2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana

2026 United House of Representatives elections in Montana

← 2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
Both Montana seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 2 0 Seats won 1 1 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 252,935 206,275 Percentage 51.81% 42.25% Swing 6.69% 2.60%
Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Democratic   50–60%   60–70% District results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Democratic   50–60%   60–70% County results Democratic   Gain Republican   Hold Party gains

The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana were held on November 3, 2026, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of Montana, one from each of the state's congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections took place on June 2, 2026. Montana, Maine, and Wisconsin will be the three states with evenly split congressional delegations following the 2026 House of Representatives elections, (1 - 1, 1 - 1, and 4 - 4 respectively.).

This was the first time Democrats won a U.S. House election in Montana since 1994.

District 1

2026 Montana's 1st congressional district election

← 2024 2028 →

Nominee Sam Forstag Aaron Flint Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 132,003 122,694 Percentage 50.3% 46.8%

U.S. Representative before election Ryan Zinke Republican Elected U.S. Representative Sam Forstag Democratic

The 1st district is based in western Montana, including Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, and Kalispell. The incumbent is Republican Ryan Zinke, who was re-elected with 52.3% of the vote in 2024. On March 2, 2026, Zinke announced that he would retire once his present term ends.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Aaron Flint, veteran and radio host

Eliminated in primary

• Ray Curtis, educator
• Christi Jacobsen, Secretary of State of Montana (2021–present)
• Albert Olszewski, former state senator (2017–2021), Flathead County Republican Central Committee chairman, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018, governor in 2020, and this seat in 2022

Withdrawn

• Ryan Zinke, incumbent U.S. representative (endorsed Flint)

Declined

• Matt Regier, president of the Montana Senate (2025–present) from the 5th district (2025–present)
• Denny Rehberg, former U.S. representative (2001–2013)

Endorsements

Aaron Flint

Executive branch officials

• Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present) (previously endorsed Zinke)

U.S. senators

• Tim Sheehy, Montana (2025–present)

U.S. representatives

• Troy Downing, MT-02 (2025–present)
• Richard Hudson, NC-09 (2013–present)
• Mike Johnson, speaker of the House (2023–present) from LA-04 (2017–present)
• Jim Jordan, OH-04 (2007–present)
• Lisa McClain, MI-09 (2021–present)
• Steve Scalise, House majority leader (2023-present) from LA-01 (2008-present)
• Ryan Zinke, MT-01 (2023–present)

Statewide officials

• James Brown, state auditor of Montana (2025–present)
• Greg Gianforte, governor of Montana (2021–present)
• Austin Knudsen, attorney general of Montana (2021–present)

State legislators

• Brandon Ler, speaker of the Montana State House (2025–present) from the 35th district (2021-present)

Organizations

• NRCC MAGA Majority
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Ryan Zinke (withdrawn)

Executive branch officials

• Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present) (endorsed Flint after Zinke withdrew)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of May 13, 2026
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Aaron Flint (R)	$677,089	$292,415	$384,673
Christi Jacobson (R)	$447,271	$352,505	$94,766
Albert Olszewski (R)	$411,338	$317,276	$104,010
Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Aaron Flint	41,170	50.1
	Republican	Christi Jacobsen	18,877	23.0
	Republican	Al Olszewski	16,686	20.3
	Republican	Ray Curtis	5,479	6.7
Total votes			82,212	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sam Forstag, smokejumper and union leader

Eliminated in primary

• Ryan Busse, author, former vice president of sales at Kimber Manufacturing, and nominee for governor in 2024
• Russell Cleveland, education consultant
• Matt Rains, rancher and candidate for Montana's at-large congressional district in 2020

Declined

• Brian Schweitzer, former governor of Montana (2005–2013) (endorsed Busse, then Forstag)

Endorsements

Ryan Busse

U.S. senators

• Ruben Gallego, Arizona (2025–present)

Statewide officials

• Brian Schweitzer, former governor of Montana (2005–2013)

State Legislators

• Susan Webber, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (co-endorsement with Forstag and Cleveland)

Organizations

• League of Conservation Voters Action Fund

Russell Cleveland

State legislators

• Susan Webber, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (co-endorsement with Busse and Forstag)

Labor unions

• Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Individuals

• Josh Hutcherson, actor

Organizations

• Indivisible Missoula

Sam Forstag

U.S. senators

• Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent)

U.S. representatives

• Greg Casar, TX-35 (2023–present)
• Maxwell Frost, FL-10 (2023–present)
• Pramila Jayapal, WA-07 (2017–present)
• Susie Lee, NV-03 (2019–present) (candidate's aunt)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY-14 (2019–present)
• Jamie Raskin, MD-08 (2017-present)

State legislators

• Kim Abbott, former minority leader of the Montana House of Representatives (2021–2025) from the 83rd district (2017–present)
• Geraldine Custer, former state representative from the 39th district (2015–2023) (Republican)
• Susan Webber, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) (co-endorsement with Busse and Cleveland)

Labor unions

• American Federation of Government Employees
• Association of Flight Attendants
• International Association of Fire Fighters, Locals 96 (Butte), and 271 (Missoula)
• Montana AFL-CIO
• Montana Alliance for Retired Americans
• Montana Federation of Public Employees
• Montana State Conference of Electrical Workers
• National Federation of Federal Employees
• SEIU 775

Organizations

• Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC
• Our Revolution
• Progressive Democrats of America

Matt Rains

State legislators

• Jill Cohenour, state representative from the 83th district (2003–2011, 2023–present)
• Paul Tuss, state representative from the 27th district (2023–present)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of May 13, 2026
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Ryan Busse (D)	$702,447	$551,915	$150,531
Russell Cleveland (D)	$418,450	$363,895	$54,554
Samuel Forstag (D)	$694,569	$533,132	$161,437
Matt Rains (D)	$265,119	$230,813	$34,305
Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ryan Busse	Russell Cleveland	Sam Forstag	Matt Rains	Undecided
Tulchin Research (D)	March 28 – April 1, 2026	400 (LV)	–	35%	20%	13%	5%	27%

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Forstag	26,276	37.3
	Democratic	Ryan Busse	23,196	33.1
	Democratic	Russell Cleveland	15,238	21.7
	Democratic	Matt Rains	5,518	7.9
Total votes			70,228	100.0

District 2

2026 Montana's 2nd congressional district election

← 2024 2028 →

Nominee Troy Downing Brian Miller Michael Eisenhauer Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 127,346 70,431 17,079 Percentage 58.2% 32.2% 7.8%

U.S. Representative before election Troy Downing Republican Elected U.S. Representative Troy Downing Republican

The 2nd district is based in eastern Montana, including Billings, Great Falls, and Helena. The incumbent is Republican Troy Downing, who was elected with 65.7% of the vote in 2024.

See also

• 2026 Montana elections
• 2026 United States House of Representatives elections
• 2026 Montana House of Representatives election