November 3, 2026
Six kinds of races, three statewide ballot questions. Two minutes and you'll know all of it.
Alani Bankhead
Retired Air Force Lt Col. Former federal supervisory special agent. No corporate PAC money. On the record on 113 of 117 issues.
Also running: Kurt Alme (R) · Seth Bodnar (I) · Kyle Austin (L)
Sam Forstag
Labor leader and former smokejumper from Missoula. The Democratic nominee. Your race if you're in Missoula, Kalispell, Butte, or the Bozeman area west.
Also running: Aaron Flint (R) · Nick Sheedy (L) · Kimberly Persico (I)
Brian J. Miller
Helena attorney, 15 years a civil litigator. The Democratic nominee. Your race if you're in Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Havre, or Glendive.
Also running: Troy Downing (R, incumbent) · Patrick McCracken (L) · Michael D. Eisenhauer (I)
One Open Justice Seat
Justice Beth Baker is retiring. Two Flathead County district judges want the seat: Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson. It's nonpartisan by law; the state Republican Party has endorsed Wilson.
Your Statehouse Races
All 100 Montana House seats and half the Montana Senate are up. These races decide Medicaid, schools, and property taxes, and they're different at every address. Enter yours in the election guide, or browse every Democratic nominee in the state on Montana Goes Blue:
The People Who Set Your Power Bill
The PSC approves every NorthWestern Energy rate increase. Two of five seats are up. District 1: Angeline Cheek is the Democratic nominee for the open seat. District 5: Kevin Hamm is the Democratic nominee, facing incumbent Annie Bukacek (R).
Not sure which district is yours? Either lookup on this page shows your exact ballot.
Your County Ballot
County offices and district judgeships round out the ballot, and they vary county by county. One lookup shows every race at your address, and Montana Goes Blue lists the Democrats running in county seats:
To get involved close to home, the Montana Democratic Party's directory lists the officers, meeting times, and contacts for every county committee.
Bans corporations and other "artificial persons" from giving to candidates, parties, or ballot campaigns in Montana elections.
Constitutional amendment keeping all Montana judicial elections nonpartisan. Judges keep running without party labels.
Constitutional amendment protecting citizens' right to initiative and referendum. Requires open, timely handling of ballot issues and bars rejecting petitions over minor technicalities.
Full official text at the Montana Secretary of State · plain-language rundown at Montana Free Press.
Local Initiative 00-02 · Data centers
Brought by 406 People First, it would require a special election before Butte-Silver Bow could approve a new or expanded data center, and it would take a two-thirds majority of everyone registered to vote in the county, not just of those who turn out. On September 23 the Montana Supreme Court ordered it onto the ballot, then vacated that order two days later because ballots had already gone out to voters. It will not be on your November ballot. Organizers have asked the court to reconsider, so watch for what comes next.
Before you mail it back
Sign the envelope and write your four-digit birth year in the boxes under your signature. A 2025 state law made the birth year a requirement, and hundreds of Montana ballots were rejected without it last fall. If your county contacts you about a problem with your envelope, you can fix it until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Montana Secretary of State