Montana voters delivered mixed results in the November 3 midterm elections, sending Democrat Sam Forstag to Congress from western Montana while retaining Republicans in the U.S. Senate, the eastern congressional district and both chambers of the state Legislature.
Forstag, a former paid lobbyist and LGBTQ rights advocate who also worked as a smokejumper and union organizer, defeated Republican Aaron Flint in the western House district. Republican Kurt Alme won the open U.S. Senate seat over independent Seth Bodnar and Democrat Alani Bankhead. Republican Troy Downing retained the eastern House seat.
In western Montana, Democrat Sam Forstag defeated Republican Aaron Flint in the race to replace retiring Rep. Ryan Zinke. Forstag, a former paid lobbyist and LGBTQ rights advocate, received about 132,000 votes to Flint’s 123,000, ending Montana Democrats’ long absence from the U.S. House.
Forstag worked as a lobbyist for organizations including the ACLU of Montana and Planned Parenthood and advocated on issues involving transgender rights. His campaign also emphasized his background as a smokejumper and union organizer and focused on affordability. Flint campaigned as a conservative radio host and Army Reserve veteran emphasizing border security and support for the Trump administration.
The result was Montana’s first Democratic U.S. House victory since Pat Williams won reelection in 1994. Republican Troy Downing held the eastern congressional district, giving the state a split U.S. House delegation.
Republican Kurt Alme won the open U.S. Senate seat left by Steve Daines. Alme took roughly 48% of the vote, independent Seth Bodnar about 38% and Democrat Alani Bankhead around 12%. Discussion of the race centered on whether the presence of two non-Republican candidates divided opposition voters, although their combined totals do not establish how a two-way contest would have unfolded.
Republicans retained both chambers of the Legislature, with an approximately 30–20 advantage in the Senate and a narrower but clear majority in the House. Democrats gained seats, particularly in a handful of competitive districts, without changing control of the state government.
In the nonpartisan Montana Supreme Court race, Amy Eddy defeated Dan Wilson by more than 80,000 votes. Judicial contests once again produced different voting patterns than partisan statewide contests, though political groups supported candidates on both sides.
Voters approved three statewide measures. CI-132 entrenches nonpartisan judicial elections in the constitution, while CI-133 adds protections for the initiative and referendum process. Initiative 194 seeks to bar corporate and other artificial-person spending to influence state elections beginning January 2027.
The Montana Republican Party and allied groups filed a federal challenge to Initiative 194, arguing it conflicts with First Amendment protections recognized in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Supporters say the measure is intended to reduce corporate influence in politics.
Republican candidates also retained Public Service Commission seats on the ballot. Taken together, the results show Republican strength in statewide partisan elections alongside Democratic gains in western Montana and substantial support for ballot initiatives across party lines.
Republicans continued to control both legislative chambers, although Democrats gained seats. Amy Eddy defeated Dan Wilson for the Montana Supreme Court. Voters approved ballot measures addressing nonpartisan judicial elections, the initiative process and corporate election expenditures. Republicans also held Public Service Commission seats on the ballot.
