The 69th Montana Legislature was the legislative session of the Montana Legislature that convened on January 6, 2025, and adjourned April 30, 2025. While there was a Republican majority in both chambers, the session was notable for a Senate coalition of 18 Democrats and 9 moderate Republicans, dubbed "the nine", which created a 27–23 working majority in the Senate that blocked a number of Republican efforts.
The Montana Republican party censured the nine Republican senators, Jason Ellsworth, Butch Gillespie, Gregg Hunter, Joshua Kassmier, Gayle Lammers, Denley Loge, Wendy McKamey, Russel Tempel, and Shelley Vance. In response, eight of the nine (excepting Ellsworth) wrote an open letter to the citizens of Montana, stating "We were elected to serve you, not to follow orders from political insiders".
Events On March 3, Representative Ron Marshall resigned, citing critiques over the influence of lobbyists on the Legislature. Former county commissioner Terry Nelson was appointed March 10 to replace him.
On June 16, Representative Marta Bertoglio resigned after being appointed to lead the state's commerce department. Contractor Mark Reinschmidt was appointed July 22 to replace her.
Senate Leaders PositionNamePartyPresident of the SenateMatt RegierRepublicanPresident pro temporeKenneth BognerRepublicanMajority LeaderTom McGillvrayRepublicanMajority WhipsDennis LenzRepublicanBarry UsherRepublicanSue VintonRepublicanDaniel ZolnikovRepublicanMinority LeaderPat FlowersDemocraticMinority WhipsShane MorigeauDemocraticLaura SmithDemocraticSusan WebberDemocratic
Senate Members District Senator Party Residence First elected 1 Mike Cuffe Rep Eureka 2018 2 Dave Fern Dem Whitefish 2024 3 Carl Glimm Rep Kila 2020 4 John Fuller Rep Kalispell 2022 5 Matt Regier Rep Kalispell 2024 6 Mark Noland Rep Bigfork 2022 7 Greg Hertz Rep Polson 2020 8 Susan Webber Dem Browning 2018 9 Bruce Gillespie Rep Ethridge 2018 10 Jeremy Trebas Rep Great Falls 2022 11 Daniel Emrich Rep Great Falls 2022 12 Wendy McKamey Rep Great Falls 2022 13 Joshua Kassmier Rep Fort Benton 2024 14 Russel Tempel Rep Chester 2018 15 Gregg Hunter Rep Glasgow 2024 16 Jonathan Windy Boy Dem Box Elder 2024 17 Bob Phalen Rep Lindsay 2024 18 Kenneth Bogner Rep Miles City 2018 19 Barry Usher Rep Billings 2022 20 Sue Vinton Rep Billings 2024 21 Gayle Lammers Rep Hardin 2024 22 Daniel Zolnikov Rep Billings 2022 23 Emma Kerr-Carpenter Dem Billings 2024* 24 Mike Yakawich Rep Billings 2024 25 Dennis Lenz Rep Billings 2022 26 Tom McGillvray Rep Billings 2020 27 Vince Ricci Rep Billings 2024 28 Forrest Mandeville Rep Columbus 2022 29 John Esp Rep Big Timber 2018 30 Cora Neumann Dem Helena 2024 31 Pat Flowers Dem Belgrade 2018 32 Denise Hayman Dem Bozeman 2022 33 Christopher Pope Dem Bozeman 2020 34 Shelley Vance Rep Belgrade 2022 35 Tony Tezak Rep Ennis 2024 36 Sara Novak Dem Anaconda 2024 37 Derek Harvey Dem Butte 2024 38 Becky Beard Rep Elliston 2024 39 Wylie Galt Rep Martinsdale 2024 40 Laura Smith Dem Helena 2024 41 Janet Ellis Dem Helena 2018 42 Mary Ann Dunwell Dem Helena 2022 43 Jason Ellsworth Rep Hamilton 2018 44 Theresa Manzella Rep Hamilton 2020 45 Denley Loge Rep St. Regis 2024 46 Jacinda Morigeau Dem Arlee 2024 47 Ellie Boldman Dem Missoula 2020 48 Andrea Olsen Dem Missoula 2022 49 Willis Curdy Dem Missoula 2022 50 Shane Morigeau Dem Missoula 2022
*Senator was originally appointed before the start of the 69th session
House Leaders OfficeRepresentativePartySpeaker of the HouseBrandon LerRepublicanSpeaker pro temporeKatie ZolnikovRepublicanMajority LeaderSteve FitzpatrickRepublicanMajority WhipsMarta BertoglioRepublicanJed HinkleRepublicanBraxton MitchellRepublicanAmy RegierRepublicanMinority LeaderKatie SullivanDemocraticMinority WhipsSJ HowellDemocraticJonathan KarlenDemocraticMelissa RomanoDemocraticTyson Running WolfDemocratic
House Members DistrictRepresentativePartyResidenceFirst elected1Neil DuramRepublicanLibby20182Tom MillettRepublicanMarion20243Debo PowersDemocraticWhitefish20244Lyn BennettRepublicanColumbia Falls20245Braxton MitchellRepublicanColumbia Falls20206Amy RegierRepublicanKalispell20207Courtenay SprungerRepublicanKalispell20228Lukas SchubertRepublicanKalispell20249Steven KellyRepublicanKalispell202410Terry FalkRepublicanKalispell202211Ed ByrneRepublicanBigfork202412Tracy SharpRepublicanPolson202413Linda RekstenRepublicanPolson202014Paul FielderRepublicanThompson Falls202015Thedis CroweDemocraticBrowning202416Tyson Running WolfDemocraticBrowning201817Zachary WirthRepublicanWolf Creek202418Llew JonesRepublicanConrad201819Jane WeberDemocraticGreat Falls202420Melissa NikolakakosRepublicanGreat Falls202421Edward ButtreyRepublicanGreat Falls201822George NikolakakosRepublicanGreat Falls202223Eric TillemanRepublicanCascade202424Steve FitzpatrickRepublicanGreat Falls202425Steve GistRepublicanCascade202026Russ MinerRepublicanGreat Falls202227Paul TussDemocraticHavre202228Eric AlbusRepublicanGlasgow202429Valerie MooreRepublicanPlentywood202430Morgan ThielRepublicanSidney202431Frank SmithDemocraticPoplar202032Mike FoxDemocraticHays202433Brandon LerRepublicanSavage202034Jerry SchillingerRepublicanCircle202035Gary ParryRepublicanColstrip202236Greg KmetzRepublicanMiles City202237Shane KlakkenRepublicanGrass Range202438Greg OblanderRepublicanBillings202239Kerri Seekins-CroweRepublicanBillings202040Mike VintonRepublicanBillings202441Jade SooktisDemocraticLame Deer202442Sidney “Chip” FitzpatrickDemocraticCrow Agency202443Larry BrewsterRepublicanBillings202044Katie ZolnikovRepublicanBillings202045Denise BaumDemocraticBillings202246Denise JoyDemocraticBillings2024*47James ReavisDemocraticBillings202448Curtis SchomerRepublicanBillings202449Sherry EssmannRepublicanBillings202250Anthony NicastroRepublicanBillings202451Jodee EtchartRepublicanBillings202252Bill MercerRepublicanBillings2018Stacy ZinnRepublicanBillings2025*53Nelly NicolRepublicanBillings202254Lee DemingRepublicanLaurel202255Brad BarkerRepublicanRed Lodge202256Fiona NaveRepublicanColumbus202057Scott RosenzweigDemocraticBozeman202458Jamie IsalyDemocraticBozeman202459Ed StafmanDemocraticBozeman2020Katie Fire ThunderDemocraticBozeman2025*60Alanah GriffithDemocraticBig Sky202461Becky EdwardsDemocraticBozeman202462Joshua SeckingerDemocraticBozeman202463Peter StrandDemocraticBozeman202464Kelly KortumDemocraticBozeman202065Brian CloseDemocraticBozeman202466Eric MatthewsDemocraticBozeman202267Jedediah HinkleRepublicanBelgrade202068Caleb HinkleRepublicanBelgrade202069Kenneth WalshRepublicanTwin Bridges202070Shannon ManessRepublicanDillon202471Scott DeMaroisDemocraticAnaconda202472Donavon HawkDemocraticButte202073Jennifer LynchDemocraticButte202274Marc LeeDemocraticButte2024 75Marta BertoglioRepublicanClancy2020Mark ReinschmidtRepublicanWhitehall2025*76John FitzpatrickRepublicanAnaconda202277Jane GilletteRepublicanThree Forks202078Randyn GreggRepublicanWhite Sulphur Springs202479Luke MuszkiewiczDemocraticHelena202480Melissa RomanoDemocraticHelena202281Mary CaferroDemocraticHelena202282Pete ElverumDemocraticHelena202483Jill CohenourDemocraticHelena202284Julie DoolingRepublicanHelena202485Kathy LoveRepublicanHamilton202486David BedeyRepublicanHamilton201887Ron MarshallRepublicanStevensville2021Terry NelsonRepublican2025*88Greg OverstreetRepublicanStevensville202489Mark ThaneDemocraticMissoula202090Curtis CochranRepublicanSt. Regis202491Shelly FyantDemocraticArlee202492Connie KeoghDemocraticMissoula201893Katie SullivanDemocraticMissoula201894Marilyn MarlerDemocraticMissoula201895Zooey ZephyrDemocraticMissoula202296Bob CarterDemocraticMissoula202297Melody CunninghamDemocraticMissoula202498Jonathan KarlenDemocraticMissoula202299Tom FranceDemocraticMissoula2020100SJ HowellDemocraticMissoula2022
*Representative was appointed
See also List of Montana state Legislatures
References