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Jonathan Karlen
This article is about Jonathan Karlen, a 2022 candidate for Montana House of Representatives District 96. For the 2022 candidate for Missouri's 3rd Congressional District, see Jon Karlen.
2025 - Present
2027
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Jonathan Karlen (Democratic Party) is a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 98. He assumed office on January 6, 2025. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Karlen (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Montana House of Representatives to represent District 98. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.
Biography
Jonathan Karlen earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology and climate change studies in 2021 and a master's degree in public administration in 2022, both from the University of Montana. His career experience includes working as a wildlife research fellow.[1] Karlen joined the Climate and Energy board of the City of Missoula in 2021.[2]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Karlen was assigned to the following committees:
- Business and Labor Committee
- Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee
- House Legislative Administration Committee
Elections
2026
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 98
Incumbent Jonathan Karlen is running in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 98 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jonathan Karlen (D) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2024
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 98
Incumbent Jonathan Karlen defeated Jace Beard in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 98 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jonathan Karlen (D) | 57.7 | 3,684 |
 | Jace Beard (R) | 42.3 | 2,700 | |
| Total votes: 6,384 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 98
Incumbent Jonathan Karlen advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 98 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jonathan Karlen | 100.0 | 1,376 |
| Total votes: 1,376 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 98
Jace Beard advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 98 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jace Beard | 100.0 | 853 |
| Total votes: 853 | |||
| = 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
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Karlen in this election.
2022
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 96
Jonathan Karlen defeated incumbent Kathy Whitman in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 96 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jonathan Karlen (D) | 53.0 | 3,035 |
 | Kathy Whitman (R) | 47.0 | 2,688 | |
| Total votes: 5,723 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 96
Jonathan Karlen defeated Linda Swanson in the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 96 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jonathan Karlen | 66.6 | 985 |
| Linda Swanson | 33.4 | 494 | ||
| Total votes: 1,479 | |||
| = 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
- Maggie Bornstein (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 96
Incumbent Kathy Whitman advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 96 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathy Whitman | 100.0 | 1,166 |
| Total votes: 1,166 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jonathan Karlen has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Jonathan Karlen, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
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2024
Jonathan Karlen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jonathan Karlen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Karlen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My bachelor's degree is in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Climate Change Studies from UM, and I will complete a Master's in Public Administration with a Public Policy Certificate from UM in May 2022.
I spend my winter weekends at Montana Snowbowl coaching youth ski racing. Off the slopes, I volunteer in Missoula-area schools as a writing coach, and for several years I have taught watershed science to thousands of Missoula county Students. At UM, I served as President of the Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society.- It’s time for good-faith collaboration in Helena.
- I will always listen to all perspectives, be reachable, and advocate for policies that address constituent concerns.
- I will reach across the aisle to lower property taxes for the working Montanans, ensure that families can afford childcare, healthcare, and housing, and promote science-based management of our land and wildlife.
John Lewis: For his perseverance to fight for democracy, justice, and civil rights when confronted with deeply entrenched opposition.
Henry Clay: For putting country over party when it mattered most.
Jeanette Rankin: For her lifetime of public service and brave leadership which left Montana and the nation a more just and fair place. I also admire the courage she had in her convictions to always do the right thing even if it came at a steep political cost.
George Bird Grinnell: For his humility and habit of thinking far ahead of his time, resulting in conservation of the Nation’s most treasured natural resources, like Glacier National Park.
Abraham Lincon: For his leadership skills and decision to fill his cabinet with people who often disagreed with him.
Integrity– A legislator should always put their constituents, state, and country over party. The policymaking process works best when leaders are honest with their constituents and stakeholders.
The book is a fascinating comparison of Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, and the formation of their leadership qualities that led the United States through our most challenging times.
Climate change is also one of the most serious, long-term threats we face. We are already seeing how climate change is adversely impacting Montana's ecosystems, infrastructure, and economy. I believe that Montana is at a critical juncture: by investing now in renewable energy, carbon sequestration, and resilient ecosystems, we can lower energy prices, spur investment in our state, and create high-paying jobs throughout Montana.
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.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Montana State Legislature was not in session. |
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 to May 2.
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Montana House of Representatives District 98 |
Officeholder Montana House of Representatives District 98 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 7, 2022
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Jonathan Karlen," accessed March 29, 2023
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 98 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Kathy Whitman (R) |
Montana House of Representatives District 96 2023-2025 |
Succeeded by - |
