Republican Party primaries in Montana, 2026
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| Republican Party primaries, 2026 |
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| Primary Date |
| June 2, 2026 |
| Federal elections |
| Republican primaries for U.S. House |
| State party |
| Republican Party of Montana |
| State political party revenue |
This page focuses on the Republican 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
A Republican Party primary takes place on June 2, 2026, in Montana to determine which Republican candidate will run in the state's general election on November 3, 2026.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Montana
Kurt Alme, Lee Calhoun, and Charles A. Walking Child are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Montana on June 2, 2026.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Steve Daines (R)
U.S. House
District 1
Republican primary candidatesNote: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
- Ryan K. Zinke (Incumbent)
District 2
Republican primary candidatesNote: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
- Troy Downing (Incumbent)
State elections
State Senate
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2026
Democratic
House of Representatives
State executive offices
Two state executive offices are up for election in Montana in 2026:
Public Service Commission (2 seats)
Montana Public Service Commission
District 1
Republican primary candidates
Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Did not make the ballot:
District 5
Republican primary candidates
Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
- Ann Bukacek (Incumbent)
- Joe Dooling
- David Sanders
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Montana
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
Republican Party of Montana
- See also: Republican Party of Montana
| Party control in Montana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor | Republican |
| Senate | Republican |
| House | Republican |
| 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
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 Republican 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. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 31.49% | 65.40% | R+33.9 | 24.56% | 69.61% | R+45 | R |
| 2 | 26.19% | 70.62% | R+44.4 | 19.77% | 74.94% | R+55.2 | R |
| 3 | 35.65% | 60.43% | R+24.8 | 30.90% | 61.30% | R+30.4 | D |
| 4 | 24.98% | 72.60% | R+47.6 | 20.50% | 73.71% | R+53.2 | R |
| 5 | 49.18% | 47.36% | D+1.8 | 48.70% | 43.57% | D+5.1 | D |
| 6 | 29.95% | 67.81% | R+37.9 | 28.87% | 65.58% | R+36.7 | R |
| 7 | 40.61% | 55.52% | R+14.9 | 34.89% | 56.46% | R+21.6 | R |
| 8 | 28.89% | 68.40% | R+39.5 | 25.31% | 68.36% | R+43 | R |
| 9 | 27.76% | 69.09% | R+41.3 | 23.24% | 70.16% | R+46.9 | R |
| 10 | 28.59% | 69.10% | R+40.5 | 26.23% | 69.31% | R+43.1 | R |
| 11 | 25.25% | 72.18% | R+46.9 | 21.87% | 72.64% | R+50.8 | R |
| 12 | 42.13% | 55.16% | R+13 | 36.12% | 58.17% | R+22 | R |
| 13 | 26.14% | 70.71% | R+44.6 | 18.54% | 76.04% | R+57.5 | R |
| 14 | 32.60% | 63.22% | R+30.6 | 24.35% | 67.81% | R+43.5 | R |
| 15 | 58.01% | 39.28% | D+18.7 | 55.71% | 37.44% | D+18.3 | D |
| 16 | 71.07% | 26.84% | D+44.2 | 65.23% | 28.59% | D+36.6 | D |
| 17 | 30.65% | 66.42% | R+35.8 | 22.87% | 70.58% | R+47.7 | R |
| 18 | 29.49% | 66.80% | R+37.3 | 21.44% | 71.56% | R+50.1 | R |
| 19 | 34.08% | 63.36% | R+29.3 | 25.01% | 68.81% | R+43.8 | R |
| 20 | 36.11% | 62.06% | R+25.9 | 32.46% | 62.16% | R+29.7 | R |
| 21 | 46.91% | 50.23% | R+3.3 | 36.35% | 56.76% | R+20.4 | D |
| 22 | 47.47% | 48.93% | R+1.5 | 36.16% | 54.87% | R+18.7 | R |
| 23 | 49.89% | 47.11% | D+2.8 | 42.34% | 49.63% | R+7.3 | D |
| 24 | 47.86% | 49.59% | R+1.7 | 40.35% | 51.07% | R+10.7 | D |
| 25 | 50.16% | 46.46% | D+3.7 | 39.34% | 52.01% | R+12.7 | R |
| 26 | 47.24% | 49.05% | R+1.8 | 38.78% | 51.69% | R+12.9 | D |
| 27 | 31.45% | 65.37% | R+33.9 | 24.74% | 68.78% | R+44 | R |
| 28 | 48.35% | 47.62% | D+0.7 | 35.81% | 54.70% | R+18.9 | D |
| 29 | 27.54% | 69.57% | R+42 | 20.97% | 72.91% | R+51.9 | R |
| 30 | 26.49% | 70.76% | R+44.3 | 18.35% | 74.80% | R+56.5 | R |
| 31 | 62.74% | 35.08% | D+27.7 | 49.74% | 41.79% | D+7.9 | D |
| 32 | 62.84% | 35.17% | D+27.7 | 51.75% | 41.33% | D+10.4 | D |
| 33 | 31.92% | 64.62% | R+32.7 | 20.69% | 71.73% | R+51 | R |
| 34 | 30.36% | 66.63% | R+36.3 | 20.38% | 73.24% | R+52.9 | R |
| 35 | 21.57% | 75.57% | R+54 | 13.84% | 80.63% | R+66.8 | R |
| 36 | 26.51% | 69.46% | R+42.9 | 17.30% | 77.71% | R+60.4 | R |
| 37 | 17.49% | 79.95% | R+62.5 | 11.75% | 84.38% | R+72.6 | R |
| 38 | 37.31% | 59.77% | R+22.5 | 24.89% | 67.53% | R+42.6 | R |
| 39 | 27.29% | 69.23% | R+41.9 | 15.87% | 78.77% | R+62.9 | R |
| 40 | 22.65% | 73.92% | R+51.3 | 16.45% | 78.01% | R+61.6 | R |
| 41 | 54.68% | 43.62% | D+11.1 | 42.37% | 52.19% | R+9.8 | D |
| 42 | 58.60% | 39.41% | D+19.2 | 47.51% | 45.39% | D+2.1 | D |
| 43 | 35.34% | 61.61% | R+26.3 | 26.74% | 65.15% | R+38.4 | R |
| 44 | 37.95% | 59.42% | R+21.5 | 30.87% | 59.71% | R+28.8 | R |
| 45 | 33.16% | 64.67% | R+31.5 | 29.98% | 61.13% | R+31.2 | R |
| 46 | 35.28% | 63.06% | R+27.8 | 36.58% | 57.00% | R+20.4 | R |
| 47 | 48.01% | 48.86% | R+0.8 | 47.76% | 44.03% | D+3.7 | D |
| 48 | 46.60% | 50.72% | R+4.1 | 43.66% | 47.69% | R+4 | D |
| 49 | 51.94% | 43.75% | D+8.2 | 44.93% | 43.99% | D+0.9 | D |
| 50 | 46.96% | 49.13% | R+2.2 | 38.01% | 51.03% | R+13 | D |
| 51 | 43.83% | 53.14% | R+9.3 | 35.99% | 54.64% | R+18.6 | R |
| 52 | 45.95% | 50.47% | R+4.5 | 36.84% | 54.25% | R+17.4 | R |
| 53 | 26.88% | 71.64% | R+44.8 | 24.59% | 69.45% | R+44.9 | R |
| 54 | 34.72% | 63.36% | R+28.6 | 31.02% | 61.86% | R+30.8 | R |
| 55 | 38.15% | 58.52% | R+20.4 | 26.81% | 65.43% | R+38.6 | R |
| 56 | 36.68% | 60.59% | R+23.9 | 26.13% | 67.22% | R+41.1 | R |
| 57 | 26.02% | 71.51% | R+45.5 | 18.26% | 75.81% | R+57.5 | R |
| 58 | 36.71% | 60.43% | R+23.7 | 30.64% | 62.81% | R+32.2 | R |
| 59 | 31.67% | 65.41% | R+33.7 | 30.10% | 63.92% | R+33.8 | R |
| 60 | 49.22% | 47.75% | D+1.5 | 42.90% | 48.10% | R+5.2 | D |
| 61 | 52.13% | 45.30% | D+6.8 | 55.16% | 37.34% | D+17.8 | D |
| 62 | 57.33% | 39.68% | D+17.7 | 62.26% | 28.33% | D+33.9 | D |
| 63 | 55.23% | 40.35% | D+14.9 | 49.37% | 36.73% | D+12.6 | D |
| 64 | 40.23% | 56.95% | R+16.7 | 38.79% | 52.50% | R+13.7 | R |
| 65 | 51.99% | 44.48% | D+7.5 | 52.43% | 36.25% | D+16.2 | R |
| 66 | 59.07% | 37.20% | D+21.9 | 60.50% | 27.72% | D+32.8 | D |
| 67 | 36.06% | 60.39% | R+24.3 | 31.16% | 58.18% | R+27 | R |
| 68 | 29.86% | 66.53% | R+36.7 | 26.12% | 64.60% | R+38.5 | R |
| 69 | 27.48% | 69.83% | R+42.3 | 23.90% | 68.84% | R+44.9 | R |
| 70 | 29.72% | 67.70% | R+38 | 23.68% | 69.44% | R+45.8 | R |
| 71 | 30.43% | 67.06% | R+36.6 | 25.87% | 68.31% | R+42.4 | R |
| 72 | 30.12% | 66.71% | R+36.6 | 24.63% | 68.26% | R+43.6 | R |
| 73 | 67.29% | 29.51% | D+37.8 | 51.69% | 39.47% | D+12.2 | D |
| 74 | 67.84% | 28.48% | D+39.4 | 54.64% | 35.06% | D+19.6 | D |
| 75 | 36.01% | 61.13% | R+25.1 | 31.30% | 60.96% | R+29.7 | R |
| 76 | 62.60% | 35.45% | D+27.1 | 54.57% | 37.65% | D+16.9 | D |
| 77 | 54.71% | 41.78% | D+12.9 | 42.42% | 49.42% | R+7 | D |
| 78 | 49.90% | 46.76% | D+3.1 | 34.39% | 56.64% | R+22.3 | D |
| 79 | 52.38% | 45.20% | D+7.2 | 51.09% | 40.64% | D+10.5 | D |
| 80 | 29.81% | 67.67% | R+37.9 | 23.46% | 70.02% | R+46.6 | R |
| 81 | 53.84% | 43.72% | D+10.1 | 46.71% | 44.07% | D+2.6 | D |
| 82 | 50.97% | 46.39% | D+4.6 | 46.83% | 44.43% | D+2.4 | D |
| 83 | 51.40% | 45.43% | D+6 | 48.20% | 43.23% | D+5 | D |
| 84 | 47.66% | 49.40% | R+1.7 | 43.56% | 46.97% | R+3.4 | D |
| 85 | 28.10% | 69.34% | R+41.2 | 23.44% | 71.16% | R+47.7 | R |
| 86 | 38.39% | 58.67% | R+20.3 | 33.89% | 59.62% | R+25.7 | R |
| 87 | 28.26% | 68.87% | R+40.6 | 24.22% | 70.13% | R+45.9 | R |
| 88 | 36.82% | 60.50% | R+23.7 | 30.21% | 63.77% | R+33.6 | R |
| 89 | 55.35% | 42.16% | D+13.2 | 53.30% | 37.59% | D+15.7 | D |
| 90 | 62.36% | 35.39% | D+27 | 60.12% | 31.87% | D+28.3 | D |
| 91 | 74.07% | 23.34% | D+50.7 | 74.47% | 17.31% | D+57.2 | D |
| 92 | 44.75% | 51.56% | R+6.8 | 35.48% | 55.99% | R+20.5 | R |
| 93 | 45.74% | 51.67% | R+5.9 | 36.57% | 57.09% | R+20.5 | D |
| 94 | 52.31% | 44.47% | D+7.8 | 47.39% | 44.39% | D+3 | D |
| 95 | 67.27% | 28.91% | D+38.4 | 63.09% | 24.62% | D+38.5 | D |
| 96 | 45.17% | 51.93% | R+6.8 | 40.48% | 51.14% | R+10.7 | R |
| 97 | 42.65% | 54.90% | R+12.3 | 38.02% | 54.75% | R+16.7 | R |
| 98 | 55.62% | 40.95% | D+14.7 | 48.67% | 42.15% | D+6.5 | D |
| 99 | 53.76% | 43.36% | D+10.4 | 51.66% | 39.94% | D+11.7 | D |
| 100 | 74.33% | 22.27% | D+52.1 | 71.30% | 18.23% | D+53.1 | D |
| Total | 41.71% | 55.36% | R+13.7 | 35.94% | 56.47% | R+20.5 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Mont. Code Ann. § 13–10–301," accessed October 21, 2025
- ↑ 270towin.com, "Montana," accessed June 29, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
