Shaylee Ragar

Across the country, parties are consolidating political power in states and squeezing out the moderate middle. In Montana, that squeeze is changing political representation and whose voice counts.

Montana state Rep.-elect Zooey Zephyr is the first openly trans woman elected to the state legislature. She and other lawmakers across the country are now faced with trying to curb anti-LGBTQ bills.

A pamphlet sent to voters includes information based on laws passed last year by Republicans. But a district court judge struck down the laws late last month.

Montana courts have upheld trans peoples' rights to change gender on their birth certificates and participate in college sports. Conservative leaders accuse the courts of bias toward Democrats.

More than 30 states have state supreme court elections this November. Those justices may be the final word on abortion laws in some places now that it's an issue for states to decide.

For the first time in 30 years, Montana has two U.S. House districts. Democrats haven't had representation in decades and have three candidates in Tuesday's primary, along with a big-name Republican.

One of thousands of high school students who walked out of class demanding action after the Parkland shooting says that there has been no meaningful reform, and America's politics are ruled by fear.

As the Supreme Court looks to decide on the future of Roe v. Wade, abortion is again one of the biggest social legal questions facing the country. In Montana, three new laws hang in the balance.

For the first time in decades, Montana will have more than one congressional district. After the news came, GOP lawmakers rushed a bill to set new rules for the state's districting commission.

Delaying session or meeting remotely aren't options that have necessarily appealed to Republican state lawmakers who, for the most part, aren't shy about gathering in large numbers in 2021.