2025 Helena mayoral election

2025 Helena mayoral election

← 2021 November 4, 2025 2029 →

Candidate Emily Dean Andy Shirtliff Sonda Gaub Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan General 4,134 5,470 969 36.5% 48.3% 8.6% Runoff 5,440 5,237 Eliminated 51.0% 49.0%

Mayor before election Wilmot Collins Democratic Elected mayor Emily Dean Nonpartisan

The 2025Helena mayoral election took place on November 4, 2025 to elect the mayor of Helena, Montana. Incumbent mayor Wilmot Collins did not seek re-election to a third term. The primary election was held on September 9, 2025. ^[1]

Primary election

Candidates

Advanced to general

• Emily Dean, city commissioner ^{[2] [3]}
• Andy Shirtliff, city commissioner ^[3]

Eliminated in primary

• Sonda Gaub, 2021 mayoral candidate ^[3]
• Braxton Hudson, receptionist ^[3]
• Chris Riccardo, ceramic artist ^[3]

Declined

• Wilmot Collins, incumbent mayor

Endorsements

Emily Dean

Local officials

• Wilmot Collins, mayor of Helena (2018–present) ^[4]

Results

2025 Helena mayoral election primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Andy Shirtliff	5,470	48.3%
	Nonpartisan	Emily Dean	4,134	36.5%
	Nonpartisan	Sonda Gaub	969	8.6%
	Nonpartisan	Chris Riccardo	347	3.1%
	Nonpartisan	Braxton Hudson	328	2.9%
	Write-in		68	0.6%
Total votes			11,316	100.00%

General election

Results

2025 Helena mayoral election results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Andy Shirtliff	5,237	49.0%
	Nonpartisan	Emily Dean	5,440	51.0%
Total votes			10,677	100.00%

References

1. "Mayoral election in Helena, Montana (2025)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
2. "Helena commissioner Emily Dean announces candidacy for mayor". KTVH. 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
3. Ambarian, Jonathon (2025-08-22). "City of Helena mayoral candidates, 2025". KTVH. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
4. Compton, Christine (2025-04-09). "Commissioner Emily Dean to run for Helena mayor, Mayor Collins endorses her". The Independent Record. Retrieved 2025-04-27.