![Montana Republican Party Joins Lawsuit to Strike Down Open Primary System](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2015/01/ballot-box.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
Montana Republican Party Joins Lawsuit to Strike Down Open Primary System
Over the weekend, the Montana Republican Central Committee decided in an 83-43 vote to join a lawsuit that could strike down some Montana election laws. Specifically, Republicans are challenging the open primary system, arguing that laws that allow democrats and other non-republican voters to vote in the republican primary, are at odds with the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Republican Party chairman Will Deschamps says the party will add its own lawyer to the case as well.
"Representative [Matthew] Monforton from Gallatin County is the one that is spearheading the lawsuit that ten state central committees have signed onto," said Republican party Chairman Will Deschamps. "The party then chose to join onto that lawsuit, we, obviously, will have our own attorney, Monforton will not be representing the state party."
Attorney Jim Brown will represent the Republican Party which has just a few days left to sign the official paperwork.
"The judge had given the five central committees and their attorney thirteen days to add or subtract any people that were going to join onto the lawsuit, this is my understanding. So, thirteen days from the tenth, so that's the first writ that has to be done by the state party saying that we are joining the lawsuit."
Deschamps says the lawsuit is in its infancy and that it could take quite a while to make it through court, the first writ is due by Friday, January 23.
More From Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM
![Polson Republican Legislator Lauds GOP Accomplishments in Helena](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2022/02/attachment-Voter-Registration-RS34147_GettyImages-584494226-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Republican Party Chairman Don Kaltschmidt Celebrates Victories](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2020/11/poll.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![GOP Chairman Slams Governor Steve Bullock’s Run for the Senate](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2020/04/Steve-Bullock-Missoula-College-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Republicans Present a United Front on Legislature’s First Day](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2019/01/Greg-Hertz-legislator.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Republican Leader Fears ‘Lower Propensity Voters’ May Sink GOP Congressional Candidate With Mail In Ballot](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/02/GOP-banner-Joe-Readle-Getty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Republicans Choose State Delegates – State Headlines](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/05/ballot-in-box-630x4721.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![Conservative Lawmakers Face Opponents in Montana Primaries](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2015/09/152843420.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![LISTEN – Montana Politics Mirrors National Controversy](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/03/will-deschamps.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Montana Republican Party Names New Executive Director](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2015/06/Montana-Republican-Party-Facebook.png?w=980&q=75)