Shaylee Ragar

Republicans in the Montana House have voted to formally punish Democratic state Rep. Zephyr by banning her from attending or speaking during floor sessions. She will be allowed to vote remotely.

State Rep. Zooey Zephyr has been barred from speaking following her controversial comments on legislation to ban gender-affirming care. Wednesday, the House could vote to censure or expel Zephyr.

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.

The GOP candidate in the newly formed House district has to live down his bumpy time in the Trump administration in order to win. (Story aired on Weekend Edition Sunday on Oct. 16, 2022.)

Republican Ryan Zinke should have a big edge in the race to fill a new House seat in GOP-heavy Montana, except that he faced multiple scandals while former President Trump's interior secretary.

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.