Michael Hummert

Midterm elections typically don't attract much attention, but 2026 may be different. With three of Montana's four seats in Congress on the ballot, nearly a dozen challengers have thrown their hat in the ring. Republican incumbents are favored in all three races, with the western district race seen as the most competitive.

Former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, and Missoula smokejumper and union leader Sam Forstag join Matt Raines and Russel Cleveland in the western U.S. House district primaries. Alani Bankhead, A U.S. Air Force veteran and leadership coach is now in the race for one of Montana’s U.S. Senate seats.