Montana GOP seeks to bar 3rd parties from key US Senate race
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Libertarians lined up with Democrats on Friday against a proposal that would effectively block third party candidates from next year’s Montana U.S. Senate election, as Republicans try to consolidate opposition to incumbent Jon Tester in a race pivotal for control of the Senate.
Republicans who control the state Legislature want to alter the 2024 Senate primary in Montana so that only the top two candidates, no matter their party, advance to the November election. Past races for Tester’s seat were close enough that many Republicans blamed third party candidates for draining away potential GOP votes and giving the Democrat the victory.
Critics blasted the proposal during a Montana House committee meeting as a blatant attempt to rig the election.
“It will completely block us out,” said Montana Libertarian Party Chairman Sid Daoud. “It's going to eliminate any third party or independent candidate from moving to the general election.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/montana-gop-seeks-to-bar-3rd-parties-from-key-us-senate-race/ar-AA19Sm3b
