Happy Friday! Here are the topics that caught my eye for today’s column: 

• Montana Campaign News
• Transparent Election Initiative
• Brad Johnson & Steve Daines
• MT AG Austin Knudsen
• Pam Bondi Fired
• One More Thing

2026 MONTANA CAMPAIGN NEWS:

It’s a new month and a new quarter in the campaign fundraising world! Here are some of the reports from candidates who sent The Western Word their information. 

Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Seth Bodnar announced that he raised $1,380,749 in the first four weeks of his campaign. It is the most money an Independent candidate has ever raised in the history of the state of Montana.

Ryan Busse’s campaign for Congress in Montana’s First District announced it has raised $525,000 since launching on January 8, 2026, a significant first-quarter fundraising haul that underscores surging momentum and rapidly consolidating support behind his candidacy.

Sam Forstag’s campaign announced that it raised more than $445,000 ahead of the first quarter filing deadline. Nearly 6,000 individuals donated to the campaign, including contributions from supporters in all 16 counties in MT-01.

Montana candidates and campaign staffers are encouraged to send campaign information to The Western Word @ Western_Word@Yahoo.com. 

TRANSPARENT ELECTION INITIATIVE:

It was good to see the Montana Supreme Court dismiss a challenge from a coalition of business and industry groups over a proposed ballot initiative (Transparent Election Initiative) that is seeking to limit corporate spending in Montana elections. It was unanimous. (Source)

The Transparent Election Initiative is gaining momentum. 

BRAD JOHNSON & STEVE DAINES:

Former Montana Secretary of State and former chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission, Brad Johnson, gives his opinion about U.S. Senator Steve Daines. 

His opinion is titled: 

“Viewpoint: I knew Steve Daines before the swamp did”

Johnson writes: I have known Steve Daines since he was a junior in high school, and I could not be more disappointed in what he has become.

Johnson says, 

Somewhere along the way, Steve changed. He rose through the Gianforte orbit, climbed the ladder, and became exactly what Montana Republicans claim to despise: a creature of the D.C. Swamp. The man who once worked to bring voters in now works to keep real choices out. The grassroots activist became a gatekeeper for the D.C. Cartel.

Johnson neglects to address Daines’ years of unwavering, sycophantic devotion to Donald Trump. History will not be kind to Steve Daines. 

Johnson closes the opinion with:

That is not leadership. That is not confidence. It is the behavior of a political boss who no longer trusts the people and no longer respects the voters who put him where he is.

You can read his complete opinion piece HERE.

MT AG AUSTIN KNUDSEN:  

Knudsen is at it again. This time, he has set his sights on Gallatin County.

According to a Montana DOJ press release: 

Attorney General Austin Knudsen is demanding Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell rescind her unlawful policy refusing to recognize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a “criminal justice agency” and share confidential criminal justice information (CCJI) with them. The policy puts the safety of Gallatin County residents at risk and undermines law enforcement operations to crack down on illegal immigration in Montana.

Cromwell has until Monday, April 6, to rescind the policy or Attorney General Knudsen will take immediate action to ensure state law is followed.

Yawn…

PAM BONDI FIRED: 

In case you missed it, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was fired on Thursday. Trump announced her departure on social media:

Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Bondi was the second cabinet official fired. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, released last month, was the first.  

ONE MORE THING:

There’s a fine line between eccentric and bat-shit crazy. I ride that line like a circus bear on a unicycle. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##