Montana Supreme Court Rules on Green Party Candidate

The Montana Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision allowing Green Party candidate Robert Barb to remain on the ballot for the U.S. Senate election, rejecting the Montana Democratic Party's efforts to disqualify him. The Democrats argued that Barb's nomination violated state statutes due to a last-minute change when Michael Downey withdrew from the race. The Supreme Court found insufficient evidence to support the Democrats' claims, emphasizing the speculative nature of their arguments. This ruling is significant as it could impact the electoral prospects of incumbent Democrat Jon Tester, who is facing Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. Polls suggest Tester is vulnerable, with Sheehy leading in head-to-head matchups, particularly if no third-party candidates are on the ballot. With less than 50 days until the election, the Democratic Party has not yet requested an expedited schedule for their pending appeal.