How will the GOP spend its mandate?

With the governor’s office and an expanded legislative majority, Republicans will be in the driver’s seat for the 2021 Montana Legislature. Party leaders say they’re still honing their agenda.

On Nov. 3, Montana voters gave the GOP unified control of state government, electing a Republican to the governor’s office for the first time in 16 years, Republican candidates to all statewide offices, and expanding GOP majorities in the state House and Senate.

Even so, while at least one written policy agenda draft has been circulating in Republican circles, the party’s legislative leaders say they’re still working to define the priorities the party  will bring to the Capitol when lawmakers meet this winter to craft a budget and debate changes to state law.