2026 Primary Elections

[quarterhorse]

The primary elections will be taking place over the next few months. If you want better candidates I've always felt the primary is the place to make your vote count. If your state is like mine whoever wins the Republican Primary goes on to win the general election.

I've decided that public lands are my first filter when reviewing candidates. Several of the federal delegates in Idaho are not friendly to public lands. One probably dreams of being Mike Lee.

The Idaho Primary is May 19. Your state election is just around the corner. Get out there and make your vote count.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Very important - Its not too late to ask them about wildlife issues.

The reps im voting for are aligned with the positions and legislative issues that I wish to be changed. Engaging on the issues with them in advance can reinforce conversations as an eventual constituent as well.

At the very least - i can document that they "say" and "do" differently, if i was deceived, and in that event i will gladly share the email/vote with future political rivals.

We collectively get the representation we deserve.

 

[SAJ-99]

The primary elections will be taking place over the next few months. If you want better candidates I've always felt the primary is the place to make your vote count. If your state is like mine whoever wins the Republican Primary goes on to win the general election.

I've decided that public lands are my first filter when reviewing candidates. Several of the federal delegates in Idaho are not friendly to public lands. One probably dreams of being Mike Lee.

The Idaho Primary is May 19. Your state election is just around the corner. Get out there and make your vote count.

Name names (maybe in Idaho forum) Getting people to do their own research on candidates is tough even in general elections and almost impossible in a primary. It’s why incumbents become the default choice. Any help you can provide people to educate on positions is useful.

 

[quarterhorse]

Name names (maybe in Idaho forum) Getting people to do their own research on candidates is tough even in general elections and almost impossible in a primary. It’s why incumbents become the default choice. Any help you can provide people to educate on positions is useful.

Russ Fulcher is openly anti public lands and needs to go.

Crapo and Risch stood up against the public land sell off last year. It took extreme pressure for them to do so. They would have went along with it otherwise.

Simpson is good for public lands.

Governor Little would like the state to get the federal estate.

 

[quarterhorse]

Russ Fulcher is openly anti public lands and needs to go.

Crapo and Risch stood up against the public land sell off last year. It took extreme pressure for them to do so. They would have went along with it otherwise.

Simpson is good for public lands.

Governor Little would like the state to get the federal estate.

It would be great if others would list thier good/bad candidates that are up for re-election this year.

 

[Forkyfinder]

It would be great if others would list thier good/bad candidates that are up for re-election this year.

While i agree to an extant - its much better for those running to hear calls/emails about wildlife topics/issues consistently from the people who vote for them.

If those things were/are cherished position among constituents - perhaps it wouldnt be such a political bargaining chip that people throw away if the right lobbyist talks.

 

[SAJ-99]

While i agree to an extant - its much better for those running to hear calls/emails about wildlife topics/issues consistently from the people who vote for them.

If those things were/are cherished position among constituents - perhaps it wouldnt be such a political bargaining chip that people throw away if the right lobbyist talks.

Absolutely let them know, but who is an important part. Western MT is a a case study. The leading candidate Aaron Flint was hand picked- military background, decorated, radio show host (name recognition), same “Montana Values” Qualified? Absolutely not. But that isnt important. His webpage looks like a copy/paste from 2024. It still gives a “headind down wrong path” vibe (although someone updated it over the weekend, ).

Flint was asked about public lands on podcast below. Besides not sounding enthusiastic about the job, he dropped Randy’s name a lot and gave a classic non-answer answer. He also wants more mining, so like Zinke he says “pro public lands” but that doesn’t mean conservation, only exploitation.

Also, it really requires voters to make hard choices. When the first polls come out this fall, some “undecided” people will gravitate toward whoever has the lead because they don’t want to vote for the loser or “waste their vote”.

Congressional Candidate Aaron Flint on Public Lands and Affordability in Montana | Explore Big Sky

Aaron Flint is a retired Army lieutenant colonel with two Bronze Stars, a former conservative talk radio host who spent a decade taking calls from Montanans for four hours a day, and the Republican frontrunner for Montana's open House seat in the western district.

www.explorebigsky.com

 

[Straight Arrow]

Absolutely let them know, but who is an important part. Western MT is a a case study. The leading candidate Aaron Flint was hand picked- military background, decorated, radio show host (name recognition), same “Montana Values” Qualified? Absolutely not. But that isnt important. His webpage looks like a copy/paste from 2024. It still gives a “headind down wrong path” vibe (although someone updated it over the weekend, ).

Flint was asked about public lands on podcast below. Besides not sounding enthusiastic about the job, he dropped Randy’s name a lot and gave a classic non-answer answer. He also wants more mining, so like Zinke he says “pro public lands” but that doesn’t mean conservation, only exploitation.

Also, it really requires voters to make hard choices. When the first polls come out this fall, some “undecided” people will gravitate toward whoever has the lead because they don’t want to vote for the loser or “waste their vote”.

Congressional Candidate Aaron Flint on Public Lands and Affordability in Montana | Explore Big Sky

Aaron Flint is a retired Army lieutenant colonel with two Bronze Stars, a former conservative talk radio host who spent a decade taking calls from Montanans for four hours a day, and the Republican frontrunner for Montana's open House seat in the western district.

www.explorebigsky.com

FWIW, 'don't know your political flavor, but if you ever listened to a previous radio show hosted by Aaron Flint ... you could clearly hear the loud MAGA echoes.

 

[SAJ-99]

FWIW, 'don't know your political flavor, but if you ever listened to a previous radio show hosted by Aaron Flint ... you could clearly hear the loud MAGA echoes.

Absolutely. For those not sure, the Trump endorsement gives it away. And he doesn't sound like a guy that is going to stand up and vote against something his party is pushing. When he is campaigning, he is like many politicians, a chameleon.

As someone said, we get the government we deserve.

 

[Bonasababy]

What I see is we get the government the two parties allow us to have. Both tend to support candidates who are more extreme than the avg. voter. In my state there are no republican candidates who arent courting Trump...the one I thought had a solid chance of competing quit in disgust during the ICE action in Mpls/St. Paul saying Trump/MAGA had made it impossible for any republican to win any statewide office. Most of them wont say much as they await Trumps blessing other than lob attacks and sling mud at Dems through carefully crafted media announcement. They do NOT hold public forums, they will not respond to newspaper questions, they actively avoid public contact and questions.

Every federal republican applauded the BWCA decision. All you need to know about them IMO.


I though our republicans were bad, then I heard not one sitting republican in NoDak attended their own partys convention. Like ours, taken over by real extremists.

On the Dem side theres more opportunity for Sportsmen/conservation IMO. Still feeling out some candidates but of those with enough history to predict from, Klobuchar for governor and Craig for Senator should be reliable except on ag issues that do harm. They both show deference to increasing ethanol requirements to E15 year round for example.

Its a little easier to get a read on Dems here. But gets easier as we approach the end of summer. There is a gun bill that IMO wont affect sportsmen not into the AR and black gun craze-- but still goes a bit too far IMO-- in play at the state level. Passed senate but not the house and wont move from there this session. It will move fast when Dems take over next year though, so asking all of their candidates how they plan to protect sporting arms use is worthwhile.