Censured, disenfranchised Republican lawmakers sue state GOP

Source: Daily Montanan

August 7, 2025 4:09 pm


Three Montana Republican lawmakers have sued the state GOP, alleging their rights as voting members of the party were wrongly terminated and asking for the party to be forced to re-elect its officers.

The lawsuit, filed by Jason Ellsworth of Hamilton, Denley Loge of St. Regis and Shelley Vance of Belgrade, as “MT Republicans,” is the latest escalation of an ongoing fight between a group of nine Republican state senators and the majority of the party that saw the Republican lawmakers work with Democrats to pass major bills, including the state’s budget.

The party “divested MT Republicans from their vested voting rights in MT GOP in retaliation for and as punishment for their protected legislative activities,” the lawsuit states. “.. A party without representation from each of its elected Republicans ceases to act as a political party that reflects the views of the electorate. MT GOP’s ouster was substantively and procedurally fatally flawed.” But the Montana GOP pushed back against the lawsuit filed in Lewis and Clark District Court.

“Frankly, we’re confused as to why they’re upset. You can’t quit the team, suit up for the other side, and then sue the coach for benching you,” said Tyler Newcombe, executive director of the Montana GOP in a statement. “By organizing with Democrats, The Nine removed themselves from the Republican Party. All we did was recognize what they had already made clear through their votes and their alliances.”

Read more: https://dailymontanan.com/2025/08/07/censured-disenfranchised-republican-lawmakers-sue-state-gop/