2026 Montana Senate election

Last updated

2026 Montana Senate election
Flag of Montana.svg
  2024 November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)2028 

25 of 50 seats in the Montana Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Matt Regier Pat Flowers (term-limited)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader sinceJanuary 6, 2025January 2, 2023
Leader's seat5th31st
Last election3218

2026 Montana Senate election retirements map.svg
     Republican incumbent     Term-limited Republican
     Democratic hold     Term-limited Democrat
     No election

Incumbent Senate President

Matt Regier
Republican



The 2026 Montana Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect half of the members of the Montana Senate. [1]

Contents

Retirements

Republicans

  1. District 1: Mike Cuffe is term-limited.
  2. District 9: Bruce Gillespie is term-limited.
  3. District 14: Russel Tempel is term-limited.
  4. District 18: Kenneth Bogner is term-limited.
  5. District 29: John Esp is term-limited.
  6. District 43: Jason Ellsworth is term-limited.

Democrats

  1. District 8: Susan Webber is term-limited.
  2. District 31: Pat Flowers is term-limited.
  3. District 41: Janet Ellis is term-limited.

Summary of results by district

District2024 Pres. [2] IncumbentPartyElected SenatorOutcome
1stR+54.9 Mike Cuffe Rep TBD
4thR+32.2 John Fuller Rep TBD
6thR+42.8 Mark Noland Rep TBD
8thD+9.1 Susan Webber Dem TBD
9thR+47.7 Bruce Gillespie Rep TBD
10thR+5.6 Jeremy Trebas Rep TBD
11thR+20.0 Daniel Emrich Rep TBD
12thR+15.4 Wendy McKamey Rep TBD
14thR+39.7 Russel Tempel Rep TBD
18thR+55.7 Kenneth Bogner Rep TBD
19thR+59.6 Barry Usher Rep TBD
22ndR+30.5 Daniel Zolnikov Rep TBD
23rdD+1.1 Emma Kerr-Carpenter Dem TBD
25thR+24.1 Dennis Lenz Rep TBD
28thR+46.5 Forrest Mandeville Rep TBD
29thD+2.2 John Esp Rep TBD
31stD+18.0 Pat Flowers Dem TBD
32ndD+8.6 Denise Hayman Dem TBD
34thR+34.2 Shelley Vance Rep TBD
41stD+6.5 Janet Ellis Dem TBD
42ndR+13.1 Mary Ann Dunwell Dem TBD
43rdR+38.9 Jason Ellsworth Rep TBD
48thD+40.5 Andrea Olsen Dem TBD
49thD+17.1 Willis Curdy Dem TBD
50thD+31.1 Shane Morigeau Dem TBD

List of districts

District 1District 4District 6District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 14District 18District 19District 22District 23District 25District 28District 29District 31District 32District 34District 41District 42District 43District 48District 49District 50

District 1

The 1st district includes all of Lincoln County and a portion of Flathead County. [3] The incumbent is Republican Mike Cuffe, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 4

The 4th district encompasses the city of Kalispell. [3] The incumbent is Republican John Fuller, who was elected in 2022 with 62.2% of the vote. [4]

District 6

The 6th district includes portions of Flathead, Glacier, and Lake counties. [3] The incumbent is Republican Mark Noland, who was elected to the 5th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote. [4]

District 8

The 6th district includes all or portions of Flathead and Lake counties. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Susan Webber, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 9

The 9th district includes all of Teton and Toole counties, and most of Pondera and Lewis and Clark counties, excluding Heart Butte and Helena. [3] The incumbent is Republican Bruce Gillespie, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 10

The 10th district encompasses the city of Great Falls. [3] The incumbent is Republican Jeremy Trebas, who was elected to the 13th district in 2022 with 51.7% of the vote. [4]

District 11

The 11th district encompasses the northern outskirts of the city of Great Falls. [3] The incumbent is Republican Daniel Emrich, who was elected in 2022 with 52.9% of the vote. [4]

District 12

The 12th district encompasses the southern outskirts of the city of Great Falls. [3] The incumbent is Republican Wendy McKamey, who was elected in 2022 with 56.0% of the vote. [4]

District 14

The 14th district includes all of Liberty County and the northern portions of Blaine, Hill, Phillips, and Valley counties. [3] The incumbent is Republican Russel Tempel, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 18

The 18th district includes all or portions of Big Horn, Custer, Garfield, Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone counties. [3] The incumbent is Republican Kenneth Bogner, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 19

The 19th district includes all or portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Yellowstone counties. [3] The incumbent is Republican Barry Usher, who was elected to the 20th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote. [4]

District 22

The 22nd district encompasses the northern outskirts of Billings. [3] The incumbent is Republican Daniel Zolnikov, who was elected in 2022 with 65.7% of the vote. [4]

District 23

The 23rd district encompasses the city of Billings. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Emma Kerr-Carpenter, who was appointed to the seat in December 2024, following the resignation of Katharin Kelker. [5] Kelker was elected in 2022 with 56.0% of the vote. [4]

District 25

The 25th district encompasses the western outskirts of Billings. [3] The incumbent is Republican Dennis Lenz, who was elected to the 27th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote. [4]

District 28

The 28th district includes all or portions of Carbon, Stillwater, and Sweet Grass counties. [3] The incumbent is Republican Forrest Mandeville, who was elected to the 29th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote. [4]

District 29

The 29th district includes all of Park County and a portion of Gallatin County, including the eastern outskirts of Bozeman. [3] The incumbent is Republican John Esp, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to another term.

District 31

The 31st district encompasses the city of Bozeman. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Pat Flowers, the minority leader of the Montana Senate, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to another term.

District 32

The 32nd district encompasses the northwestern outskirts of the city of Bozeman. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Denise Hayman, who was elected to the 33rd district in 2022 with 67.9% of the vote. [4]

District 34

The 34th district includes a portion of Gallatin County, including the city of Belgrade. [3] The incumbent is Republican Shelley Vance, who was elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote. [4]

District 41

The 41st district encompasses the city of Helena. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Janet Ellis, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to another term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

District 42

The 42nd district includes an eastern portion of Lewis and Clark County, including East Helena. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Mary Ann Dunwell, who was elected in 2022 with 55.3% of the vote. [4]

District 43

The 43rd district encompasses most of Ravalli County, including the city of Hamilton. [3] The incumbent is Republican Jason Ellsworth, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.

District 48

The 48th district encompasses the city of Missoula. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Andrea Olsen, who was elected to the 50th district in 2022 with 72.6% of the vote. [4]

District 49

The 49th district encompasses the western outskirts of Missoula. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Willis Curdy, who was elected in 2022 with 54.4% of the vote. [4]

District 50

The 50th district encompasses the northern outskirts of Missoula. [3] The incumbent is Democrat Shane Morigeau, who was elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote. [4]

References

  1. "Montana State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  2. "Dave's Redistricting" . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Districts and Legislators of the 69th Montana Legislature (2025 - 2026)". Montana Legislature. 16 September 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "2022 Legislative General Election Canvass". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  5. Nile, Amy (December 3, 2024). "Billings Democrat Emma Kerr-Carpenter appointed to Montana Senate". Billings Gazette. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  6. Warren, Bradley (July 30, 2025). "Former Helena School Board chair, Dana Toole to run for open state senate seat". NonStop Local Montana. Retrieved August 1, 2025.