Montana election pits behaviour against partisan loyalties

A last-minute melee that led to an assault charge against a congressional candidate jolted many people in the nation who were viewing the election Thursday as a referendum on President Donald Trump's young administration. Voters were deciding Thursday whether to send Republican candidate Greg Gianforte to Congress after he was charged with assaulting a reporter a day earlier.

Ryan: GOP House candidate should apologize for altercation with reporter

Paul Ryan condemns Gianforte for 'body slam' on reporter: "There's no call for this no matter what circumstance" https://t.co/aETw13Cb2Z Paul Ryan Senators introduce new ISIS war bill Ryan: GOP House candidate should apologize for altercation with reporter Border-adjustment tax proposal at death's door MORE on Thursday condemned GOP House special election candidate Greg Gianforte for his altercation with a reporter, but did not call on Gianforte to drop out of the race. "There is no time where a physical altercation should occur with the press or with human beings," Ryan told reporters at the Capitol.

Montana Republican goes from wary Trump backer to all-in

In this May 11, 2017 file photo, Republican Greg Gianforte, right, welcomes Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, onto the stage at a rally in East Helena, Mont. Gianforte, a businessman, kept Trump at arm's length when he unsuccessfully ran for Montana governor on the GOP ticket last year.

Mike Pence in Montana: Tours coal mine on horseback, stumps for GOP candidate

Vice president Mike Pence headed to Montana Friday to garner support for Greg Gianforte, the Republican candidate vying for the Treasure State's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. And considering he is in Big Sky Country, the former Indiana governor's method of transportation while touring the Westmoreland Coal Company's Absaloka Mine on the Crow Indian Reservation was, not surprisingly, horseback.

GOP to introduce infrastructure bill as soon as Wednesday

Republican legislative leaders are breaking up Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's $157 million bonding bill for state infrastructure projects, with plans to unveil their own legislation as early as Wednesday. GOP leaders were working up to the last minute to figure out just how far into debt lawmakers within their party would be willing to put the state to pay for public works and building projects.

Lives in the balance: Montana asbestos-disease sufferers watch fight over Affordable Care Act repeal

In 2005, Les Skramstad and Gayla Benefield carried wooden crosses for each Libby resident who died from exposure to asbestos. Skramstad died of asbestos-related disease in 2007, and Benefield and four of her five children have been diagnosed with the disease.

License issued for $1B Montana power storage project

A Montana company has been granted a license to build a $1 billion, 400-megawatt power storage project in the central part of the state that would supplement electricity from wind turbines and other sources, according to documents released Thursday by federal regulators. The 50-year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allows Absaroka Energy, of Bozeman, Montana, to construct and operate the project on a 177-acre site near the tiny town of Martinsdale, home to fewer than 100 people.

Chaotic presidential race could affect turnout in Montana

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican challenger Greg Gianforte have spent more than a year trying to win over Montana voters, but there is one factor that will be out of their control and foremost in voters' minds on Tuesday: the race for president. Republican Donald Trump's run against Democrat Hillary Clinton has made for an unusual and uncertain election year.

Scorecard: Tracking Climate Change Questions In Presidential, Senate, And Governors’ Debates

With 2016 on track to become the third consecutive hottest year on record , debate moderators should be asking candidates about how they plan to address climate change -- something that rarely happened during the presidential primary debates and didn't happen in the first general election presidential debate. This election season, Media Matters is running a real-time scorecard to track how often panelists or debate moderators ask candidates in the presidential election and tightly-contested Senate and Governors' races about climate change.