Montana
Lawsuit challenging Montana PSC districts still moving forward
HELENA — For the second time in three years, a lawsuit is challenging the district lines used to elect the members of Montana’s Public Service Commission. The two sides in the case met Monday in a Helena courtroom, as a judge considers how a trial should be conducted.
The PSC has five members, each elected from a geographical district. They’re responsible for regulating public utilities, railroads and other industries in the state.
PSC districts have been at the center of legal disputes since 2021, when plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit, claiming they were invalid because their populations were too unequal. The district lines hadn’t been updated since 2003, and population shifts meant some districts had significantly more residents than others. The federal court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and drew its own map, used during the 2022 PSC elections.
In 2023, the Montana Legislature came up with its own plan. Senate Bill 109, which passed with support from majority Republicans, switched from drawing districts based on county lines to using the newly created state legislative districts. The new map also split the state’s largest cities, including Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls, between two districts.
After the new map went into effect, a group of plaintiffs – including eight individuals and the organization Montana Conservation Voters – sued in state court, saying SB 109 was a partisan gerrymander intended to give Republicans control in all five districts. They argued the law denied other voters a real opportunity to influence the election results in their districts, and that the map was selected because of those effects, not in spite of it. Plaintiffs said the law was an unconstitutional violation of the rights of suffrage and equal protection.
Attorneys for the state, defending the law, said the map wasn’t an intentional gerrymander and that leaders had legitimate interests in bringing it forward. When introducing SB 109 on the Senate floor last year, sponsor Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, argued the use of legislative districts ensured the five districts’ populations would remain more equal, and that splitting larger communities would mean two commissioners looking out for their interests instead of one.
Monday’s hearing focused on whether the trial in this case should be before a jury. State attorneys asked for a jury, saying it was appropriate for them to decide factual questions like the intent behind the legislation.
“Even if the court said, ‘Okay, I’m not going to put that on to the jury, that would be for the judge,’ causation is clearly a fact issue, and whether there was other justification for it is clearly a fact issue,” said Thane Johnson, an assistant attorney general.
Plaintiffs said there’s no history of gerrymandering cases going before juries, and that the type of questions at issue here are more appropriate for a judge to decide.
“The court is able to instruct the jury on what crosses the line into unlawful discrimination,” said attorney Dimitrios Tsolakidis, referring to another type of case where he said a jury might make more sense. “There is no pattern here for instructing the jury on how much partisanship is permissible in a political gerrymandering case.”
Regardless of whether a jury is called or not, the trial is scheduled to start December 10.
Three seats on the PSC are open in this year’s elections, and those races will be held under the new district lines. In February, District Judge Chris Abbott denied plaintiffs’ request to put an injunction on the new map. He said plaintiffs had a good chance of showing the map was unconstitutional, but that he didn’t think it would be appropriate for the court to draw its own lines at this time. He said in the ruling that he hoped the case would be resolved before the 2025 legislative session, giving the Legislature a chance to try to get in compliance if the final ruling goes against SB 109.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 26, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 26 drawing
01-05-49-51-59, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 26 drawing
01-17-25-29, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 26 drawing
18-30-39-52-56, Bonus: 01
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.
According to the New York Times, 300 individual billionaires spent more than $3 billion during the 2024 election cycle. Keep those figures in mind as you consider I-194 and its potential impact on Montana values.
The Montana Chamber of Commerce, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, and the Billings Chamber of Commerce have taken a clear and united stand against Initiative 194. We believe Montanans deserve a full and transparent explanation of why.
No doubt, I-194 would prohibit Montana businesses and nonprofits from participating in the political process. Under this initiative, family-owned businesses including farms, ranches, restaurants, and retail stores could not respond publicly to a ballot initiative targeting them. A Main Street restaurant could not support a local levy to improve public safety. A small business coalition could not push back against misleading claims that threaten their livelihoods and their employees’ jobs. These are not hypothetical concerns; they are the everyday realities of how Montana businesses engage in the civic life of our communities.
But make no mistake, I-194 does not remove big money from our politics.
While cleverly named “The Montana Plan,” I-194 should be called the “California Plan” since California is home to more than 200 individual billionaires and places no restrictions whatsoever on out-of-state wealthy individuals. Under I-194, a single well-funded outsider could bankroll a campaign to devastate a Montana agricultural practice, a logging operation, or a ranching family, while the Montana businesses under attack would be legally silenced. That is not campaign finance reform. That is a one-sided disarmament of Montana’s own voices.
The supporters of I-194 like to reference the Copper King’s influence that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. And while this initiative would have prohibited the Anaconda Copper Company from supporting candidates, the actual individual Kings of copper–the millionaires that owned those companies–would have still been free to bankroll their preferred candidates, while the rest of Montana’s small business community sat in silence. They would have loved this proposal.
Montana has a proud history of fighting outside influence in our politics, from the battles against the Copper Kings to the Corrupt Practices Act of 1912. But that Act targeted corruption and covert control of government, not the right of businesses and community organizations to have an open voice in the state they call home. There is a meaningful difference between a corporation secretly buying a legislator and a chamber of commerce publicly advocating for its members.
We raised constitutional and legal questions about I-194’s scope before the Montana Supreme Court because those questions deserved an answer. We respect the Court’s ruling. And now we are doing exactly what any organization or individual is entitled to do: making our case openly, with our names attached, and letting Montanans decide.
That is what chambers of commerce do. We advocate for Montana’s businesses and workers—the coffee shops, hardware stores, family farms, and yes, the larger employers whose presence helps keep smaller businesses alive. We are Montanans representing Montana’s economic engine.
We agree that Montanans deserve a political system where their voices matter more than outside money. Silencing Montana businesses while leaving out-of-state billionaires free to spend without restriction does not achieve that goal. It simply changes who gets silenced.
We urge every Montanan to read I-194 carefully—all of it—and ask: Does this make our democracy stronger, or does it make some voices louder by making others disappear?
Montana Chamber of Commerce, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, and Billings Chamber of Commerce
For the last several years, it has become a tradition to kick off the Montana summer with an event that is not only free, but fun for all. Oh, and the best part? It’s right here in Bozeman!
The 5th Annual Family Promise Summer Kick-Off will take place at the Family Promise building on Saturday, June 13th from 1 pm until 4 pm. The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
There will be lots of different activities including a dunk tank, inflatables for the kids, face painting, a photo booth, balloon animals, a DJ, games, crafts, and more. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of summer.
Did we mention there will be free food?
What can you expect?
For the 5th year in a row, there will be hot dogs and hamburgers/cheeseburgers, chips, and drinks. Oh, and don’t forget the sno cones! Plus, you can learn all about how Family Promise helps our community by serving those in need.
None of this would be possible without the help of our wonderful sponsors who make sure that this event is always a hit.
We want to thank the folks at Town and Country Foods, Harrington Pepsi, Tropical Sno, your local McDonald’s, and The Northern Rocky Mountain Group at Morgan Stanley. Their generosity is unmatched and we are grateful for their support in making sure this event happens each year.
Once again, it’s the Family Promise Summer Kick-Off and it happens on Saturday, June 13th from 1 pm until 4 pm. We’ll see you there!
The 6 Best Things About Growing Up In Montana
Big Sky Country, The Treasure State, The Last Best Place, Home…whatever you call Montana, there is no denying it is a one-of-a-kind place with amazing scenery, outdoor adventure, and small towns throughout the state that embrace tradition and tight-knit communities. We asked you what made growing up in Montana so great, and you answered.
Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf
Montana’s Best Camping Spots For Summer
For many locals and tourists, camping in Montana is a real treat. Sleeping in an RV or a tent while making meals over a campfire is a memory maker. Here in Montana, we have several spots that are excellent for camping, but which spots are the best? We take a look at some of the Top Spots according to Map X Hook.
Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf
The Best Small Towns In Montana
Montana is full of small towns; however, when it comes to the most charming, the most affordable, the safest, and the most scenic, which towns top the list? Let’s take a look at 5 hidden gems that are located right here in Big Sky Country.
Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf
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