The 2026 Montana Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect half of the members of the Montana Senate.
Retirements
Republicans District 1: Mike Cuffe is term-limited. District 4: John Fuller did not file for re-election. District 9: Bruce Gillespie is term-limited. District 10: Jeremy Trebas is running for Public Service Commission. District 11: Daniel Emrich did not file for re-election. District 12: Wendy McKamey did not file for re-election. District 14: Russel Tempel is term-limited. District 18: Kenneth Bogner is term-limited. District 29: John Esp is term-limited. District 43: Jason Ellsworth is term-limited.
Democrats District 8: Susan Webber is term-limited. District 31: Pat Flowers is term-limited. District 32: Denise Hayman did not file for re-election. District 41: Janet Ellis is term-limited.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball January 22, 2026
Summary of results by district District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Outcome1st Rep TBD4th Rep TBD6th Rep TBD8th Dem TBD9th Rep TBD10th Rep TBD11th Rep TBD12th Rep TBD14th Rep TBD18th Rep TBD19th Rep TBD22nd Rep TBD23rd Dem TBD25th Rep TBD28th Rep TBD29th Rep TBD31st Dem TBD32nd Dem TBD34th Rep TBD41st Dem TBD42nd Dem TBD43rd Rep TBD48th Dem TBD49th Dem TBD50th Dem TBD
List of districts District 1 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 14 • District 18 • District 19 • District 22 • District 23 • District 25 • District 28 • District 29 • District 31 • District 32 • District 34 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 48 • District 49 • District 50 __NOTOC__
District 1 The 1st district includes all of Lincoln County and a portion of Flathead County. The incumbent is Republican Mike Cuffe, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steve Gunderson, former state representative from the 1st district (2017–2025)
Eliminated in primary Vincent Backen Neil Duram, state representative from the 1st district (2025–present)
Term-limited Mike Cuffe, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jonathan Russell Jameson
District 4 The 4th district encompasses the city of Kalispell. The incumbent is Republican John Fuller, who was elected in 2022 with 62.2% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Presumptive nominee Amy Regier, state representative from the 6th district (2021–present) Declined John Fuller, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kyle Waterman, nominee for this district in 2022 and for the second senate district in 2020
District 6 The 6th district includes portions of Flathead, Glacier, and Lake counties. The incumbent is Republican Mark Noland, who was elected to the 5th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mark Noland, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Patrick Fitzpatrick
District 8 The 6th district includes all or portions of Flathead and Lake counties. The incumbent is Democrat Susan Webber, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tyson Running Wolf, state representative from the 16th district (2021–present)
Eliminated in primary Jade-Heather Ackerman
Term-limited Susan Webber, incumbent senator Republican primary Candidates Nominee Christopher Paul Buckles, nominee for the 100th state representative district in 2024
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. The incumbent is Republican Bruce Gillespie, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Llew Jones, state representative from the 18th district (2019–present), former state senator (2011–2019) from the 9th (2015–2019) and 14th districts (2011–2015)
Eliminated in primary Zachary Wirth, state representative (2023–present) from the 17th (2025–present) and 80th districts (2023–2025)
Term-limited Bruce Gillespie, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Noy Holland
District 10 The 10th district encompasses the city of Great Falls. The incumbent is Republican Jeremy Trebas, who was elected to the 13th district in 2022 with 51.7% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jessica Dyrdahl
Eliminated in primary Maximus Dascoulias
Declined Jeremy Trebas, incumbent senator (running for Public Service Commission) Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Margaret Mitchell
District 11 The 11th district encompasses the northern outskirts of the city of Great Falls. The incumbent is Republican Daniel Emrich, who was elected in 2022 with 52.9% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steven Galloway, former state representative from the 24th district (2021–2025)
Eliminated in primary Ed Buttrey
Declined Daniel Emrich, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Valynda Holland
Eliminated in primary Mark Winters
Withdrawn Brooke Winters
District 12 The 12th district encompasses the southern outskirts of the city of Great Falls. The incumbent is Republican Wendy McKamey, who was elected in 2022 with 56.0% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee George Nikolakakos, state representative from the 26th district (2023–present)
Eliminated in primary Randy Pinocci, state public service commissioner from the 1st district (2019–present)
Declined Wendy McKamey, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mindy Leach, optometrist
Eliminated in primary James G. Whitaker, Republican candidate for the 22nd state representative district in 2024 and the 11th state senate district in 2010
Withdrawn Mark Winters (running in the 11th district)
District 14 The 14th district includes all of Liberty County and the northern portions of Blaine, Hill, Phillips, and Valley counties. The incumbent is Republican Russel Tempel, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Eric Albus, state representative from the 28th district (2025–present)
Eliminated in primary Mark L. Wicks
Term-limited Russel Tempel, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Blake Borst, nominee for the 28th state representative district in 2024
District 18 The 18th district includes all or portions of Big Horn, Custer, Garfield, Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone counties. The incumbent is Republican Kenneth Bogner, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Greg Kmetz, state representative (2023–present) from the 36th (2025–present) and 38th districts (2023–2025)
Eliminated in primary Doug Martens
Term-limited Kenneth Bogner, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Stan Taylor, nominee for the 36th state representative district in 2024
District 19 The 19th district includes all or portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Yellowstone counties. The incumbent is Republican Barry Usher, who was elected to the 20th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Chris Rindal
Eliminated in primary Barry Usher, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Deanna Daigrepont
District 22 The 22nd district encompasses the northern outskirts of Billings. The incumbent is Republican Daniel Zolnikov, who was elected in 2022 with 65.7% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Daniel Zolnikov, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Removed from ballot Lyle Hedin
District 23 The 23rd district encompasses the city of Billings. The incumbent is Democrat Emma Kerr-Carpenter, who was appointed to the seat in December 2024, following the resignation of Katharin Kelker. Kelker was elected in 2022 with 56.0% of the vote.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Emma Kerr-Carpenter, incumbent senator Removed from ballot Justin Kucera Republican primary Candidates Nominee JoAnna Oblander
District 25 The 25th district encompasses the western outskirts of Billings. The incumbent is Republican Dennis Lenz, who was elected to the 27th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dennis Lenz, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Tom Bick
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Julie Hippler, educator
District 28 The 28th district includes all or portions of Carbon, Stillwater, and Sweet Grass counties. The incumbent is Republican Forrest Mandeville, who was elected to the 29th district in 2022 with 100% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Forrest Mandeville, incumbent senator Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kelly Hale
District 29 The 29th district includes all of Park County and a portion of Gallatin County, including the eastern outskirts of Bozeman. The incumbent is Republican John Esp, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to another term.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jason Gunderson, nominee for the 58th state representative district in 2024 Term-limited John Esp, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Scott Rosenzweig, state representative from the 57th district (2025–present)
District 31 The 31st district encompasses the city of Bozeman. 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.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kathleen Williams, former state representative (2011–2017) from the 61st (2011–2015) and 65th districts (2015–2017) Term-limited Pat Flowers, incumbent senator Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard Aungier
District 32 The 32nd district encompasses the northwestern outskirts of the city of Bozeman. The incumbent is Democrat Denise Hayman, who was elected to the 33rd district in 2022 with 67.9% of the vote.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kelly Kortum, state representative from the 65th district (2021–present)
Eliminated in primary Becky Edwards, state representative from the 61st district (2025–present)
Removed from ballot Wes Siler Declined Denise Hayman, incumbent senator Republican primary Candidates Nominee Neal Ganser, businessowner and nominee for the 33rd state senate district in 2024 and the 61st state representative district in 2016
District 34 The 34th district includes a portion of Gallatin County, including the city of Belgrade. The incumbent is Republican Shelley Vance, who was elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Caleb Hinkle, state representative from the 68th district (2021–present)
Eliminated in primary Shelley Vance, incumbent senator
Withdrawn Randy Chamberlin Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Carl Anderson
District 41 The 41st district encompasses the city of Helena. The incumbent is Democrat Janet Ellis, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to another term.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Erin Farris-Olsen, consultant and nominee for the Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court in 2024
Eliminated in primary Dana Toole, former member of the Helena School Board
Term-limited Janet Ellis, incumbent senator Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Dru Koester, businessowner
District 42 The 42nd district includes an eastern portion of Lewis and Clark County, including East Helena. The incumbent is Democrat Mary Ann Dunwell, who was elected in 2022 with 55.3% of the vote.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mary Ann Dunwell, incumbent senator Republican primary Candidates Nominee Stephen Lapraim Eliminated in primary Nicholas Lancette Mike Talia Withdrawn Kevin Kleinworth
District 43 The 43rd district encompasses most of Ravalli County, including the city of Hamilton. The incumbent is Republican Jason Ellsworth, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to another term.