Montana
Trump rally in Bozeman, Montana draws support from Eastern Idaho – Local News 8
BOZEMAN, Montana (KIFI) – Former President Donald Trump rallied in Bozeman, Montana, Friday night, August 9.
Local News 8’s Todd Kunz and photographer Dave Barrington followed some of his supporters on the journey from Eastern Idaho.
A chartered bus left eastern Idaho Friday, August 9, and headed to the Donald Trump rally in Bozeman, Montana. Nearly 50 people bought a ticket.
One traveler, James Porter from Idaho Falls, said this to Local News 8’s Todd Kunz.
“Why are you here today?” said Kunz
“Well, I want to support Trump. I think he’s the best option we have. And, I like what he’s done in when he was president. And I’m excited for what he can do when he becomes president again,” said Porter.
Robert Kingsford from Idaho Falls said, “I think after the assassination attempt, I just feel like we need to get out and support him as our best candidate running for president; and I just want to be part of that.”
Not all were from Eastern Idaho. Bill was in town from Tri-Cities, Washington.
“We heard about it and wanted to jump onboard,” said Bill
Others have done it before.
“This is our second rally,” said John from Idaho Falls.
“This is your second? Where is your first one?” asked Kunz.
“In Arizona,” John continued.
However, not everyone in Bozeman is a fan of Trump. Protestors stood outside the venue with signs.
Meanwhile, supporters had to hike in, as the parking lots filled, but on their walk, there was plenty of Trump merchandise.
“We started with over 500 hats. We’re down to that little bit. We’ve had about 250 t-shirts. We’re down to that, and we had about 500 flags. We’re down to about 250,” said Quinten Bartlett, who sells Trump gear.
The Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University was packed with about 10,000 people.
Montana speakers spoke before Donald Trump took the stage an hour and a half late. According to the Trump campaign, his plane had mechanical issues and had to land in Billings before the rally. From there, he took a private jet to the event.
“Hello Montana. I’ve been traveling your state,” said Trump, to the roar of the crowd.
The seats were filled and people were standing. But only some supporters were able to get inside. Outside, people could watch on a big screen. That is where the busload from Eastern Idaho was since they did not make it in.
“A lot of people are still out here with you,” said Beverly Kingsford of Idaho Falls.
“I think there were probably 9,000 in line in front of us,” she said. “There were still several rows that were behind.”
“What are you feeling?” asked Kunz.
“You know, it was great to be here. the bus ride down was a blast with Neil and Julie. and we were. we were just having fun. and it was great. as we wandered through all these lines, talking to people that have come from all over the place, and they were all here in a good mood and happy to be here,” said Kingsford.
The next stop for the Trump campaign is a private fundraiser gathering in Jackson, Wyoming.
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Clark Fork River has long been a defining feature of Missoula, shaping the city’s culture, economy and outdoor lifestyle.
The river is so closely tied to the area that it helped inspire the well-known book and film “A River Runs Through It.” But local conservation advocates say its importance goes far beyond scenery.
“Without the Clark Fork River, Missoula would just be another town,” said Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies associate conservation director for American Rivers. “We wouldn’t be the River City. I think we’re known in Montana as Missoula the River City, and it’s really because of the Clark Fork River and its central role in business, in economics, in recreation, that really makes Missoula the town that it is.”
Carmen Murill, a field organizer with Wild Montana, said the river is deeply woven into daily life for people who live in Missoula.
“A lot of us would wonder what to do on a beautiful or a rainy summer day,” Murill said. “I mean, it’s really a lifeforce of town. And I think it’s pretty unique that Missoula, as a community is living and breathing on both sides of the river. It’s really like two downtowns but connected by the Clark Fork.”
Conservation groups say protecting the river begins with community involvement.
Advocates encourage residents and visitors to spend time outdoors, whether on a trail, in the woods or along the river, and to learn how they can become better stewards of the environment.
MISSOULA — Sam Forstag edged out Ryan Busse to secure the Democratic nomination in Montana’s 1st Congressional District.
Busse conceded the race to Forstag on Wednesday morning. Forstag had trailed behind Busse Tuesday evening, but he made up ground as the votes were counted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The other two candidates in the race, Russl Cleveland and Matt Rains, are sitting at third and fourth, respectively.
Forstag leads in close race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District
Forstag spent eight years as a wildland firefighter, including four as a smokejumper, and he’s been vice president of the local National Federation of Federal Employees union. Last week, U.S. House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, held a rally in Missoula to support Forstag’s campaign.
He told MTN on Tuesday that his campaign has been for the working class.
“We got a whole lot of people here that have been working their tail off to finally get some working-class representation in Washington,” Forstag noted. “So proud of everything we’ve done and so grateful.”
Forstag further noted he wants Montanans to be able to afford groceries, have universal free childcare and restore and expand Affordable Health Care Act subsidies.
“Hearing people’s stories and struggles and commonalities in the ways that we’re all fighting in the system that does not serve us so often, and the government serves corporations and the richest people in this country more than working people. It has been frustrating and saddening, but it has also inspired so much hope in me, like the fixes we can actually make,” he told MTN.
The 1st Congressional District covers much of western Montana, including Kalispell, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. It is currently held by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, who chose not to seek reelection.
By securing the nomination, Forstag is slated tol face off against Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy and Republican candidate Aaron Flint in November.
Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.
In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.
Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.
In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.
In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”
Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.
-
Illinois2 minutes agoConsumer advocacy groups oppose Illinois American Water $142.4M rate hike and potential major acquisition
-
Indiana5 minutes agoPHOTOS | Restored fountains at Garfield Park Sunken Garden
-
Iowa10 minutes agoWaukee Northwest beats Urbandale in Iowa boys soccer state semifinal
-
Kansas17 minutes agoKansas City, Missouri, police searching for missing 11-year-old girl
-
Kentucky20 minutes agoKentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 3, 2026
-
Louisiana25 minutes agoDHS watchdog finds use-of-force issues and safety and sanitation concerns at Louisiana ICE center
-
Maine32 minutes ago‘I could die here’: Photographer recalls Maine wedding stabbing
-
Maryland35 minutes agoFull-length Replay: Maryland | FOX Sports
