Montana's candidates for state and federal office.
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Last update: May 8, 2024
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Heading into the 2024 election, Montana voters have the task of selecting from more than 60 candidates to fill 14 Montana-specific federal and state offices — not to mention picking from among the 300-plus candidates running for positions in the state Legislature.
That can be a baffling number of names to track even for voters who dilligently follow political news. This digital guide, a project of the nonpartisan Montana Free Press newsroom, is an effort make sure basic information is available so voters have the opportunity to cast informed votes.
The 2024 primary election, where voters will pick each political party's nominee to advance to the General Election, will be held Tuesday, June 4. The 2024 general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Federal Delegation
U.S. Senate
One of Montana's two U.S. Senate seats, elected with a statewide vote. Elected to a six-year term.
Republicans
Brad Johnson
Former MT secretary of state
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Tim Sheehy
Bozeman businessman
✏️ Candidate Q&A16 articles
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Charles Walkingchild
Helena environmental contractor
No Q&A response
See more »
Democrats
Jon Tester
Incumbent U.S. senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A10 articles
See more »
Michael Hummert
U.S. Navy veteran
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Libertarian
Sid Daud
Kalispell city councilman
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Greens
Robert Barb
Billings resident
No Q&A response
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Michael Downey
Helena resident
No Q&A response
See more »
Montana's other U.S. Senator, Steve Daines, is up for re-election in 2026.
U.S. House District 1 (West)
Western Montana representative in Congress. District includes Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell and Butte. Elected to a two-year term.
Republicans
Ryan Zinke
Incumbent U.S. representative
✏️ Candidate Q&A8 articles
See more »
Mary Todd
Kalispell pastor
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Democrat
Monica Tranel
Missoula attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
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Libertarians
Dennis Hayes
Townsend resident
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Ernie Noble
Bozeman resident
No Q&A response
See more »
Prior to 2022, Montana was represented by a single congressman elected on a statewide basis.
U.S. House District 2 (East)
Eastern Montana representative in Congress. District includes Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Havre and Miles City. Elected to a two-year term.
Republicans
Elsie Arntzen
State superintendent of public instruction
✏️ Candidate Q&A4 articles
See more »
Kyle Austin
Billings pharmacist
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Ken Bogner
State senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Troy Downing
State auditor
No Q&A response2 articles
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Ric Holden
Former state senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Joel Krautter
Former state representative
✏️ Candidate Q&A2 articles
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Denny Rehberg
Former U.S. congressman
No Q&A response2 articles
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Ed Walker
Former state Senator
No Q&A response
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Stacy Zinn
Former Drug Enforcement Administration official
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Democrats
Ming Cabrera
Billings resident
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
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John Driscoll
Former public service commissioner
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
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Kevin Hamm
Helena resident
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
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Steve Held
Broadus resident
✏️ Candidate Q&A2 articles
See more »
Prior to 2022, Montana was represented by a single congressman elected on a statewide basis.
State Officials
Governor
Montana's chief executive. The governor appoints the heads of most agencies, signs legislation into law and acts as state government's most visible elected official. Elected to a four-year term via a statewide election.
Republicans
Greg Gianforte
Incumbent Montana governor
✏️ Candidate Q&A14 articles
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Tanner Smith
State representative
✏️ Candidate Q&A2 articles
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Democrats
Ryan Busse
Former firearms sales executive
✏️ Candidate Q&A5 articles
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Jim Hunt
Helena attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Libertarian
Kaiser Leib
Tech entrepreneur
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Secretary of State
Montana's top election official. The secretary of state also oversees business registration and maintains many state records. Elected to a four-year term via a statewide election.
Republican
Christi Jacobsen
Incumbent secretary of state
✏️ Candidate Q&A5 articles
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Democrat
Jesse Mullen
Deer Lodge newspaper owner
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
See more »
Libertarian
John Lamb
Libertarian activist
No Q&A response
See more »
Attorney General
The state's top law enforcement officer and prosecutor. The head of the state Department of Justice, the AG also represents Montana in litigation and leads the Montana Highway Patrol. Elected to a four-year term via a statewide election.
Republicans
Austin Knudsen
Incumbent attorney general
✏️ Candidate Q&A11 articles
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Logan Olson
Daniels County attorney
No Q&A response
See more »
Democrat
Ben Alke
Bozeman attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A2 articles
See more »
Superintendent of Public Instruction
The state’s top education official. Elected to a four-year term via a statewide election.
Republicans
Sharyl Allen
Harrison Public School principal/superintendent
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Susie Hedalen
Townsend School District superintendent
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
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Democrat
Shannon O'Brien
State senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
State Auditor
Montana’s Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. Regulates the insurance industry and investigates fraud. Elected to a four-year term via a statewide election.
Republicans
James Brown
Public Service Commission president
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
See more »
John Jay Willoughby
Helena-area insurance salesman
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Democrat
John Repke
Retired business executive
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
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Montana State Legislature
Montanans elect 100 state representatives to two-year terms and 25 of 50 state senators to four-year terms in each even-year election. This year's election is the first to be conducted using a new legislative district map drawn to account for population shifts recorded by the 2020 census.
Each Senate district is composed of two House districts.
House District 1 / Senate District 1House District 2 / Senate District 1House District 3 / Senate District 2House District 4 / Senate District 2House District 5 / Senate District 3House District 6 / Senate District 3House District 7 / Senate District 4House District 8 / Senate District 4House District 9 / Senate District 5House District 10 / Senate District 5House District 11 / Senate District 6House District 12 / Senate District 6House District 13 / Senate District 7House District 14 / Senate District 7House District 15 / Senate District 8House District 16 / Senate District 8House District 17 / Senate District 9House District 18 / Senate District 9House District 19 / Senate District 10House District 20 / Senate District 10House District 21 / Senate District 11House District 22 / Senate District 11House District 23 / Senate District 12House District 24 / Senate District 12House District 25 / Senate District 13House District 26 / Senate District 13House District 27 / Senate District 14House District 28 / Senate District 14House District 29 / Senate District 15House District 30 / Senate District 15House District 31 / Senate District 16House District 32 / Senate District 16House District 33 / Senate District 17House District 34 / Senate District 17House District 35 / Senate District 18House District 36 / Senate District 18House District 37 / Senate District 19House District 38 / Senate District 19House District 39 / Senate District 20House District 40 / Senate District 20House District 41 / Senate District 21House District 42 / Senate District 21House District 43 / Senate District 22House District 44 / Senate District 22House District 45 / Senate District 23House District 46 / Senate District 23House District 47 / Senate District 24House District 48 / Senate District 24House District 49 / Senate District 25House District 50 / Senate District 25House District 51 / Senate District 26House District 52 / Senate District 26House District 53 / Senate District 27House District 54 / Senate District 27House District 55 / Senate District 28House District 56 / Senate District 28House District 57 / Senate District 29House District 58 / Senate District 29House District 59 / Senate District 30House District 60 / Senate District 30House District 61 / Senate District 31House District 62 / Senate District 31House District 63 / Senate District 32House District 64 / Senate District 32House District 65 / Senate District 33House District 66 / Senate District 33House District 67 / Senate District 34House District 68 / Senate District 34House District 69 / Senate District 35House District 70 / Senate District 35House District 71 / Senate District 36House District 72 / Senate District 36House District 73 / Senate District 37House District 74 / Senate District 37House District 75 / Senate District 38House District 76 / Senate District 38House District 77 / Senate District 39House District 78 / Senate District 39House District 79 / Senate District 40House District 80 / Senate District 40House District 81 / Senate District 41House District 82 / Senate District 41House District 83 / Senate District 42House District 84 / Senate District 42House District 85 / Senate District 43House District 86 / Senate District 43House District 87 / Senate District 44House District 88 / Senate District 44House District 89 / Senate District 45House District 90 / Senate District 45House District 91 / Senate District 46House District 92 / Senate District 46House District 93 / Senate District 47House District 94 / Senate District 47House District 95 / Senate District 48House District 96 / Senate District 48House District 97 / Senate District 49House District 98 / Senate District 49House District 99 / Senate District 50House District 100 / Senate District 50
House District 1
Western Montana — Eureka, Troy
Part of SD 1
R
NEIL DURAM
Sitting lawmaker
See more »
D
DAKOTA V ADAMS
See more »
Senate District 1
Western Montana — Libby, Troy, Eureka
Composed of HD 1 and HD 2
SD 1 is out of cycle in 2024
RSen. Mike Cuffe
will represent the district as a holdover
See all candidates listed by district.
Montana Supreme Court
State Supreme Court (Chief Justice)
The chief of the state's high court, which takes appeals from lower courts and administers the Montana legal system. Elected to an eight-year term via a statewide election.
Nonpartisans
Jerry Lynch
Former federal magistrate judge
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
See more »
Doug Marshall
Livingston attorney
No Q&A response1 article
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Cory Swanson
Broadwater County attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A3 articles
See more »
State Supreme Court (Seat 3)
One of seven seats on the state's high court, which takes appeals from lower courts and administers the Montana legal system. Elected to an eight-year term via a statewide election.
Nonpartisans
Katherine Bidegaray
State district court judge
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
See more »
Jerry O'Neil
Former state senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Dan Wilson
State district court judge
✏️ Candidate Q&A1 article
See more »
Clerk of the State Supreme Court
Maintains Montana Supreme Court records. Elected to a six-year term via a statewide election.
Republicans
Bowen Greenwood
Incumbent Montana Supreme Court clerk
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Jason Ellsworth
Montana Senate president
No Q&A response
See more »
Democrats
Erin Farris-Olsen
Helena attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Jordan Ophus
U.S. Navy veteran
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Libertarian
Roger Roots
Libertarian attorney
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Public Service Commission
Public Service Commission (Seat 2)
One of five seats on the state's utility regulation board, elected to a four-year term. The district spans south-central Montana, including parts of Bozeman and Billings.
Republicans
Kirk Bushman
Mechanical engineer
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Brad Molnar
State senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Democrat
Susan Bilo
Bozeman renewable energy professional
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Public Service Commission (Seat 3)
One of five seats on the state's utility regulation board, elected to a four-year term. The district spans central and southwest Montana, including Butte, Dillon, Lewistown, southern Ravalli County and parts of Bozeman and Helena.
Republicans
Rob Elwood
Harlowton IT professional
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Suzzann Nordwick
Metallurgical engineer
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Jeff Welborn
State senator
✏️ Candidate Q&A
See more »
Democrat
Leonard Williams
Butte electrician and labor organizer
No Q&A response
See more »
Public Service Commission (Seat 4)
One of five seats on the state's utility regulation board, elected to a four-year term. The district spans northwest Montana, including parts of Missoula and Kalispell.
Republican
Jennifer Fielder
Incumbent public service commissioner
No Q&A response1 article
See more »
Ballot initiatives
Issue votes can be placed on the November General Election ballot either by referral from the Legislature or by citizen initiative when backers clear voter signature-gathering thresholds.
As of May 1, no issues had qualified for the 2024 ballot, though several, including an issue that would enshrine abortion rights in the Montana Contitution and two others that would adjust how the state's elections are conducted, have been cleared for signature gathering.
To qualify their initiatives for the 2024 ballot, backers must submit enough signatures to county election administrators by June 21, 2024. A complete list of proposed 2024 initiatives and their status is available on the Montana Secretary of State's website.
Other ballot items
June primary and November general election ballots may also include other items such as county commission races, depending on where in the state you live. June 2024 ballots will also ask voters to whether they wish to set up local government study commissions to review the structure of their city and county governments.
Common Voting Questions
When are Montana’s 2024 elections?
Voters will pick which candidates advance to the November general election in the June primary, which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4. Voters will pick the candidates who will ultimately fill each office on the ballot in the November election, which is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Who runs Montana’s elections?
Montana elections are administered at the county level. The process is overseen by county clerks and election administrators, who help to train and monitor the volunteer election judges that staff the polls. Ballots are typically processed and counted at central county locations, with the results reported to the Montana secretary of state’s office via a statewide software system called ElectMT.
Once polls close, the secretary of state’s office provides results through its website. The state-level office also provides guidance to local election administrators to ensure compliance with state election laws. Additionally, enforcing compliance with some laws governing political campaigns, particularly those involving campaign finance, falls to a separate office known as the Commissioner of Political Practices.
Do I need to be registered in order to vote?
Yes. If you’re unsure about your registration status, you can check it through the Montana secretary of state's My Voter Page. You can register to vote by stopping by your county election office any time during regular business hours to pick up an application. After you’ve filled it out, you’ll need to get it back to your county election office by mail or in person (the latter option is strongly recommended close to Election Day to ensure your application is received in time). If you do present your application in person, you’ll have to provide a photo ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you happen to be applying for a Montana driver’s license or identification card before the election, you can register to vote at the same time.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Yes. The state Legislature has sought to enact an earlier registration deadline, but under a March 2024 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court, same-day voter registration remains legal in Montana. Residents can register to vote or update their voter registration at their county’s election office prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Does Montana have voter ID requirements?
Yes, you will be required to present identification when voting at the polls. However, under the Montana Supreme Court’s March ruling, changes made to those requirements by the 2021 Legislature remain blocked. The current forms of identification voters can use at the polls are a current Montana driver’s license, state-issued photo ID, tribal or military photo ID, a U.S. passport or a student ID. If you don’t have a photo ID, you can use a utility bill, a bank statement, a voter confirmation card or any other government document that shows your name and address.
Are there situations where I wouldn't be eligible to vote?
According to state law, you can't vote if you'll be under age 18 on Election Day, are not a U.S. citizen, or have lived in Montana less than 30 days. Convicted felons who are currently incarcerated in a penal facility and people whom judges have ruled to be of unsound mind are also ineligible to vote. Otherwise, you're good to go.
Can I vote online?
No, that’s not an option in Montana.
Can I vote by mail?
Yes, you can sign up as an absentee voter by checking a box on your voter registration form. If you’re already registered to vote, you can fill out a separate form and submit it to your county election office.
If you’re registered as an absentee voter, a ballot should be mailed to you a few weeks in advance of each election day. You can make sure your address is current via the My Voter page. County election officials are slated to mail ballots to voters for the June 2024 primary election May 10.
You can return ballots by mail, or drop them off in person at your county’s election office. Either way, the election office must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to count it.
How do I vote in person?
If you plan to vote at the polls, just be sure you know where your polling location is and head there between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. You'll need to provide a photo ID and sign the precinct register, at which point you’ll get your ballot and be directed to a voting booth. If you have any technical questions or run into any problems, the election judges at your polling place should be able to help you.
I have a friend or family member who isn't able to drop off his or her mail-in ballot. Can I do it for them?
Yes, you can. The Montana Legislature did make some changes to ballot collection laws in 2021 related to paid ballot collection, those changes have also been blocked by the Montana Supreme Court.
Who should I vote for?
That’s your call, not ours. We hope the information we present on this guide is helpful as you make that decision for yourself, though.
About this project
This guide was produced by the Montana Free Press newsroom with production and web development by Eric Dietrich, editing by Brad Tyer and Nick Ehli and contributions from Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Mara Silvers, Alex Sakariassen, Amanda Eggert and Stephanie Farmer. Contact Eric Dietrich with questions, corrections or suggestions at [email protected]
Montana Free Press is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, reader-supported news organization serving Montana. MTFP's donor base includes supporters from across Montana's political spectrum, including some Montanans who are candidates in this year's election. MTFP's major donors are listed here and a current list of other supporters is available here. MTFP's news judgments are made entirely independently from donor involvement.
This material is available for republication by other media outlets under Montana Free Press' standard distribution terms.