Thanks for ending your week with The Western Word! Here are the topics for today’s common sense commentary: 

• Montana Campaign News
• Executive Director Emily Marburger
• Downing’s Two Offices
• Sinister Cartel Kingpins
• NRSC Attacks Own
• One More Thing

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:

A total of 256 candidates have filed for office in Montana as of Thursday evening, per the Secretary of State’s online registry.

Candidate filing in Montana ends on March 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The Primary election in Montana is Tuesday, June 2, 2026. 

You can keep track of who files for state and federal office by clicking HERE.

Make sure your voice is heard! Check your Montana registration HERE today. Don’t let administrative hurdles or outside interference prevent you from casting your ballot. If you reside outside of Montana, click HERE to register to vote or to update your registration. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILY MARBURGER:

Emily Marburger was hired last month as the Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party. 

The Helena Independent Record reports (Paywall) that Marburger plans a grassroots approach that rebuilds party credibility in places where once-Democratic voters have fallen away, in part, because they feel forgotten, and re-establishes a vision for what makes Montana Democrats distinct from the national brand.

That sounds good. 

As for her background, the IR reports:

Marburger, who had never visited Montana before accepting the executive director role, has spent her first few weeks on the job behind the wheel, visiting communities around the state. Before moving to Helena, Marburger previously served stints on the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. She was the mayor of Bellevue, an 8,000-person town in Pennsylvania, and chaired the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

Republican political operative Jake Eaton welcomed Marburger with a post on X:

Nothing says grassroots leadership like bringing an out of state operative to take over the party

I think my friend Jake forgot about the out-of-state people hired by the Montana Republican Party over the years. Plus, Montana “hired” out-of-staters now occupying the Governor’s office, U.S. Senate (Daines/Sheehy), and the U.S. Representative in MT-02.  

I also know the shit people said when I, as a veteran and out-of-stater who made Montana my home, volunteered on Sen. Burns campaign in 94 and was hired by him on his U.S. Senate staff in 95. 

I wish Marburger my best as she dodges the political potholes and MAGA assholes in Montana. 

DOWNING’S TWO OFFICES:

I find it troubling that U.S. Representative Troy Downing (R-MT02) has yet to open a district office in Great Falls. He only has district offices in Billings and Helena. 

I believe that Ryan Zinke and, before him, Denny Rehberg, when they were the only U.S. representatives in the state, had four offices. I believe Matt Rosendale had three. 

I suggest that Democrats in the race to replace him tell Great Falls voters, as well as the surrounding area, that the first thing they will do is open an office in Great Falls. 

Great Falls is home to Malmstrom AFB and the Montana Air National Guard. It is also near the Golden Triangle, where they produce the world’s best wheat. The area is too important not to have staff there. Shame on Downing. 

SINISTER CARTEL KINGPINS:

President Donald Trump is known to lie a lot. The other night in his SOTU speech, Trump, once again, told a lie when he talked about taking out a cartel kingpin on February 22: 

We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday.

So Trump took credit for the operation that led to the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.  Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and other commentators criticized Trump for skipping over Mexico’s central role, especially as the operation resulted in the deaths of at least 25 Mexican National Guard troops during subsequent cartel violence. (Source)

NRSC ATTACKS OWN:

I am old enough to remember when it was not appropriate for state political parties and groups like the  National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and their Democratic counterparts (DSCC) to get involved in primaries. 

That went out the window a few years ago. Recently, Texas and the NRSC kind of said, “Hold my Beer” in the Republican Senate primary in Texas. 

According to Politico, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is actively involved in Texas, supporting Senator John Cornyn’s efforts and running ads that target opponents like Ken Paxton with accusations of corruption, fraud, and personal misconduct. 

Cornyn and Paxton are Republicans. 

Here is the transcript of one ad: 

“It’s voting time, so let’s cut through the bullsh*t. Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She’s divorcing him on biblical grounds. So now Paxton’s wrecking another home, sleeping around with a married mother of seven.

And remember this, Crooked Ken has increased his net worth by as much as 7,000% since taking office. And his actions in office? Even more troubling. Paxton gave millions of Texas tax dollars to left-wing organizations, including the Montrose Center that hosts drag queen shows and performs gender affirming services to kids as young as seven. Now think of the Paxton dirty deeds we don’t know about, yet. The wife cheater and fraud, or the Texas workhorse? Senator John Cornyn is endorsed by the Border Patrol, and he voted with President Trump 99% of the time. Cornyn got the money to finish the damn wall. Texans know what to do.” (Source) (Video)

It will be hard to kiss and make up after this. It would be funny if Paxon wins and the NRSC has to support him…

ONE MORE THING:

Dogs are God’s way of apologizing for relatives. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##