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Democratic Party primaries in Montana, 2026

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2024

Democratic Party primaries, 2026

Montana Democratic Party.jpg

Primary Date
June 2, 2026

Federal elections
Democratic primaries for U.S. House

State party
Democratic Party of Montana
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that will take place in Montana on June 2, 2026.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Montana utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in Montana, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

A Democratic Party primary takes place on June 2, 2026, in Montana to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the state's general election on November 3, 2026.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Montana

Alani Bankhead, Michael Black Wolf, Michael Hummert, Christopher Kehoe, and Reilly Neill are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Montana on June 2, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in Montana, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primaries)
The U.S. House of Representatives elections in Montana are scheduled on November 3, 2026. Voters will elect two candidates to serve in the U.S. House from each of the state's two U.S. House districts. The primary is June 2, 2026. The filing deadline was March 4, 2026. To see a full list of candidates in the primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Democratic Party Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

State elections

State Senate

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2026
Elections for the Montana State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is June 2, 2026. The filing deadline was March 4, 2026. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Montana State Senate elections, 2026

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
  • Please contact Ballotpedia about candidate additions, withdrawals, or disqualifications.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Jonathan Jameson

Vincent Backen
Neil Duram
Steve Gunderson

District 4

Kyle Waterman

Amy Regier

District 6

Patrick Fitzpatrick

Mark Noland (i)

District 8

Jade-Heather Ackerman
Tyson Running Wolf

Christopher Paul Buckles

District 9

Noy Holland

Llew Jones
Zachary Wirth

District 10

Margaret Mitchell

Maximus Dascoulias
Jessica Dyrdahl  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Melissa Nikolakakos 

District 11

Valynda Holland
Mark Winters

Did not make the ballot:
Brooke Winters 

Edward Buttrey
Steven Galloway

Did not make the ballot:
George Nikolakakos 

District 12

Mindy Leach
James Whitaker

Did not make the ballot:
Mark Winters 

George Nikolakakos
Randy Pinocci

Did not make the ballot:
Wendy McKamey (i)

District 14

Blake Borst

Eric Albus
Mark Wicks

District 18

Stan Taylor

Greg Kmetz
Doug Martens

District 19

Deanna Daigrepont

Barry Usher (i)
Chris Rindal

District 22

Lyle Hedin

Daniel Zolnikov (i)

District 23

Emma Kerr-Carpenter (i)
Justin Kucera

Joanna Oblander

District 25

Julie Hippler

Dennis Lenz (i)
Tom Bick

District 28

Kelly Hale

Forrest Mandeville (i)

District 29

Scott Rosenzweig

Jason Gunderson

District 31

Kathleen Williams

Did not make the ballot:
Wesley Siler 

Richard Aungier

District 32

Becky Edwards
Kelly Kortum
Wesley Siler

Neal Ganser

District 34

Carl Anderson

Shelley Vance (i)
Jennifer Carlson
Caleb Hinkle

Did not make the ballot:
Randy Chamberlin 

District 41

Erin Farris-Olsen  Candidate Connection
Dana Toole  Candidate Connection


Libertarian Party

Dru Koester
District 42

Mary Ann Dunwell (i)

Stephen LaPraim
Nick Lancette
Mike Talia

Did not make the ballot:
Kevin Kleinworth 

District 43

Stephen Leuchtman

David Bedey
Kathy Love

District 48

Andrea Olsen (i)


District 49

Willis Curdy (i)

Brad Tschida

District 50

Shane Morigeau (i)



House of Representatives

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2026
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is June 2, 2026. The filing deadline was March 4, 2026. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Democratic primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Montana House of Representatives elections, 2026

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
  • Please contact Ballotpedia about candidate additions, withdrawals, or disqualifications.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Dakota Adams
Roberta McCanse

Michelle Bianco

District 2

Jane Maahs

Tom Millett (i)

District 3

Debo Powers (i)

Cathy Mitchell
Derek Peachey

District 4

Paula Koch

Lyn Bennett (i)
Shaun Pandina
Nathan Purdy

District 5

Luca Welle

Braxton Mitchell (i)

District 6

Darren Fix

Arthur Dunn
Jim Riley

District 7

Madison Evans

Courtenay Sprunger (i)
Luke Maxwell

District 8

Calvin Lime

Lukas Schubert (i)

District 9

Kate McLaughlin

Steven Kelly (i)

District 10

Catherine Allen

Terry Falk (i)

District 11

Maeve Kintzler

Ed Byrne (i)

District 12

Cindy Bruckner

Tracy Sharp (i)

District 13

Dalton Bradford

Linda Reksten (i)
Finley Warden

District 14

Colleen Hinds

Paul Fielder (i)

District 15

Thedis Crowe (i)
Adrien Owen Wagner

Ralph Foster

District 16

Lona Running Wolf


District 17

Chris Bechtold

Justin Cleveland
Michael Fasbender
Susan Geise

Did not make the ballot:
Stephen LaPraim 

District 18


James Coombs
Bruce Gillespie

District 19

Jane Weber (i)

Derren Auger
Hannah Trebas

District 20

Valynda Holland
Steve Keller
Dylan Kunz  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Patricia Anglin 

Melissa Nikolakakos (i)
Anthony Rosales  Candidate Connection

District 21

Lela Graham

Trevor Funseth
Eric Peterson

District 22

Neal Miller

Kevin Leatherbarrow
Jason Lorang

Libertarian Party

Dave Von Eschen
District 23

Rebecca Bogden-Richards

Eric Tilleman (i)
Brett Mills

District 24

Pam Carroll

Steve Fitzpatrick (i)

District 25

Jerry Ferderer

Steve Gist (i)

District 26

Paul Jefferson

Russ Miner (i)

District 27

Paul Tuss (i)


Libertarian Party

Jordan Ophus
District 28


Chisholm Christensen
John South

District 29

Tess Fahlgren
Rachel Sundheim

Valerie Moore (i)
Linda Harmon

District 30

Jason Boeshore

Morgan Thiel (i)

District 31

Lance Fourstar  Candidate Connection
Natalie Oneal
Natalie Weeks-O'Neal
Kathleen Williams


District 32

Mike Fox (i)


District 33

Tristan Veverka

Brandon Ler (i)
Ric Holden

District 34

Jasmine Erickson

Jerry Schillinger (i)
Jason Ellsworth

District 35

Natalie Parker

Gary Parry (i)

District 36

Benjamin Keyes

Kenneth Bogner
Loren Hinebauch
Ty Linger

District 37

Tracey Miller Karcher

Shane Klakken (i)

District 38


Greg Oblander (i)

District 39

Melissa Smith

Kerri Seekins-Crowe (i)

District 40

Gabriel Bradshaw

Mike Vinton (i)
Gunner Cesnik

District 41

Jade Sooktis (i)


District 42

Sidney Fitzpatrick (i)

Jeremiah Jabs

District 43

Rudolf Haden

Larry Brewster (i)

District 44

Mike Eaton

Katie Zolnikov (i)

District 45

Denise Baum (i)

Bryce Walston

District 46

Denise Joy (i)
Erin Tate

Kimberly Welzenbach

District 47

James Reavis (i)

John Maxwell
Rony Stevens  Candidate Connection

District 48

Tucker Colvin

Curtis Schomer (i)

District 49

Rebecca Noell

Ole Hedstrom
Charlie Loveridge

Did not make the ballot:
Sherry Essmann (i)

District 50

Mark Peters

Stewart Harris

District 51

Precious McKenzie

Jodee Etchart (i)
Lana Tibbetts

District 52

Elizabeth Heald

Stacy Zinn (i)
Edward Walker

District 53

Matthew Hankins

Nelly Nicol (i)
Troy Charbonneau

District 54

Janine Coole

Lee Deming (i)

District 55

Richard Gessling

Brad Barker (i)
Mary Horman

District 56


Fiona Nave (i)

District 57

Jordan Viegut

Did not make the ballot:
Scott Rosenzweig (i)

Bob Crank

District 58

Jamie Isaly (i)

Joshua Congleton

District 59

Katie Fire Thunder (i)

Marc Greendorfer  Candidate Connection

District 60

Alanah Griffith (i)

Greg Leman

District 61

Chris Gray
Rio Roland

Did not make the ballot:
Becky Edwards (i)

Eric Jacobs

District 62

Josh Seckinger (i)

Esther Fishbaugh

District 63

Peter Strand (i)

Lawrence Moore

District 64

Brady Bremer  Candidate Connection
Rebecca Stanton

Daniel Martinez  Candidate Connection

District 65

Brian Close (i)

Joe Flynn

District 66

Eric Matthews (i)

Owen Lang

District 67

Logan Henke

Jedediah Hinkle (i)
Russell Nelson

District 68

Jocelyn Kent

Jennifer Carlson
Randy Chamberlin

District 69


Kenneth Walsh (i)
Trevor Walter  Candidate Connection

District 70

Kobi Craddock

Did not make the ballot:
Abigail Thomas 

Shannon Maness (i)

District 71

Scott DeMarois (i)

Suzzann Nordwick

District 72

Donavon Hawk (i)

Michael Saul

District 73

Jennifer Lynch (i)

Gerry Kennedy

District 74

Marc Lee (i)

Trenin Bayless

District 75

Patrick Sullivan

Mark Reinschmidt (i)

Libertarian Party

Greg Devries
District 76


John Fitzpatrick (i)
Trish Schreiber

District 77

Deborah Hansen

Jane Gillette (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Shannon Woodward 

District 78

Mark White

Randyn Gregg (i)

District 79

Luke Muszkiewicz (i)

Chiko Olson

District 80

Qasim Abdul-Baki
Megan Lane

Did not make the ballot:
Melissa Romano (i)

Katie Fruits

District 81

Janet Ellis
Ben Kuiper

Did not make the ballot:
Craig Sundberg 

John Looney Sr.

District 82

Pete Elverum (i)

Clinton McKay

District 83

Jill Cohenour (i)

Aaron Leas

District 84

Tia Nelson
Jamie Van Valkenburg

Roy Caldwell
James Marshal

District 85

Laura Jackson

Michele Binkley
Kim Dailey

District 86

Archie Thomas

Kenneth Allen
Ron Miller
Wayne Rusk

District 87

Bill Jones

Terry Nelson (i)

District 88

Evan Schroedel  Candidate Connection

Greg Overstreet (i)

District 89

Mark Thane (i)

Lyn Hellegaard

District 90


Curtis Cochran (i)
John Squier
Jeff Stanek

District 91

Shelly Fyant (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Rustin Bielski 

Charles Headley

District 92

Reggie Spaulding  Candidate Connection
Monica Tranel


District 93

Ben Davis
Christina Hayes
Nick Kujawa
Sam Kulla

Roy Handley

District 94

Robin Kendall  Candidate Connection
Christopher Morigeau
Lisa Verlanic-Fowler

Greg Woodward

District 95

Zooey Zephyr (i)


District 96

Bob Carter (i)


District 97

Melody Cunningham (i)

Michael Hagestad  Candidate Connection

District 98

Jonathan Karlen (i)

Bryan Muzzana

District 99

Tom France (i)

Ryan Darling

District 100

SJ Howell (i)

Michael Bowles

Libertarian Party

J.C. Windmueller


State executive offices

See also: Montana state executive official elections, 2026

Two state executive offices are up for election in Montana in 2026:

Public Service Commission (2 seats)


Montana Public Service Commission

District 1

Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

District 5

Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Montana

Election information in Montana: June 2, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: June 2, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by May 4, 2026
  • Online: N/A

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: June 1, 2026
  • By mail: Received by June 1, 2026
  • Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: June 2, 2026
  • By mail: Received by June 2, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

May 4, 2026 to June 1, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (MT)


Context of the 2026 elections

Montana Party Control: 1992-2026
No Democratic trifectas  •  Sixteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R
Senate D D D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D R R R R R R R R R R R R S S R R S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

State party overview

Democratic Party of Montana

See also: Democratic Party of Montana

Party control
in Montana
GovernorRepublican
SenateRepublican
HouseRepublican
Click here for party control in all 50 states

Montana has a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and both chambers of the state legislature.




State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic state party affiliates.


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Three of 56 Montana counties—5.4 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Blaine County, Montana 2.46% 15.32% 19.24%
Hill County, Montana 17.18% 3.50% 12.21%
Roosevelt County, Montana 6.49% 15.58% 26.27%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Montana with 56.2 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 35.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1892 and 2016, Montana voted Republican 65.6 percent of the time and Democratic 34.4 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Montana voted Republican all five times.[2]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Montana. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[3][4]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 34 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 17.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 28 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 17.2 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 66 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 28.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 72 out of 100 state House districts in Montana with an average margin of victory of 34.7 points. Trump won 14 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


See also


External links

Footnotes