Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is accusing Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen of trying to mislead voters with a new ad in the increasingly heated Republican primary for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, as the fight over President Donald Trump’s backing becomes a central issue in the race.
Jacobsen’s latest ad has drawn criticism from Flint supporters, who argue it attempts to create the impression that she has Trump’s support by using older imagery and comments from another campaign. The dispute comes as Republican candidates compete to show the strongest ties to Trump and to leading Montana Republicans in one of the state’s highest-profile 2026 contests.
The timing has only intensified the fight. Trump endorsed Aaron Flint the day after Jacobsen entered the race, giving Flint an immediate boost and making the endorsement battle a defining early flashpoint in the primary.
