Democrats and Republicans are investing heavily in the critical Montana Senate race between Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy.

HELENA — Last week, election officials across the country reported receiving suspicious packages in the mail. On Friday, the Montana Secretary of State’s Office confirmed a suspicious mailing intended for them was intercepted this week.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a landmark bill aimed at establishing first-in-the-nation safety measures for large artificial intelligence models Sunday. The decision is a major blow to efforts attempting to rein in the homegrown industry that is rapidly evolving with little oversight.

Ben Alke's campaign proposes a less partisan justice department. Incumbent Attorney General Austin Knudsen said that would be a "weak" exercise of the office.

The Republican now holds a 7-point lead over the Democrat in crucial Senate race, having previously been behind by 5 points.

Montana election officials say ballots on the state's online election system for overseas and military voters initially did not include Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as a candidate for president.

Montana temporarily took down its online system used by citizens and military personnel voting abroad to fix a technical glitch that omitted the Democratic presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Montana temporarily shut down its online absentee voting system after a voter realized that Kamala Harris was not listed as a canidate on his ballot.

Thirty-four Senate seats will be on the ballot in November, but a handful of close races could decide the balance of power in Congress.

Already in hot water with Native American tribes in Montana for his racist and disparaging remarks about members of the Crow Nation, Senate candidate Tim Sheehy has been caught on tape comparing Indigenous Afghans and Indigenous people of Montana.

Ben Alke's campaign proposes a less partisan justice department. Incumbent Attorney General Austin Knudsen said that would be a "weak" exercise of the office.