One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Department 2 (unexpired term) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: John A. Mercer. Candidate information follows official Sanders County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
John A. Mercer is the sitting judge and no one filed against the seat, so the November 3, 2026 ballot asks voters in the 20th Judicial District (Lake, Sanders) 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.
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, John A. Mercer, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.
Montana › Sanders County › District Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Department 2 (unexpired term)
Nonpartisan Incumbent
John A. Mercer serves as the Department 2 District Judge of Montana's 20th Judicial District, covering Lake and Sanders counties, running for the unexpired term, per Lake County. No campaign website was found as of September 21, 2026.
Who is running for District Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Department 2 (unexpired term) in 2026?
One candidate is tracked for District Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Department 2 (unexpired term) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: John A. Mercer. Candidate information follows official Sanders County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the District Court Judge, 20th Judicial District, Department 2 (unexpired term) 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 Sanders 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.
Candidate roster from official Sanders 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 Sanders County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
6 tracked races in Sanders County, Montana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.