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Jonathan Karlen

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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.

Jonathan Karlen
Image of Jonathan Karlen

Candidate, Montana House of Representatives District 98

Montana House of Representatives District 98
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

0

Prior offices
Montana House of Representatives District 96
Predecessor: Kathy Whitman

Compensation

Base salary

$104.86/legislative day

Per diem

$171/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

University of Montana, 2021

Graduate

University of Montana, 2022

Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Wildlife Research Fellow
Contact

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]

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:


Elections

2026

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

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
Image of Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan Karlen (D)

Candidate Connection = 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
Image of Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan Karlen (D)
 
57.7
 
3,684
Image of Jace Beard
Jace Beard (R)
 
42.3
 
2,700

Total votes: 6,384
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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
Image of Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan Karlen
 
100.0
 
1,376

Total votes: 1,376
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.

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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
Image of Jace Beard
Jace Beard
 
100.0
 
853

Total votes: 853
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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
Image of Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan Karlen (D) Candidate Connection
 
53.0
 
3,035
Image of Kathy Whitman
Kathy Whitman (R)
 
47.0
 
2,688

Total votes: 5,723
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.

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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
Image of Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan Karlen Candidate Connection
 
66.6
 
985
Linda Swanson
 
33.4
 
494

Total votes: 1,479
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

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
Image of Kathy Whitman
Kathy Whitman
 
100.0
 
1,166

Total votes: 1,166
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.

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

Candidate Connection

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

I currently serve as a Boone and Crockett Club Wildlife Conservation Fellow at the University of Montana (UM). My background is a combination of science and policy work. I have served as a Max Bacus Leader in the U.S. Senate and a Demmer Scholar with the Legislative Affairs Office of the U.S. Forest Service. During the 2021 Montana Legislative Session, I wrote and successfully lobbied to pass a bill that expanded hunting and fishing opportunities. I have also conducted wildlife fieldwork with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

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.
I have broad policy interests, with much of my experience in fields related to natural resources, wildlife, climate change, and energy. I believe strongly that all policy areas are connected, and that in order to tackle issues like climate change, we need to have a fair and effective tax code, great schools, affordable healthcare, a strong economy, and laws that protect human rights. I look forward to working with constituents and community organizations to make meaningful progress on a wide variety of policy issues important to Montanans.
I can’t just choose one person, so I’ve put a short list below:

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.

Lyndon B. Johnson: For his ability to forge compromise and build relationships with lawmakers of all backgrounds, resulting in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Problem Solver– A great legislator will be able to collaborate with others and think creatively to solve challenging problems.

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.

Compassion– Elected officials make decisions that impact people’s lives, sometimes drastically. I believe that elected officials need to listen to those most affected by a policy, and always be able to explain their perspective.
Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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.
A key challenge I hope to address is that our property tax system is stifling the economic mobility of Montanans. From Montana's 12 million tourists visiting each year, to our vast natural resource reserves, we have robust revenue streams that can sustainably relieve the property tax burden facing middle-class families.

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.
I believe that an effective legislature will be comprised of lawmakers of all backgrounds, including those with and without prior political experience.
Absolutely. I believe that forming meaningful relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle lays the foundation for compromise and bipartisanship.
Yes. My campaign is premised on compromise and working across party lines. It's clear that Montanans see results when their leaders work together in good faith. I believe most Montanans would agree that our tax code should promote economic mobility, that every child deserves an excellent education, that working families should be able to afford childcare, healthcare, and housing, and that science should be the basis for management of land and wildlife. When we start by working toward our shared goals, we will be more effective in addressing more controversial issues.

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.


Jonathan Karlen campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Montana House of Representatives District 98Won general$22,740 $0
2022Montana House of Representatives District 96Won general$48,624 $0
Grand total$71,364 $0
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal 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

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Montana

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


2023












See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 7, 2022
  2. 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
-


Current members of the Montana House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Brandon Ler
Majority Leader:Steve Fitzpatrick
Minority Leader:Katie Sullivan
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Ed Byrne (R)
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
Paul Tuss (D)
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
Mike Fox (D)
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
Marc Lee (D)
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
SJ Howell (D)
Republican Party (58)
Democratic Party (42)