Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices, Jeff Mangan, has announced his retirement, effective November 7.

During his almost six-year tenure, Mangan was celebrated by Republicans and Democrats alike for his nonpartisan approach to the role.

Before leaving office, Mangan is focusing on shoring up protections for election officials in response to the uptick of hostility towards the country’s election integrity.

Mangan stated his reason for stepping down early was to return to the private sector.

Gov. Greg Gianforte will select the next commissioner from a shortlist submitted to him by lawmakers.

Following a weekend storm that put parts of Montana under record levels of snow, the Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan extended the deadlines for filing campaign finance reports for candidates and committees from Pondera, Teton, and the Blackfeet Nation.

Mangan cited problems with internet access, telephones, and mail service.

For candidates and committees affected by the storm, the deadline to file campaign finance reports is October 4 by 5 p.m.

City candidates in the general election not affected by the storm still file by October 1.

City committees not affected by the storm still file by September 30.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Montana’s campaign spending disclosure laws this week.

The three-judge panel ruled the law is not unconstitutionally vague and requiring groups spending money on electioneering communications to report their donors is proper.

The law, proposed by Gov. Steve Bullock and passed by the Legislature in 2015, still has wide bipartisan support.

Montanans for Community Development, the group challenging the disclosure laws, asserted the requirements were vague and overly broad, giving too much enforcement discretion to the commissioner of political practices. They also argued being required to file electronic campaign reports may be unconstitutional, a point the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals called absurd.

The current commissioner, Jeff Mangan, said he and his office are pleased with the ruling.

Jeff Mangan, a former Democratic State Legislator, took over Monday as Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices. Mangan, the fifth to hold the title in 7 years, was sworn into a six-year term taking over for former Commissioner Jonathon Motl.

Commissioner Mangan commenced work immediately, stating he would begin writing decisions on pending campaign complaints as soon as he was sworn in.

Unlike many Republican lawmakers who characterize Motl’s tenure in the Office as unfairly partisan, Mangan believes the framework established over the last four years left the office in good shape.

On Wednesday, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock appointed Jeff Mangan, a former Democratic state legislator, to a six-year term as the next Commissioner of Political Practices.

Mangan will replace outgoing Commissioner Jonathon Motl whose tenure was riddled by allegations of disproportionately targeting and investigating Republican candidate campaign violations.

Mangan will be the fifth Commissioner appointed this decade and the first confirmed to a full six-year term. A confirmation vote by the Senate is expected on Thursday or Friday.