In recent years, abortion has been a flash point between Montana’s Republican-controlled legislature, which has passed several bills restricting the procedure, and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, who has regularly vetoed them. UM’s Banville predicts that, regardless of who wins the GOP primary, a Republican in the governor’s office would mean abortion restrictions becoming law.

That prospect weighs on Rep. Kim Dudik, a Missoula lawmaker and former nurse now running for attorney general.

“I oppose any restrictions on a woman’s right to privacy” in her health care, she said. Noting the Montana Constitution’s protections of privacy rights, she said, “if there were laws that came out violating that right, I would not defend those laws (as attorney general) because they are not constitutional.”

Dudik has worked in cooperation with Fox on issues such as combating human trafficking. However, she disagreed with his defense of the North Carolina law.

“I don’t think that Montana’s attorney general should be joining a lawsuit that infringes upon that (privacy) right,” she said.

Raph Graybill, Bullock's attorney and a Democratic candidate for attorney general, was also sharply critical of Fox's actions.