Montana Election Guide | Montana Public Radio

2026 Montana Elections

Campaign Beat: Buttigieg in Butte; Dark money mischief; Who's the spoiler?

A rising Democratic star and possible presidential candidate gets a warm reception in Montana. Republican "dark money" groups take a keen interest in Montana's Democratic Senate primary, and those Senate candidates make their case at a forum in Missoula.

Montana House Rep. Llew Jones (R) - Conrad.

Montana Legislature

Montana News

Why the Montana GOP is trying to unseat longtime Republican lawmakers

Austin Amestoy

Freddy Monares

Montana News

Three things to know ahead of the 2026 Montana primaries

Shaylee Ragar, Austin Amestoy

More Candidate Q&As

Q&A: Kyle Austin, Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy spoke with Kyle Austin, who’s a Libertarian running for the U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Tom Jandron, Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Tom Jandron, a Libertarian running for U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Michael Black Wolf, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler spoke with Michael Black Wolf, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Michael Hummert, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Michael Hummert, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Alani Bankhead, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar spoke with Alani Bankhead, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

Matt Rains, Democratic candidate for Montana's western U.S. House seat.

Q&A: Matt Rains, Democratic western district U.S. House candidate

MTPR is airing interviews with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy spoke with Matt Rains, who’s a Democrat running for the western U.S. House seat.

Seth Bodnar outside the Secretary of State's office in the state Capitol, March 4, 2026 after filing his campaign paperwork. Bodnar said he's running for U.S. Senate as an independent because political parties are failing their constituents.

Q&A: Seth Bodnar, independent U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Austin Amestoy speaks with Seth Bodnar, an independent running for U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Reilly Neill Democratic U.S. Senate candidate

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Reilly Neill, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

Q&A: Michael Eisenhauer, independent eastern district U.S. House candidate

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Victoria Traxler speaks with Michael Eisenhauer, an independent running for Montana’s eastern district U.S. House seat.

Q&A: Troy Downing, Republican eastern district U.S. House candidate

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Troy Downing, a Republican running for Montana's eastern U.S. House seat.

Q&A: Brian Miller Democratic eastern district U.S. House candidate

MTPR is interviewing with candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar speaks with Brian Miller, a Democrat running for Montana's eastern U.S. House seat.

State Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Albert Olszewski.

Q&A: Al Olszewski, Republican western district U.S. House candidate

MTPR is interviewing candidates running for federal office in 2026. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar Ragar spoke with Al Olszewski, a Republican running for Montana's western U.S. House seat.

Montana News

Republican party infighting spills over to Montana's legislative primaries

Shaylee Ragar

The Montana GOP is putting a thumb on the scale in competitive legislative primaries. More than a dozen moderate conservatives are facing challenges from hardline Republicans. The results will reveal how deep the state GOP’s influence runs.
Montana News

In Butte, Buttigieg stumps for 'dark money' restrictions

Shaylee Ragar

Prominent Democrat and former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg stumped in Butte Sunday for a ballot initiative aimed at restricting "dark money" in politics. The proposal would bar businesses, associations and other “artificial persons" from supporting political campaigns.
Montana News

Parties find common ground; PAC money raises questions; What will the Trump effect be?

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

AOC's return visit to Montana pleases both progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans – for different reasons. President Trump's effect on Montana's election is yet to be measured. A last minute infusion of PAC money to a Democratic Senate candidate raises questions. Voter interest in this mid-term election is hard to gauge.
Montana News

Briefs: AG calls for scrutiny of OpenAI; Ocasio-Cortez in Missoula; MT cities grow

Austin Amestoy

State Attorney General Austin Knudsen is demanding federal regulators take a close look at one of the largest A.I. companies in the world before it hits the stock market. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading voice for progressive Democrats, will stump for a Montana candidate next week. All but one of Montana’s seven largest cities added new residents last year.
Montana News

Concerns over partisanship, 'judicial activism' shape Montana Supreme Court race

Shaylee Ragar

One seat on Montana’s seven-member Supreme Court is up for election in 2026. Two colleagues are competing for the promotion. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar looks at their judicial philosophies.
Montana News

Court order keeps voter registration open on Election Day

Shaylee Ragar

Mail-in ballots are en route to voters across Montana. For those who haven’t registered to vote, a judge preserved the Election Day deadline to do so.
Montana News

Sexual abuse allegations abound; 'Dark money' meets AI; ICE dispute moves to Supreme Court

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

A congressional candidate reenters the race despite allegations of sexual misconduct. A legislative candidate faces sexual abuse allegations. A GOP "dark money" PAC uses AI to disparage other Republicans. A battle between the A.G. and a county attorney ends up at the state Supreme Court.
Montana News

Voters reject school levies in much of western and central Montana

Austin Amestoy

In all but a handful of communities Tuesday, voters in western and central Montana soundly defeated their public schools’ requests to help pay for big expenses.
Montana News

Windy Boy re-launches bid for Congress, removed from committee assignments

Shaylee Ragar

State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy re-launched his bid for Congress. The Democrat from Box Elder had previously suspended his campaign after allegations of sexual abuse and harassment came to light last month. He cited poor health.
Montana News

Campaign Beat: Ballrooms, brutality and big bucks

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

A Montana senator's push for the Trump ballroom could backfire at the polls. Threats of violence mar present-day politics. Prominent endorsements start to surface as the election gets closer. And a rising Democratic party star is headed to Butte to campaign for a proposed Montana ballot initiative.