Leadership In Action release new ad hitting Tester
Knudsen Launches New Human Trafficking Awareness Course for Students
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today the launch of a new educational course designed to raise awareness about human trafficking and online exploitation among students. The course, titled “Enlightened,” was developed by the Montana Department of Justice in collaboration with anti-human trafficking organizations and features insights from human trafficking survivors and Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents.
The “Enlightened” course includes a video and an in-class discussion sheet intended to help teachers and parents initiate conversations about human trafficking and internet crimes against children. The curriculum aims to provide students with the knowledge to recognize and report suspicious activities that could indicate trafficking.
“The safety of our young people is paramount,” said Attorney General Knudsen. “This course is a crucial step in ensuring that Montana’s youth are equipped to identify and respond to human trafficking. I am grateful to organizations like Unchained for their partnership in developing this educational resource. I urge all parents, teachers, and school administrators to use this material to help protect our children and combat human trafficking.”
Poll: Knudsen with big lead over Alke in Attorney General race
A recent poll conducted statewide has unveiled significant support for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen in his bid for reelection against Democratic challenger Ben Alke. According to the survey results, Knudsen commands a strong lead over his opponent, Ben Alke, ahead of the upcoming election.
The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, indicates that Attorney General Austin Knudsen holds a commanding 50% of voter support, while his Democratic challenger, Ben Alke, trails with 36%. The remaining 14% of respondents either remain undecided or support other candidates not specified in the poll.
Knudsen on Supreme Court Blocking Biden-Harris Administration’s Title IX Rule
The United States Supreme Court ruled today to block the Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX rule, a decision that halts the enforcement of regulations perceived as threatening the rights and safety of girls and young women.
In response to the ruling, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued a statement reaffirming his commitment to protecting women’s rights and opposing federal overreach.
“Boys should not be allowed in the girls’ locker room,” Knudsen said. “I’m glad the Supreme Court agreed with us today. I will continue to fight to protect young women and uphold Montana’s law against federal overreach.”
Montana Shooting Sports Group Endorses Knudsen
In anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls.
MSSA has given Attorney General Austin Knudsen an A rating and the group endorsed him for the 2024 Election.
Each candidate’s grade, issued by MSSA, reflects their stance and commitment to upholding the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA). The ratings are meticulously derived from a comprehensive analysis that includes tracking legislative votes and evaluating candidate responses to MSSA’s questionnaires. Incumbents’ grades are informed by their historical voting records, while new candidates were assessed based on their responses to MSSA’s questionnaire. Candidates without a voting record or questionnaire response were marked with a “?” indicating uncertainty regarding their stance on RKBA
Sheehy links Tester to Biden in RNC speech
On Tuesday evening, Tim Sheehy, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Montana, took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to deliver a speech urging the need to “save America.” Sheehy was among several GOP Senate hopefuls who addressed the convention, each aiming to bolster their campaigns and rally support.
Sheehy’s candidacy is particularly significant for the Republican Party this year, as Montana’s Senate seat is a key target in their quest to regain control of the Senate. The GOP sees flipping this seat as crucial to their broader strategy.
During his speech, Sheehy drew upon his background, emphasizing his military service and business experience. He highlighted his time as a Navy officer in Afghanistan and his role in leading Bridger Aerospace, a company specializing in aerial firefighting and other services. These credentials, he suggested, positioned him as a candidate who understands both leadership and the needs of Montanans.
Supreme Court Candidate Lynch Receives F Rating from Pro-gun Group
In anticipation of the upcoming November General Election, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 candidate grades and endorsements, aimed at guiding pro-gun voters in their choices at the polls.
MSSA has given Chief Justice candidate Jeremiah Lynch an F rating. The group endorsed Lynch’s opponent, Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson.
Each candidate’s grade, issued by MSSA, reflects their stance and commitment to upholding the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA). The ratings are meticulously derived from a comprehensive analysis that includes tracking legislative votes and evaluating candidate responses to MSSA’s questionnaires. Incumbents’ grades are informed by their historical voting records, while new candidates were assessed based on their responses to MSSA’s questionnaire. Candidates without a voting record or questionnaire response were marked with a “?” indicating uncertainty regarding their stance on RKBA.
GOP CHAIRMAN CALLS ON JUDGE MENAHAN TO RECUSE HIMSELF
In a strongly-worded statement, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don “K” Kaltschmidt called on Judge Mike Menahan to recuse himself from the CI-128 case. Kaltschmidt accused the judge of bias, alleging that Menahan has consistently favored pro-abortion activists throughout his career.
“Judge Menahan has sold out to pro-abortion activists his entire career,” Kaltschmidt declared. He pointed to the judge’s high approval ratings from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana and NARAL Pro-Choice Montana as evidence of this bias.
Menahan served a Democrat in the Montana House of Reprsentatives from 2009 to 2013.
Decision Desk HQ changes Montana Senate race to ‘Likely R’
Democratic Senator Jon Tester, currently in his bid for a fourth term in predominantly Republican Montana, faces a pivotal race in 2024. His reelection is crucial for Democrats, who are defending three Senate seats in states won by Donald Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections—Ohio and West Virginia being the others. Tester is expected to confront Tim Sheehy, a former Navy Seal turned aerospace CEO, endorsed by Trump and key Republican figures.
Knudsen issues statement on court’s stay of Biden’s 1557 rule change
In a significant legal development, a federal court has granted Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s request to halt the Biden administration’s controversial new rule concerning gender-transition treatments. The rule, proposed under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), aimed to tie federal funding to compliance with mandates requiring healthcare providers to offer gender-transition medical procedures.
Attorney General Knudsen, who filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) rule in June, welcomed the court’s decision as a rebuke to what he termed the administration’s “lawless order.” The ruling blocks enforcement of the rule that would have compelled healthcare providers to perform gender-transition procedures on adults and children seeking such treatments, or risk losing federal funding.
“The Biden administration issued another lawless order and it was rightfully smacked down by the court,” Attorney General Knudsen asserted in a statement following the decision. “Forcing healthcare providers to perform dangerous and life-altering experimental procedures and burdening states with the cost is a step too far, especially when these treatments can cause irreversible damage, even to children.”
Montana Senate Race Heating Up
Jon Tester, the Democratic Senator from Montana, is striving to retain his seat in a state that strongly supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Despite Montana’s conservative leaning, Tester has managed to secure victories in several tough elections over the past decade, maintaining his popularity with the state’s right-leaning voters.
This November, Tester faces potentially one of the toughest re-election battles of his career. To win a fourth term, he must significantly outperform President Joe Biden, who tops the Democratic ticket. His main opponent is Republican Tim Sheehy, a businessman and retired Navy SEAL. Current polling suggests a tight race.
The latest poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Montana Republican Party, reveals a deadlock between Tester and Sheehy, each receiving 46 percent support among 500 likely voters surveyed between June 11 and 13. Interestingly, Tester is polling 20 points better than Biden in Montana, where 57 percent of respondents favor Trump compared to 37 percent for Biden. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.
Knudsen responds to Supreme Court Victory
Attorney General Knudsen spearheaded a coalition of 24 states urging the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s decision in March. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling by a lower court that prevented states and local governments from enforcing laws aimed at preventing public spaces from turning into homeless encampments.
Following the decision in Johnson v. City of Grants Pass, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued the following statement
:“This is a huge win for cities across Montana that are suffering from unsafe public spaces. For too long local governments have been unable to address the rampant homeless camps and their side effects in communities across the state because their hands were tied. Cities like Bozeman and Missoula can’t hide behind the lower court’s flawed decision any longer. Now, they can enforce the laws that stop Montana streets from becoming camps for the homeless.”
