With respect to the upcoming presidential election, it appears that the dust has settled on the Montana contribution limits litigation.  As a refresher, the district court invalidated the State’s contribution limits and the State appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit and requested an emergency stay pending appeal.  Yesterday the Ninth Circuit granted the stay and issued a lengthy unanimous order holding that the State’s contribution limits are likely to be upheld when the case is heard on the merits.  The Ninth Circuit principally wrestled with the question whether the Supreme Court’s fractured opinion in Randall v. Sorrell required the court to revisit its prior decision upholding the contribution limits, and concluded that Randall likely made no difference.  The bottom line?  The litigation will continue, but the contribution limits remain in place for the November election.