Montana Politics

A graphic with the text “Montana 2026 Elections,” featuring the Montana state seal centered between the numbers 2 and 26. Red and blue stars and lines decorate the design, with logos for Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio at the bottom.

Montana Election Guide

Your guide the 2026 Montana elections

Montana Politics

Montana News

2026 Montana primary election winners

Edward F. O'Brien

The stage is now set for Montana’s November 3 general election. One of Tuesday’s most closely watched races will ultimately determine who will replace two term Republican Sen. Steve Daines.

Montana News

Bipartisan majority calls for state Sen. Windy Boy to resign over sexual abuse allegations
Montana News

Republican party infighting spills over to Montana's legislative primaries
Montana News

Lawsuit challenges Montana's Medicaid enrollment changes

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

Montana voters sound-off on 2026 primary election priorities

Aaron Bolton, Edward F. O'Brien, Victoria Traxler

It’s primary election day in Montana and voters are casting their ballots. MTPR reporters spoke with voters at several polling locations about the issues that matter most to them. Voters everywhere named the economy as a top issue.
Montana News

Why your vote carries more weight in primary elections

Austin Amestoy

It’s true all elections have consequences. But sometimes, a single vote can make a bigger splash than usual. That may be the case during Montana’s June 2 primary election. Montana Free Press reporter Zeke Lloyd sat down with MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to explain.
Montana News

AOC stumps for Forstag; Money pours in; Windy Boy urged to retire

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

Democratic U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag hopes a Montana visit from AOC will help propel him to victory. Democratic Senate candidates are being walloped in the fundraising wars. And most of Jonathan Windy Boy's Senate colleagues want him gone.
Montana News

Vance enlists state law enforcement for anti-fraud efforts

Austin Amestoy

Montana’s top law enforcement officer joined Vice President J.D. Vance for an anti-fraud roundtable this week. President Donald Trump earlier this year declared what he called a “full-scale war” on fraud in public benefit programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance.
Montana News

In Missoula, Forstag and Ocasio-Cortez campaign for working class votes

Ellis Juhlin

Montana’s primary elections are just a few days away, and candidates are vying to stand out in a packed race. In the final days, Democratic U.S. House hopeful Sam Forstag held a rally with Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, in the hopes of securing his party’s nomination.
Montana News

Independents Bodnar, Eisenhauer say they've met signature requirements for Nov. ballot

Austin Amestoy

Two of Montana’s three Independent candidates for federal office are confident they gathered enough signatures in time to appear on the ballot this fall.
Montana News

Senate confirms new BLM chief; Critics worry he'll back public land sell-off

Ellis Juhlin

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Trump’s nominee to lead the country’s largest land management agency. Stevan Pearce has been criticized by public lands advocates for his past support of selling off or transferring ownership of federal lands.
Montana News

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

Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin, Seaborn Larson

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 News

Why the Montana GOP is trying to unseat longtime Republican lawmakers

Austin Amestoy

The Montana Republican Party has taken aim this year at incumbent state lawmakers it feels have strayed from the party line. At the top of its ouster list is one of the Legislature’s most powerful members: Rep. Llew Jones of Conrad. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with Montana PBS reporter Sam Wilson to learn more.
Montana News

Three things to know ahead of the 2026 Montana primaries

Shaylee Ragar, Austin Amestoy

Montana Public Radio this spring aired interviews with 20 candidates for federal office. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar joined Austin Amestoy to recap our coverage and share what voters should expect ahead of the primary election.