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Erin Farris-Olsen
Erin Farris-Olsen (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 41. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on June 2, 2026.
Farris-Olsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Erin Farris-Olsen was born in Portland, Oregon. As of 2025, she had been a resident of Helena, Montana for 23 years. Farris-Olsen earned a bachelor's degree from Carroll College in 2006 and a law degree from the University of Oregon in 2010. Farris-Olsen's career experience includes working as a consultant, attorney, nonprofit leader, and small business owner. Farris-Olsen previously worked as a law clerk for the Montana Supreme Court, managed the Supreme Court’s Self-Help Law Centers, and served as an equal justice coordinator for the State Bar of Montana. She also worked as the Executive Director of the Montana Watershed Coordination Council and the Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation.[1][2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 41
Erin Farris-Olsen and Dana Toole are running in the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 41 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Erin Farris-Olsen  | |
| Dana Toole | ||
| ||||
| = 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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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court election, 2024
General election
General election for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court
Incumbent Bowen Greenwood defeated Erin Farris-Olsen and Roger Roots in the general election for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bowen Greenwood (R) | 56.9 | 330,503 |
| Erin Farris-Olsen (D) | 38.9 | 226,105 | |
 | Roger Roots (L) | 4.2 | 24,639 | |
| Total votes: 581,247 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court
Erin Farris-Olsen defeated Jordan Ophus in the Democratic primary for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Erin Farris-Olsen | 82.8 | 75,038 |
 | Jordan Ophus | 17.2 | 15,612 | |
| Total votes: 90,650 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court
Incumbent Bowen Greenwood defeated Jason Ellsworth in the Republican primary for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bowen Greenwood | 52.6 | 83,379 |
| Jason Ellsworth | 47.4 | 74,999 | ||
| Total votes: 158,378 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Roger Roots advanced from the Libertarian primary for Montana Supreme Court Clerk of Court.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Farris-Olsen in this election.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Erin Farris-Olsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Farris-Olsen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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With over twenty years of experience in public service, law, and nonprofit leadership, I’ve helped turn big ideas into action. That includes work in the courtroom, at the Capitol, and in community-led efforts across Montana. Today, I lead a consulting business that supports organizations and local leaders in building capacity, securing resources, and turning vision into reality. I bring a well-rounded perspective, a deep love for this place, and a commitment to showing up and doing the work.
A Career Rooted in Public Service
From managing a statewide legal service program at the Montana Supreme Court to leading one of the state's largest watershed networks to helping rural communities cut through red tape and access the support they need, my work has always been about removing barriers, building trusted relationships, and helping people solve real problems.
I’ve worked in state government, environmental law, national nonprofits, and now as the founder of my own consulting business. I understand how policy gets made, how public resources are used, and how to get results that reflect the needs of everyday Montanans.
Leadership You Can Trust
I’ve led diverse teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and helped design and grow programs that make a lasting difference. I’ve advised Tribal governments, collabo- Protecting Freedom. Montanans value liberty, privacy, and the right to live free from government overreach. But special interests are pushing laws that trample those rights to serve their own agenda.
I’m committed to:
Standing firm against legislation that threatens our personal freedoms and undermines the right to make private decisions about our bodies and our lives,
Protecting free speech, government transparency, and public participation, amd
Defending the independence of our courts, because a fair, impartial judiciary is essential to protecting the freedoms we all rely on.
I’ve stood up for these values throughout my career and on the campaign trail and I’ll keep fighting for them in the Montana legislature. - Opportunity. Montanans believe in fairness, opportunity, and the freedom to build a good life in the place we love. That’s why I’m committed to: Defending the right to a free and high-quality public education, from early childhood through career training; Protecting access to our public lands, so future generations can hunt, hike, and connect with the places that make Montana home; Standing up for worker rights, including fair wages, safe conditions, and the freedom to organize. Because the Montana way of life is worth protecting and no one should be left behind in the place they call home.
- Montanans believe in the promise that hard work should lead to stability and that families shouldn’t be priced out of our community. Rising housing costs, child care shortages, and burdensome taxes are making life harder for Helena families. We need practical, targeted solutions that help working people get ahead. That’s why I’m committed to: Expanding access to affordable housing, so families and neighbors aren’t priced out of town, Investing in child care solutions that support our working parents and help small businesses attract and retain employees; Fighting for fair tax policy so the top earners don’t take all the benefits while everyday Montanans shoulder the load. The 2027 Legislature will face tough choices, and I’ll be the
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.
2024
Erin Farris-Olsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Farris-Olsen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am the right person for the job because I am a licensed attorney, have worked for the Court, and assisted Montanans from all areas of the State in accessing legal resources. I’ve been in the trenches with Clerks of Court statewide and legal service providers. I’ve seen the administration from all sides and look forward to having the opportunity to improve access for all.
The Clerk is the face of the Montana Supreme Court. I have always been passionate about the public perception of the courts. As Clerk, I will foster a Clerk of Court’s office that is welcoming, responsive, and accessible to all Montanans.
Currently, there is unchecked partisanship in the Clerk of the Supreme Court’s Office. It’s important to restore balance in the State government so that our leaders can work together. Although I am running as a Democrat, I will adopt and support non partisan policies as Clerk of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Clerk is a critical voice in improving access to justice and preserving the integrity of our court system.- Judicial Integrity
- Access to Justice
- Court Efficiency
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
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Montana State Senate District 41 |
Personal |
Footnotes
