The Ballot Brief
Flathead County, Montana

Flathead County Commissioner, District 1

2 candidates are tracked for Flathead County Commissioner, District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Brad Abell and Nathan Dugan. Candidate information follows official Flathead County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Incumbent Commissioner Brad Abell (Republican) faces Nathan Dugan (Democratic), per the county's official candidate list. Commissioners are elected countywide though tied to a residency district, per the county commissioners' office page. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Brad Abell, is on the ballot.

Montana › Flathead County › Flathead County Commissioner, District 1

Brad Abell

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Brad Abell is the sitting Flathead County Commissioner for District 1, first elected in 2020, per the Flathead Beacon. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.

Nathan Dugan

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Housing affordability for local workers
  • A one-year pause on approving new data centers and no county tax breaks for them
  • Opposing Flock surveillance cameras in the county

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Dugan works as a home health physical therapist, founded local nonprofits focused on housing affordability, and served on Montana's bipartisan Housing Task Force in 2022, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotFlathead County Clerk/Recorder/Surveyor

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Flathead County Commissioner, District 1 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Flathead County Commissioner, District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Brad Abell and Nathan Dugan. Candidate information follows official Flathead County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Flathead County Commissioner, District 1 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 Flathead 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 Flathead County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Flathead County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Flathead County Sheriff/CoronerFlathead County AttorneyFlathead County Treasurer/AssessorSee all 25 Flathead County races
Candidate profiles
Brad Abell, full profileNathan Dugan, full profileOfficial Montana election office