The Ballot Brief
Missoula County, Montana

District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5

One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shane A. Vannatta. Candidate information follows official Missoula County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

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.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Shane A. Vannatta, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Montana › Missoula County › District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5

Shane A. Vannatta

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Biography

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.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5 in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Shane A. Vannatta. Candidate information follows official Missoula County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District, Department 5 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 Missoula 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 Missoula 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 Missoula County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Missoula County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Montana Senate District 49Montana Senate District 50Montana House District 76See all 18 Missoula County races
Candidate profiles
Shane A. Vannatta, full profileOfficial Montana election office