Devin Jackson

Devin Jackson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 45. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Devin Jackson was born in Helena, Montana. He graduated from The Recording Workshop in 1998. His career experience includes working as an audio engineer and business operator.^[1]^[2]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 45

Denley Loge defeated Devin Jackson and Kelley Durbin-Williams in the general election for Montana State Senate District 45 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Denley Loge (R)	59.0	7,714
		Devin Jackson (D)	33.1	4,321
	Submit photo	Kelley Durbin-Williams (Independent)	7.9	1,029

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,064
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 45

Devin Jackson advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 45 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Devin Jackson	100.0	2,031

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,031
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 45

Denley Loge defeated Annamarie White in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 45 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Denley Loge	70.8	2,952
	Submit photo	Annamarie White	29.2	1,218

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,170
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Jackson in this election.

2022

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Lyn Hellegaard defeated Devin Jackson in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 97 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Lyn Hellegaard (R)	56.0	2,898
	Devin Jackson (D)	44.0	2,278

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,176
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Devin Jackson advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Devin Jackson	100.0	1,181

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,181
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Lyn Hellegaard defeated Michael Burks in the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lyn Hellegaard	51.1	891
	Submit photo	Michael Burks	48.9	851

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,742
= 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.
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Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Devin Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jackson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Like most Montanans I grew up fishing, hunting, camping, and working on farms and ranches. I grew up in a small house, on a dirt road 7 miles outside Corvallis. How did a conservative rural guy from the Bitterroot end up a Democrat? Easy, because the Montana Democratic Party is the only party defending the values I learned here, our Right to Privacy, our stream access, our wildlife, our schools, and our healthcare (and Dems didn’t raise my property taxes). I’m running because I want to defend those things for my neighbors.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Montanans deserve representation that works for them. So much time has been spent fighting that the actual work didn't get done last time. Politics isn't a sport, to crush our opponent. It's a debate among adults about what is best for everyone. There are a lot of things I will defend, but I'm going to Helena to work not to fight. It's time to put community before politics. We are all Montanans first. If we work together we will all win. If we fight each other we all lose. Elect me if you want representation that will address your taxes before they talk about drag shows.
Republicans spent the entire last session dividing Montanans, creating outrage and chaos. Why? Because they wanted to distract you from the fact that; in 2023 a GOP Supermajority passed the largest property tax increase in Montana history. They were handed a once-in-a-lifetime budget surplus of $2.7 billion, but we’re still facing the same problems we had 2 years ago. The GOP Supermajority and the GOP governor showed they’re unable to lead. Despite the surplus, we’re still in a housing crisis. Montana’s starting teacher wage is still 51st, last in the nation, so we still have a teacher shortage. The average wage for wildland firefighters is still $14.50, they can make more at Taco Bell. Their inability to work is hurting working Montanans.
There's a number of things we must do in the next session. Solve the tax problem by lowering the state mill rate from 1.35 to 0.95 like the Department of Revenue recommended. Continue the Medicaid expansion that is keeping hospitals like the one in Superior from closing. Stimulate housing production to lower and stabilize housing costs. Raise starting teacher wages to attract new talent. But the most important thing we need to do is stop wasting time fighting and start working. My neighbors aren't all in my party, but what they experience matters too. Community before Politics.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally invested in protecting our stream access rights, but those aren't the only rights under attack right now. In Montana we have a Right to Privacy that is guaranteed in the constitution. That right protects a woman's right to choose. It protects all of our medical records and our rights to make our own decisions with our bodies. That is worth defending.

I will always be and advocate for more representation. In Missoula county we have 10 legislators but we only have 3 Commissioners. We are better represented at a state level than in our county. This also applies on a national level. The House of Representatives was designed to grow. 435 is not in the Constitution. I support any measure to uncap the House.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first political event in my life was Iran-Contra. I remember not watching TV because Ollie North was on. I think I was 9.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

The most important thing we can do the next session is provide some property tax relief to working Montanans. We can do that by lowering the state mill rate from 1.34 to 0.95, like the Department of Revenue recommended to the last legislature.

What committees interest you?

Transportation

Modernization
Local Government

Appropriations

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Devin Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jackson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the Bitterroot and spent 15 years volunteering on the Lolo Community Council. We did some good things for Lolo but it felt like Helena was really removed from our community and working class life in general. That’s why I’m running, to elect a working class legislature.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability. We have to do everything we can to reduce costs of mortgages, rent, property taxes, and childcare, while we raise wages.
Local control. Returning power to counties and schools. Doing what we can to reduce local taxes and improve our education system.
Upholding the Constitutions of both the United States and Montana. Opposing the extremist policies that want to take our rights away.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My community and many others have a highway through the middle of them and no say in the traffic laws they have to live with. I hope to help Lolo and other communities develop a way to have a voice in things like speed limits, stop lights, and school zones.

I have always felt that representative government needs more representatives. I will always say 435 isn’t enough representatives for 400 million Americans. In that same view, Missoula County has 10 House Reps and 4 Senators, but only 3 commissioners. Lolo is better represented at a state level than we are at the county level. I find that inadequate.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I am an American and our most important principles are in The Constitution of the United States, all of us have a duty to uphold those principals and rights above all others. I am also a Montanan, my mother was in the building while they were writing our Constitution and I will make sure to stand for all the extra rights we’re given as Montanans, like our right to privacy, our right to stream access, and our rights to a clean and healthful environment.

We need elected officials that can be empathetic. A debate about what’s best for everyone requires people that are capable of looking at things from someone else’s point of view. A legislator must be open to the idea that they aren’t perfect and can be wrong. Part of that means being open to interacting with the people, you can’t hide from town halls.

We need people that believe that there is a role for government to make life better for people. If you don’t think government can help anyone, you shouldn’t be there. If you can’t see that tax relief for seniors will help people that retired in Montana afford to stay in Montana, then you’re not fit for the job. I personally feel we need to elect more working class people to legislature too. We need people living for today to make the choices about today.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My 1st job was changing irrigation pipe in the Bitteroot. My hay fever got so bad one day after blooming, that my eyes swelled shut, and my dad found me wandering around in the field basically blind but trying to finish that row of pipe. It took almost a week but once they cut the alfalfa and my eyes could open again I went back to work. I held the job all summer but clearly it wasn’t the job for me and I didn’t go back. Still I lived in an agrarian community and spent many years bucking hay bales, feeding livestock, and other ranch hand duties.

Right now my community and Montana need an increase in home inventory. It is going to be necessary to convert some ag lands into housing. Still, I think we need to try and protect our active farms or Montana will have a new problem. We’ll be importing our food and anyone that works here will tell you, “shipping is my biggest cost”. I can assure you that I will work to find a balance that lowers both our housing and food costs.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton. It was the first paperback ever published and gave us the utopian concept of Shangri-la. As a boy from Western Montana the mountains are my happy place and the Himalayas are the pinnacle of mountains. I feel a bit of a kinship with the main character who’s leadership style isn’t always orthodox but is usually effective. As much as he wants to relax and listen to music, he knows that he must rise to the occasion and do the hardest thing imaginable to serve the people he is responsible for. There may be some personal connections to, as my mother died in a mountain plane crash before I had memories. Still I take the story of the plane crash with me on every flight.

I would also like to say that “Go by Go” by Jon A Jackson is a great look at Montana labor. It’s historical fiction about the Frank Little murder that sticks closer to the reports than any other attempt I’ve read. Still, it makes a point of showing that Pinkerton’s and other’s hired by the companies played a larger role in his death than the official account shows. It also reminds us that no matter what a company does for the community they’re still only acting in the best interest of the company. The only way workers can guarantee fair wages and treatment is by forming a union and negotiating as one body.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

The biggest struggle has been, how to afford to stay in Montana. Montana’s wages have always been low for the nation, but Missoula County’s are low for the state. I’ve spent time stressing about my mortgage. I’ve been stuck having to buy a new hot water heater without room in my budget. I’ve had my work truck break down at the worst possible time. Like most of the people in my district I’ve stressed about paying my bills and considered job offers in other states. But the Bitterroot is my home.

That’s why I’m running. If you work in Montana you should be able to afford to live in Montana. If you retired in Montana you should be able to afford to stay in Montana. If you grew up in Montana you deserve to be able to afford to start a life in Montana. If you’re considering moving to Montana you shouldn’t have to take a pay cut to live here. Montana should work for working Montanans.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, I served for 15 years on a volunteer board, it taught me a lot about how to make government effective. Lobbyists love inexperienced lawmakers because they are easier to convince. Knowing the limitations of the bureaucracy is very helpful in focusing your work in the right places to accomplish the things your district is asking for. It also helps me make realistic claims regarding my platform. It would be nice to tell every voter I meet “Yes” but that’s not realistic.

We need new ideas and fresh points of view, but I think we can all agree that empty promises help no one. Our open government policies force politicians to tell the public exactly what they’re doing, and electing people that don’t know those rules always results in trouble for the politician and the cause they were advancing. I think it’s important that we elect working class citizens, but that doesn’t mean they have to be inexperienced.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I will be trying to get on the Transportation Committee. Lolo is my community and we have two major US Highways running through our town, but since we are not allowed to incorporate under state law, we have zero say in the major thoroughfare in our town. My district also includes another US Highway and Interstate 90. I want to provide some feeling of self determination to the communities in my district when it comes to basic things like, speed limits, school zones, traffic lights, etc.

A large portion of my work is installing video conference systems. I know that if I haven’t learned anything new in a few months I’m behind. I don’t want Montana to be left behind because our legislators don’t understand technology. So I am also hoping to be on the telecommunications committee and the government modernization task force. Montana needs to look to the future if we want to be a place worth starting your life in.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. Much of our current political debate is treated like a sport. “My side is good, your side is bad. I scored points on you.” The problem is politics isn’t a game to beat your opponent at, it’s a debate involving all sides to find a compromise that is best for the people of Montana. If one side “loses” then some Montanans lost. I’m applying for a job to represent everyone in my district not just democrats, and I don’t want any of them to lose.

Yes there are things I must stand firm on, like protecting Montanans’ rights under our constitutions, but the most effective legislation will come from a place of compromise. If I want to accomplish change for my constituents, I will have to look for places that we can find agreement from “opposite sides”.

Politics only works when everyone has a seat at the table and we are open to change and growth. If we want to take Montana to the future we’re going to have to do it together as Montanans.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Devin Jackson campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Montana State Senate District 45	Lost general	$6,094	$0
2022	Montana House of Representatives District 97	Lost general	$11,859	$0
Grand total			$17,953	$0
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

Montana State Senate District 45

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 12, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 23, 2024

[show]

Current members of the Montana State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Matt Regier

Majority Leader:Tom McGillvray

Senators

District 1

Mike Cuffe (R)

District 2

Dave Fern (D)

District 3

Carl Glimm (R)

District 4

John Fuller (R)

District 5

Matt Regier (R)

District 6

Mark Noland (R)

District 7

Greg Hertz (R)

District 8

Susan Webber (D)

District 9

Bruce Gillespie (R)

District 10

Jeremy Trebas (R)

District 11

Daniel Emrich (R)

District 12

Wendy McKamey (R)

District 13

Joshua Kassmier (R)

District 14

Russel Tempel (R)

District 15

Gregg Hunter (R)

District 16

Jonathan Windy Boy (D)

District 17

Bob Phalen (R)

District 18

Kenneth Bogner (R)

District 19

Barry Usher (R)

District 20

Sue Vinton (R)

District 21

Gayle Lammers (R)

District 22

Daniel Zolnikov (R)

District 23

Emma Kerr-Carpenter (D)

District 24

Mike Yakawich (R)

District 25

Dennis Lenz (R)

District 26

Tom McGillvray (R)

District 27

Vince Ricci (R)

District 28

Forrest Mandeville (R)

District 29

John Esp (R)

District 30

Cora Neumann (D)

District 31

Pat Flowers (D)

District 32

Denise Hayman (D)

District 33

Christopher Pope (D)

District 34

Shelley Vance (R)

District 35

Tony Tezak (R)

District 36

Sara Novak (D)

District 37

Derek Harvey (D)

District 38

Becky Beard (R)

District 39

Wylie Galt (R)

District 40

Laura Smith (D)

District 41

Janet Ellis (D)

District 42

Mary Dunwell (D)

District 43

Jason Ellsworth (R)

District 44

Theresa Manzella (R)

District 45

Denley Loge (R)

District 46

Jacinda Morigeau (D)

District 47

Ellie Boldman (D)

District 48

Andrea Olsen (D)

District 49

Willis Curdy (D)

District 50

Shane Morigeau (D)

Republican Party (32)

Democratic Party (18)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 12, 2022

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 23, 2024

[1]

[2]

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Devin Jackson

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 45

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 45

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 45

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 97

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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