Chouteau County, Montana

Montana House District 26

2 candidates are tracked for Montana House District 26 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Paul Jefferson and Russel Miner. Candidate information follows official Chouteau County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Paul Jefferson (Democratic), Russel Miner (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 26. Russel Miner is the sitting member, per the Secretary of State's list. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Russel Miner, is on the ballot.

Montana › Chouteau County › Montana House District 26

Paul Jefferson

Democratic

Top priorities

Affordable healthcare and housing, public safety, and regulation of data centers
Election integrity and privacy protections
Economic opportunity, public lands protection and public education

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jefferson was born in 1955 at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington, and later lived in Hawaii and Texas before settling in Montana, where he has resided for 10 years; his family heritage includes pioneer settlers and military veterans, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Russel Miner

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Russ is a Republican state representative from Stockett serving his second session in the Montana House, after previously serving in 2023, per the Montana Free Press Capitol Tracker. He sits on the House Taxation Committee and is vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and has sponsored bills on property tax assessment cycles and water rights alignment. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.

Next on your ballotMontana House District 32

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Montana House District 26 in 2026?

When is the Montana House District 26 election in Montana?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Montana are on the Montana election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Chouteau County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Chouteau County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Montana election office, or see the full Chouteau County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Chouteau County ballot

3 tracked races in Chouteau County, Montana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Public Service Commission District 1 See all 3 Chouteau County races

Candidate profiles

Paul Jefferson, full profile Russel Miner, full profile Official Montana election office