Missoula County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
32 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 19 Missoula County races, led by the Public Service Commission District 5 contest.
School board
MCPS School BoardChristina Eblen
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Christina Eblen is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for MCPS School Board.
Christina Eblen
About Christina Eblen
Listed from official election filings. The Ballot Brief has not yet researched a profile for this candidate; confirm the race and candidate with the official election office linked at the bottom of this page.
Judges
District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5Nonpartisan race · Shane A. Vannatta
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shane A. Vannatta is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5.
Shane A. Vannatta
Shane A. Vannatta is a judge on Montana's 4th Judicial District Court, Department 5, in Missoula County. Gov. Steve Bullock appointed him to the newly created seat in February 2019 after more than 25 years in private business law practice at Worden Thane P.C., per Missoula County. He earned his law degree with honors from the University of Montana in 1993 and served as President of the State Bar of Montana from 2011 to 2012, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 21, 2026.
Shane A. Vannatta is the sitting judge and no one filed against the seat, so the November 3, 2026 ballot asks voters in the 4th Judicial District (Missoula, Mineral) to approve or reject keeping the judge, under Article VII, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution. Montana judicial races are nonpartisan. Listed from the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageDistricts and boards
Public Service Commission District 5Annie Bukacek (R) · Kevin Hamm (D)
Annie Bukacek (Republican) and Kevin Hamm (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Public Service Commission District 5.
Annie Bukacek
Top priorities
- On new data centers, wants to ensure existing residential and small business customers are not saddled with any share of a data center's energy costs
- On the proposed NorthWestern and Black Hills utility merger, supports the Commission's standard process of collecting public comment and building as complete an evidentiary record as possible before deciding
- Notes the Commission is one of Montana's smallest state agencies and has suggested additional funding could support hiring more industry experienced examiners
Per the Montana Free Press candidate questionnaire.
About Annie Bukacek
Annie Bukacek, of Kalispell, is a physician with more than forty years of experience who operates a small medical practice and holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, per the Flathead Beacon. She has served as the District 5 Public Service Commissioner since 2022 and previously served on the Flathead City-County Board of Health, per the same source and the Commission's own website.
Kevin Hamm
Top priorities
- Opposes the Commission's recent decision to raise NorthWestern Energy's residential base rates and to shift more risk for the utility's energy buying decisions onto ratepayers, and wants a commission that prioritizes families over utility profits
- Wants the state to build out wind, solar, and storage capacity as part of Montana's electricity generation future
Per the campaign site.
About Kevin Hamm
Kevin Hamm is a small business owner and community organizer who has called Montana home since childhood, per his campaign site. He has served on community boards including the Queen City Ballet and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and founded the Happiness and Joy Foundation, a nonprofit that has directed the Montana Pride celebration for more than a decade. He founded Studio 19 in 2010, which manages live video production for Frontier Conference athletics and streaming for Carroll College, and later launched Auxilyum Technologies, an information technology support company for small businesses, per the same source.
Republican incumbent Annie Bukacek faces Democrat Kevin Hamm for the Public Service Commission District 5 seat, per the Montana Secretary of State's certified candidate list. This district covers only part of the county; the seat appears only on ballots inside the district.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Missoula County is split across 16 Montana Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressMontana Senate: 3 districtsDistricts 48, 49, 50
Montana Senate District 48Andrea Olsen (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Andrea Olsen
Top priorities
- Supports the rights and dignity of all Montanans
- Supports accessible healthcare, affordable education and a strong economy with good jobs
- Supports clean air, clean water and public lands access
Per the campaign site.
About Andrea Olsen
Andrea is a fifth-generation Montanan and lifelong resident of Missoula who has served 10 years in the Montana Legislature, per the campaign site.
Andrea Olsen (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana Senate District 48; unopposed candidates still appear on Montana ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Andrea Olsen 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.
Full race pageMontana Senate District 49Willis Curdy (D) · Brad Tschida (R)
Willis Curdy
Top priorities
- Increase funding for public schools without shifting more of the burden to local property taxpayers
- Expand career and technical education and job training in the trades
- Reauthorize Medicaid expansion
Per the campaign site.
About Willis Curdy
Willis Curdy taught for 30 years at Hellgate and Big Sky high schools in Missoula and represented Montana House District 98 for eight years, per the campaign site. Curdy is a former wildland firefighter and U.S. Forest Service pilot who now helps run the family ranch, per the campaign site.
Brad Tschida
Brad Tschida is the Republican nominee for Montana Senate District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Willis Curdy (Democratic), Brad Tschida (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana Senate District 49. Willis Curdy 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.
Full race pageMontana Senate District 50Shane A. Morigeau (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shane A. Morigeau
Shane represents Senate District 50 from Missoula and has served in the Montana Legislature since 2017, per Montana Free Press. He serves on the Senate Finance and Claims and Senate Natural Resources committees, per Montana Free Press. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Shane A. Morigeau (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana Senate District 50; unopposed candidates still appear on Montana ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Shane A. Morigeau 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.
Full race pageMontana House: 13 districtsDistricts 76, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100
Montana House District 76Shayne Morgan (Independent) · Trish Schreiber (R)
Shayne Morgan
Top priorities
- Community-focused leadership over politics as usual
- Listening to constituents
- Building a better future for House District 76
Per the campaign site.
About Shayne Morgan
Shayne graduated from Butte High School in 1990 and studied at Montana Tech, Carroll College and Chemeketa Community College, per the campaign site. He has worked as a radio broadcaster, a newspaper and television journalist, publisher of The Valley Explorer, and a wildland firefighter for eight seasons, and currently works for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the Warm Springs unit, per the campaign site. Ballot status: Shayne Morgan filed as an independent by petition; the Secretary of State's list showed the petition as pending when checked on September 17, 2026.
Trish Schreiber
Top priorities
- Lowering income taxes and returning surplus revenue to taxpayers
- Returning education decisions to parents, teachers and local districts
- Reducing regulations for farmers and ranchers
Per the campaign site.
About Trish Schreiber
Trish has worked as an educational therapist for more than 25 years specializing in reading and writing challenges and holds a master's degree in special education, per the campaign site. She has lived in Helmsville for nearly a decade and has volunteered for four years as a citizen advocate on education policy in Helena, per the campaign site.
Shayne Morgan (Independent), Trish Schreiber (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 76. The state's list marks no incumbent for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageMontana House District 89Lyn Hellegaard (R) · Mark A. Thane (D)
Lyn Hellegaard
Top priorities
- Reducing regulation and taxes on businesses
- Requiring voter approval for tax increment financing and urban renewal districts
- Election security
Per the campaign site.
About Lyn Hellegaard
Lyn is a business owner and banker who has served on the Missoula City Council, per the campaign site. She is part of the Missoula Election Integrity Project, per the campaign site.
Mark A. Thane
Top priorities
- Affordable and accessible health care and case management services
- High-quality public schools and the Montana University System
- Access to public lands and waterways
Per the campaign site.
About Mark A. Thane
Mark is a Missoula native and University of Montana graduate who spent 39 years in Missoula County Public Schools, retiring as superintendent in 2019, per the campaign site. He was named the 2025 Montana Legislator of the Year by Montana Ambassadors, per the campaign site.
Lyn Hellegaard (Republican), Mark A. Thane (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 89. Mark A. Thane 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 90Kelley Durbin-Williams (Independent) · Jeff Stanek (R)
Kelley Durbin-Williams
Kelley owns Mismo Gymnastics in Missoula, per the Valley Press/Mineral Independent. She is running as an independent candidate for House District 90. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026. Ballot status: Kelley Durbin-Williams filed as an independent by petition; the Secretary of State's list showed the petition as pending when checked on September 17, 2026.
Jeff Stanek
Top priorities
- Supports limiting the size and spending of government
- Supports property tax relief
- Supports Montana-based resource development including lumber, energy and minerals
Per the campaign site.
About Jeff Stanek
Jeff is a social studies teacher at St. Regis Middle School/High School, where he has taught for eight years, per the campaign site. He is a former U.S. Air Force Security Forces officer who was a 2021 Montana Teacher of the Year finalist and received the 2025 Montana History Teacher of the Year award, per the campaign site.
Kelley Durbin-Williams (Independent), Jeff Stanek (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 90. The state's list marks no incumbent for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageMontana House District 91Shelly Fyant (D) · Charles Headley (R)
Shelly Fyant
Top priorities
- Protecting Montana's environment
- Health care and food security for Montana's changing demographics
- Safe learning environments for students
Per the campaign site.
About Shelly Fyant
Shelly is a former chairwoman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and has experience drafting and sponsoring bipartisan legislation, per the campaign site.
Charles Headley
Charles Headley is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 91 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Shelly Fyant (Democratic), Charles Headley (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 91. Shelly Fyant 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 92Monica Tranel (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Monica Tranel
Top priorities
- Infrastructure repair, including bridges in Greenough and Seeley Lake
- Addressing housing costs and property taxes
- School funding for Potomac and the Rattlesnake
Per the campaign site.
About Monica Tranel
Monica Tranel is the Democratic nominee for Montana House District 92 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. Tranel's campaign site says she ran for Montana's U.S. House seat in the last two election cycles and is now seeking the state House seat, focusing on housing, jobs, child care and rural health care, per the campaign site. Tranel's campaign site says she ran for Montana's U.S. House seat in the last two election cycles and is now seeking the state House seat, focusing on housing, jobs, child care and rural health care, per the campaign site.
Monica Tranel (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 92; unopposed candidates still appear on Montana ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. The state's list marks no incumbent for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageMontana House District 93Ben Davis (D) · Roy Handley (R)
Ben Davis
Top priorities
- Lowering prices for families
- Increasing affordable housing
- Reducing property taxes
Per the campaign site.
About Ben Davis
Ben served overseas in Iraq and other conflict zones during his military service and later worked as a prosecutor focused on child abuse and domestic violence cases, per the campaign site. He founded and led Friends of the Children - Western Montana and has developed affordable housing, and holds degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Chicago, and a law degree from the Catholic University of America, per the campaign site.
Roy Handley
Top priorities
- Supports property tax relief
- Supports insurance access for homeowners denied coverage based on wildfire-risk zip codes
- Wants to help keep young families and workers in their home communities through housing and employment affordability
Per the campaign site.
About Roy Handley
Roy is a semi-retired private business owner with experience in agriculture, transportation and food service, per the campaign site. He is a lifelong Missoula County resident, born and raised there, per the campaign site.
Ben Davis (Democratic), Roy Handley (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 93. The state's list marks no incumbent for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageMontana House District 94Robin Kendall (D) · Greg Woodward (R)
Robin Kendall
Top priorities
- Strengthening local opportunities and supporting quality education
- Expanding affordable housing
- Equal rights and access to women's health care
Per the campaign site.
About Robin Kendall
Robin describes more than 16 years of business leadership experience in Montana and identifies as a human rights advocate, per the campaign site.
Greg Woodward
Greg Woodward is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 94 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Robin Kendall (Democratic), Greg Woodward (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 94. The state's list marks no incumbent for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list.
Full race pageMontana House District 95Zooey Zephyr (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Zooey Zephyr
Zooey represents House District 95 in central Missoula, including the University of Montana campus, and first won election to the seat in 2023, per Montana Free Press. She sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Human Services Committee, per Montana Free Press. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Zooey Zephyr (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 95; unopposed candidates still appear on Montana ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Zooey Zephyr 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 96Bob Carter (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Bob Carter
Top priorities
- Working together with constituents to set and achieve shared goals
Per the campaign site.
About Bob Carter
Bob holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Montana and has worked in the technology sector with Silicon Valley experience, per the campaign site. He is a small business owner, an adult education instructor at the Lifelong Learning Center, and a scuba diving instructor with more than 25 years of experience, and previously served more than 11 years as an elected trustee for Target Range School, per the campaign site.
Bob Carter (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 96; unopposed candidates still appear on Montana ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Bob Carter 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 97Melody J. Cunningham (D) · Michael P. Hagestad (R)
Melody J. Cunningham
Melody represents House District 97 in west Missoula and first won election to the seat in 2024, per Montana Free Press. She sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Human Services Committee, per Montana Free Press. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Michael P. Hagestad
Michael P. Hagestad is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Melody J. Cunningham (Democratic), Michael P. Hagestad (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 97. Melody J. Cunningham 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 98Jonathan Karlen (D) · Bryan Muzzana (R)
Jonathan Karlen
Jonathan represents House District 98 in northwest Missoula and previously served in the Montana House in 2023, per Montana Free Press. He sits on House Business and Labor, House Taxation, House Natural Resources and House Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and serves as vice-chair of House Rules, per Montana Free Press.
Bryan Muzzana
Bryan Muzzana is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 98 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Jonathan Karlen (Democratic), Bryan Muzzana (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 98. Jonathan Karlen 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 99Ryan Darling (R) · Tom France (D)
Ryan Darling
Ryan Darling is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 99 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Tom France
Top priorities
- Keeping public lands in public hands
- Protecting reproductive health care rights under the state constitution
- Supporting renewable energy net metering incentives
Per the campaign site.
About Tom France
Tom represents a Missoula County district in the Montana House and serves on the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee, per the campaign site. He has worked with groups such as the Blackfoot Challenge on collaborative public lands and water management, per the campaign site.
Ryan Darling (Republican), Tom France (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 99. Tom France 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.
Full race pageMontana House District 100Michael Daniel Bowles (R) · Sj Howell (D) · Jc Windmueller (Libertarian)
Michael Daniel Bowles
Top priorities
- Making state government more accountable and easier for people to understand
- Setting boundaries on liberty-affecting powers exercised outside the judiciary
- Providing more direct support to households
Per the campaign site.
About Michael Daniel Bowles
Michael Daniel Bowles is the Republican nominee for Montana House District 100 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. Bowles says on his campaign site that he has spent most of his life in Missoula and was raised by family and the community there, per the campaign site. Bowles says on his campaign site that he has spent most of his life in Missoula and was raised by family and the community there, per the campaign site.
Sj Howell
Sj represents House District 100 in downtown Missoula and first won election to the seat in 2023, per Montana Free Press. She sits on the House Judiciary Committee, serves as vice-chair of House Human Services, and also sits on House Rules, per Montana Free Press. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Jc Windmueller
Jc Windmueller is the Libertarian nominee for Montana House District 100 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Montana Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 17, 2026.
Michael Daniel Bowles (Republican), Sj Howell (Democratic), Jc Windmueller (Libertarian) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 100. Sj Howell 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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Montana party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary (plurality, no runoffs); the field is the Secretary of State's 2026 candidate list, where Nominated marks each party's nominee. Independent candidates qualify by petition. Unopposed candidates still appear on the ballot. All 100 state House seats and half of the 50 state Senate seats are up, along with two Public Service Commission districts, a Supreme Court seat and county offices.
Who is on the ballot in Missoula County, Montana on November 3, 2026?
Missoula County sample ballot 2026: see where the public service commission, montana house and montana senate candidates stand on schools and housing. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Montana?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Montana are listed on the Montana election hub. Montana election hub →
How do I see my exact Missoula County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →