Welcome! Here are the topics for today’s common sense commentary: 

• Montana Campaign News
  • Mansfield Metcalf Dinner 
  • Cascade County Republicans
  • Indie Candidates
  • Register to vote
• Quinnipiac Poll
• One More Thing

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:

Mansfield Metcalf Dinner…

The Montana Democrats held their annual Mansfield Metcalf Dinner in Helena over the weekend, and there was a lot to talk about. 

It was reported in the Daily Montanan that out of the 125 legislative districts that will be on the ballot, Democrats have filed in 118 of them, four more than Republicans are contesting. 

That’s great news – you can’t win if you don’t compete. 

The Helena IR reported (Paywall) that the keynote speaker was Arizona Democratic U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, a possible 2028 presidential candidate. Gallego celebrated his fellow senator’s (Steve Daines) exit from the contest, telling the room that Daines was “afraid.” “Steve Daines … put his own political interests ahead of Montana voters,” Gallego said. “He rigged the system and undermined the democratic process.”

Cascade County Republicans…

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) is reporting on the upcoming Republican primaries in Cascade County (Great Falls), with the headline: 

Hardline Republicans look to block moderates in Cascade County

There will be several primaries pitting two factions of the Republican Party against each other, according to the MTFP. 

A better term to use instead of “two factions” would be the MAGA nutjobs versus common-sense Republicans. 

Indie Candidates in Deep Red States…

Politico is reporting on independent candidates. Here is the headline:

A slew of indie candidates are running for Senate in deep-red states. Democrats aren’t all thrilled.

Some state level Democrats aren’t willing to pave the way for an independent, even if they have a better shot at winning an already-uphill race.

Politico reports that following the 2024 momentum of Nebraska independent Dan Osborn — who is running again this year — liberal candidates in Montana, Idaho and South Dakota are mounting Senate bids as independents. But they are quickly running into a problem: Unlike in Nebraska, local Democrats aren’t interested in stepping aside.

Check out the complete report from Politico HERE.

Register to vote/Check Registration…

Make sure your voice is heard! Check your Montana registration HERE today.

Your vote is your voice—don’t let administrative barriers silence it. If you’re living outside of Montana, the clock is ticking: click HERE now to register or update your status before it’s too late.

QUINNIPIAC POLL:

Over a week after the United States and Israel first launched military strikes against Iran, a majority of voters oppose the U.S. military action, do not want to see U.S. ground troops sent into Iran, and do not expect a quick end to the conflict. Although voters are divided about whether the killings of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian leaders were justified, more than three-quarters think it is likely that the U.S. military action against Iran will result in a terrorist attack on U.S. soil and a similar percent are concerned about oil and gasoline prices rising, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released March 9. 

Check out the complete poll HERE. 

ONE MORE THING:  

At this point, if a clown invited me into the woods, I would just go…

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