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Tim Sheehy secures endorsement from veterans group in Montana Senate race

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Tim Sheehy secures endorsement from veterans group in Montana Senate race


EXCLUSIVE — A veteran advocacy group endorsed Tim Sheehy on Thursday in his quest to topple incumbent Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) during this year’s elections.

Concerned Veterans for America Action is backing Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, in one of the most high-profile Senate races of the 2024 cycle. Republicans, who are hoping to flip the seat to regain control of the Senate, see Montana’s red leanings as a prime pickup opportunity after the disappointing 2022 midterm elections. The Treasure State voted for then-President Donald Trump by 16 points in 2020.

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“As a decorated combat veteran who completed several deployments and countless missions overseas, Tim Sheehy understands the struggles our nation’s heroes face when they come home after serving their country,” Chris Enget, CVA Action senior adviser in Montana, said in a statement first shared with the Washington Examiner. “Unlike Senator Jon Tester, Sheehy won’t be a rubber stamp for President Biden’s failed agenda.”

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“We obviously have really wanted to see an upgrade in Montana. Sen. Tester has been very much a hindrance to the things that we see are important for veterans and for the economy both,” added Russ Duerstine, CVA Action’s senior adviser, in an interview. “And even though he originally had supported the Mission Act, veterans and military family members have been impacted negatively by him undercutting access standards and community to care for veterans. And so many of our veterans are just stuck in this, this bureaucratic socialist medical system.”

Former President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan VA Mission Act into law, which scrapped the Choice Program and streamlined the process for access to community providers, in 2018.

Republican candidate Tim Sheehy and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT).

CVA Action is the nation’s largest grassroots group dedicated to electing lawmakers who champion policies that will benefit veterans and is backed by conservative billionaire brothers Charles and the late David Koch. It targeted more than 1,000,000 voters during the 2020 and 2022 election cycle. The group also endorsed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential race earlier this month.

With the early endorsement of Sheehy, the group is hoping once again to mobilize on behalf of the former Navy SEAL, who may face a primary challenge from Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT).

Establishment Republicans have lined up behind Sheehy, including Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) in hopes of thwarting Rosendale’s anticipated Senate bid.

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Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), along with Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) have also endorsed Sheehy.

Republicans have pointed to Tester defeating Rosendale in 2018 as to why Sheehy’s chances of prevailing are higher compared to Rosendale.

“We have a primary race that we really wanted to see who has the best opportunity to defeat Sen. Tester in the fall. We think it’s Tim Sheehy,” Duerstine said. “And he not only has incredible credentials himself, he’s positioned I think, in our mind, to give us the best chance of delivering an upgrade in Montana.”

“I think highly of Rosendale. But honestly, it has a lot to do with the ability to win,” Duerstine further added.

Rosendale is eyeing launching his campaign just before the March 11 candidate filing deadline.

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A Democratic super PAC pounced on the internal GOP division by spending millions of dollars hammering Sheehy. More Jobs, Less Government PAC, a pro-Sheehy super PAC, hit back with a six-figure ad buy against the attacks.

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“It’s fairly typical. When you can’t argue the facts you try to do things or say things to impugn the character or the capability of somebody. It’s not unusual,” Duerstine said. “We ignore that. We want to point back to the facts. We have a failed economy. We have failed energy policy and we have a failed VA healthcare system. … We’re not going to be distracted by some of the meddling that takes place from the other side of the aisle.”

Former Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson is also running in the GOP primary but faces little chance of defeating Sheehy.



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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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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University of Montana president job draws high interest • Daily Montanan

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University of Montana president job draws high interest • Daily Montanan


The search for a new University of Montana president has drawn more than 60 applicants, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

“We do not have an exact count at this time, as several applications are still being completed and additional submissions are expected,” said spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Galen Hollenbaugh in an email earlier this week.

In January, then-UM-President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation to pursue other public service. Wednesday, the final day of filing, he announced he was running as an independent for the U.S. Senate to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.

Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said that with the advice of AGB Search, a firm that’s helped the Montana University System conduct other executive searches, he would undertake an expedited process to appoint a new president.

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Christian has been providing brief updates on a website dedicated to the search. Last week, he said he and AGB Search are reviewing applications, and the pool of candidates was “strong and diverse.”

The commissioner also announced he was convening a small working group to assist in the search, members who “represent a variety of perspectives to assist in vetting and narrowing this field of exceptional candidates.”

In an email this week, Hollenbaugh identified the members of the working group who are assisting Christian with application review as:

  • Community member and former Regent Joyce Dombrouski
  • Faculty Senate Chairperson Valerie Moody
  • Staff Senate President Dominic Beccari
  • Administration Representative John DeBoer (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
  • ASUM (Associated Students of the University of Montana) President Buddy Wilson

Hollenbaugh declined to comment on the way the rest of the process would unfold or the role the working group members would play.

Christian earlier said he anticipated an appointment within one to three months, or as soon as early this month.

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Montana Supreme Court allows ballot measure on initiative process to move forward

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Montana Supreme Court allows ballot measure on initiative process to move forward


HELENA — The Montana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a proposed ballot measure intended to simplify the process for introducing ballot measures in the future.

Justices ruled 5-2 that the measure, currently called Ballot Issue #8, did not violate state requirements that a single constitutional amendment can’t make multiple separate changes to the Montana Constitution.

“We’re very grateful to the Montana Supreme Court for agreeing with us that the attorney general’s finding of legal insufficiency for Ballot Issue #8 was incorrect,” said SK Rossi, a spokesperson for Montanans Decide, the group sponsoring the measure.

Montanans Decide argues the Montana Legislature has passed laws making it harder for the public to propose and pass ballot issues. The Montana Constitution already guarantees the people the right to pass laws and amendments through ballot measures, but Ballot Issue #8 would expand that to include a right to “impartial, predictable, transparent, and expeditious processes” for proposing those measures. It would seek to prevent “interference from the government or the use of government resources to support or oppose the ballot issue.”

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Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office argued the measure “implicitly amended” multiple provisions in the state constitution, including by limiting the “power and authority of public officials to speak officially on ballot issues that affect those officials’ public duties” and by putting restrictions on judges and on the Legislature. Montanans Decide, the group sponsoring Ballot Issue #8, disagreed – and the majority of justices sided with them.

“Its provisions operate together to define and protect a single constitutional right—the people’s exercise of initiative and referendum,” wrote Justice Katherine Bidegaray in the majority opinion. “They are closely related components of one constitutional design.”

Bidegaray’s majority opinion was joined by Justices Jim Shea, Laurie McKinnon, Beth Baker and Ingrid Gustafson.

Chief Justice Cory Swanson and Justice Jim Rice each wrote dissenting opinions, saying they would have upheld Knudsen’s decision to disallow Ballot Issue #8. Rice said the language restricting government interference with a ballot issue was not closely related and should have been a separate vote. Swanson agreed with Rice and said the measure’s attempt to fix a timeline for legal cases surrounding ballot measures was also a separate substantial change.

In a statement, Chase Scheuer, a spokesperson for Knudsen’s office, reacted to the decision.

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“This decision only further muddies the courts’ jurisprudence on ballot issue questions,” he said. “This initiative would violate the separate vote requirement by amending multiple parts of the Montana Constitution, but the court contradicted its prior rulings. Attorney General Knudsen will continue to neutrally apply the separate vote requirement in his review of ballot initiatives.”

The court’s decision means that Knudsen’s office will now need to approve ballot language for Ballot Issue #8. Once that language is finalized, Montanans Decide could begin gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

However, last year, sponsors of another initiative went to the Supreme Court to argue that the ballot statements Knudsen prepared were misleading. If Montanans Decide object to their ballot statements, that could further delay signature gathering while the case plays out in court.

“Regardless, we’re going to push as hard as we can to get those petitions into the hands of voters and let them sign and support if they so choose,” said Rossi.

Rossi said the legal battle this measure has gone through – and the possibility of more to come – shows why Ballot Issue #8 is needed.

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“The state Legislature, and also statewide elected officials, have taken every opportunity to create burdens and hurdles and rigamarole for campaigns to get through in order to just get to the signature gathering phase, and then to get through the signature gathering phase onto the ballot, and then get through the election phase,” said Rossi. “The reason we filed this initiative is just to make sure that the process is simple, that the timeline is clear, and that Montanans can have their will heard when they want to propose and pass laws that they deem worthy.”





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