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District Court Judge Blocks New Montana GOP Bylaws
The judge said the bylaws likely violate Montana election law and constitutional protections, and set a July 13 hearing on making the order permanent.
- On Wednesday, Lewis and Clark County District Judge Michael McMahon granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Montana Republican Party from enforcing new bylaws that allow party leadership to remove elected members and candidates.
- Adopted last month, the contested 2026 bylaws require members to pay $20 in annual dues and pledge a loyalty oath, while empowering party officers to expel members for 'conduct deemed inconsistent with party purposes' or collaborating with Democrats.
- Challenging the rules, plaintiffs including Rep. Brad Barker—who won his Carbon County primary with 63% of the vote—argue the bylaws violate a 2019 state law protecting elected precinct officers from arbitrary removal by party leadership.
- Montana Republican Party Chairman Art Wittich stated the party is reviewing the allegations and looks forward to defending the State Central Committee's passage of the bylaws in upcoming proceedings.
- Scheduled for July 13, a hearing will determine if the restraining order becomes permanent, as the lawsuit alleges the rules enable 'corruption and fraud' by undermining the state's ability to conduct free, open elections.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News+9 Reposted by 9 other sources
District court judge blocks new Montana GOP bylaws
A restraining order has been issued that blocks the Montana Republican Party from enacting new bylaws intended to drive nonconformists out of the party ranks.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Left, 46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Left, 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
L 46%
C 46%
Factuality
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