County.

His race against Democrat Monica Tranel is also ranked “lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The Post has reached out to Gendler, Bergstein, the Montana Democrat Party and the office of Glacier County Sheriff Maurice Redhorn for comment.

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Related Topics:Democrats Elections Featured Montana Politics Senate US News voter fraud voting

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Montana

March 5 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

Published

8 hours ago

March 6, 2026

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March 5 recap: Missoula and Western Montana news you may have missed today

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Montana

Montana GOP won’t endorse in federal races this cycle • Daily Montanan

Published

21 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Montana GOP won’t endorse in federal races this cycle • Daily Montanan

Although newly minted GOP candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have garnered heavyweight endorsements, the Montana Republican Party said Thursday it won’t throw its support behind any candidates for federal office in the primary.

“The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) stands behind its deep bench of qualified candidates seeking to represent Montanans and supports a competitive primary process to let voters pick their preferred candidates,” the Montana GOP said in a news release Thursday.

Monday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he was retiring due to health concerns once his term ends, and he immediately tapped talk-show host Aaron Flint as his preferred successor in Congress.

Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski also filed for the U.S. House as Republicans, as did Ray Curtis of Bonner.

Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew, and in a statement the same night, announced an endorsement of former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who had filed the same day.

In the Senate, Lee Calhoun and Charles Walking Child also filed to run in the Republican primary.

Endorsements for Flint and Alme cascaded. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed both candidates, and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gov. Greg Gianforte threw their weight behind Flint and Alme.

Late on Wednesday, the Montana GOP did not immediately have comment on the news Daines, Montana’s senior U.S. senator, had resigned, but Thursday, the party thanked Zinke and Daines for their service.

A news release said the party would not endorse any candidates in the federal primary and would leave the job in the hands of voters.

“The party hopes every candidate will make their case to the public, contrasting their Republican policies and principles with those of Democrats — as well as phony ‘Independents,’” the news release said.

Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced a run for the U.S. Senate as an independent this week.

A tension within the Republican party has emerged in recent years between hardline conservatives and more moderate members, and some legislative primaries illustrate the split.

This week, the state GOP said the number of primaries for state legislative seats shows a high interest from Montanans who want to serve the state and pass Republican policy, and the MTGOP “is glad to see so many Republicans being called to public service.”

In a brief call, MTGOP spokesperson Ethan Holmes said the party had not ruled out endorsements in legislative primaries.

In the news release, however, the MTGOP offered its view of the larger political debate.

“Montana voters know that beyond the primaries, there is a clear choice between Republican and Democratic governance; one path leads to lower taxes, less crime and stronger families, and the other leads to higher taxes, more crime, and social decay,” MTGOP Chairperson Art Wittich said in a statement.

The news release also said the state GOP is working “tirelessly to deliver a Bright Red Future” at both the state and federal level and looks forward to help candidates whom voters select win in November.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for March 4, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing

07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing

33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 4 drawing

01-07-08-27, Bonus: 12

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 4 drawing

05-10-26-53-59, Powerball: 06

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from March 4 drawing

03-04-06-08-10

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing

12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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