2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana

For related races, see 2026 United States House of Representatives elections.
Not to be confused with 2026 Montana House of Representatives election.
2026 United House of Representatives elections in Montana
November 3, 2026
All 2 Montana seats to the United States House of Representatives
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 2 0

The 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of Montana, one from each of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections will take place on June 2, 2026.[1]

District 1

See also: Montana's 1st congressional district

The incumbent is Republican Ryan Zinke, who was re-elected with 52.3% of the vote in 2024.[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Filed paperwork
  • Gavin Solomon, businessman from New York[4]

Endorsements

Ryan Zinke
Executive branch officials

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Ryan Zinke (R) $4,090,593 $1,971,880 $2,799,244
Source: Federal Election Commission[6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Russell Cleveland
State legislators
Individuals
Sam Forstag
U.S. senators
Labor unions
Matt Rains
State legislators
  • Jill Cohenour, state representative from the 83th district (2023–present; 2003–2011)[11]
  • Paul Tuss, state representative from the 27th district (2023-present)[11]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Russell Cleveland (D) $195,894 $147,614 $48,280
Matt Rains (D) $113,774 $67,362 $46,411
Source: Federal Election Commission[6]

Independents

Candidates

Declared
  • Kimberly Persico[14]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[15] Likely R June 13, 2025
Inside Elections[16] Solid R June 13, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] Likely R June 13, 2025
Race to the WH[18] Likely R January 18, 2026

Polling

Ryan Zinke vs. Ryan Busse
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Ryan
Zinke (R) 		Ryan
Busse (D) 		Undecided
Peak Insights (R)[19][A] January 12–15, 2026 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 47% 41% 12%
Tulchin Research (D)[20] November 22–25, 2025 424 (LV) ± 5.0% 43% 47% 10%
Ryan Zinke vs. Sam Forstag
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Ryan
Zinke (R) 		Sam
Forstag (D) 		Undecided
Peak Insights (R)[19][A] January 12–15, 2026 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 48% 38% 14%

District 2

See also: Montana's 2nd congressional district

The incumbent is Republican Troy Downing, who was elected with 65.7% of the vote in 2024.[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Endorsements

Troy Downing
Executive branch officials
Organizations

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Troy Downing (R) $1,220,469 $895,761 $436,239
Source: Federal Election Commission[23]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Sam Lux, horse farrier[21]
  • Brian Miller, attorney[21]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Sam Lux (D) $4,617 $4,007 $786
Brian Miller (D) $10,223 $6,078 $4,640
Source: Federal Election Commission[23]

Independents

Candidates

Declared
  • Michael Eisenhauer, cardiologist[24]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[15] Solid R June 13, 2025
Inside Elections[16] Solid R June 13, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[17] Safe R June 13, 2025
Race to the WH[18] Safe R September 26, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. ^ a b Poll conducted by Leadership in Action PAC, which supports Zinke

References

  1. ^ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "2024 House Vote Tracker". Cook Political Report. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  3. ^ Ragar, Shaylee (December 2, 2025). "Montana's 2026 congressional races take shape". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  4. ^ "Statement of Candidacy". August 22, 2025
  5. ^ a b Drew, Micah (November 6, 2025). "Trump endorses Reps. Zinke, Downing for re-election". Daily Montanan. Missoula Current. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "2026 Election United States House - Montana 1st". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  7. ^ Drew, Micah (January 8, 2026). "Ryan Busse joins race to challenge Zinke for House seat". Daily Montanan. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  8. ^ Brooks, Gary (May 6, 2025). "Letter to the editor: Russell Cleveland running for US House". Longview News-Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Woodall, Hunter (January 5, 2026). "Democrats are talking about a midterm blue wave. A Montana smokejumper could help make it a reality". CBS News. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Eavis, Victoria (October 23, 2025). "Candidate field for U.S. House is shaping up as Democrat Matt Rains announces candidacy". The Independent Record. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d Thomas, Mariah (January 6, 2026). "Forstag Jumps into Democratic Primary for Western House District". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  12. ^ Eavis, Victoria (January 5, 2026). "Missoula Democratic smokejumper enters U.S. House race to unseat Rep. Zinke". Billings Gazette. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  13. ^ "NFFE Endorses Sam Forstag for Montana's First Congressional District". National Federation of Federal Employees. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  14. ^ Wooden, Annie (February 12, 2026). "Hot Springs woman running for Congress". Sanders County Ledger. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  15. ^ a b "2026 CPR House Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "2026 House Ratings". Inside Elections.
  17. ^ a b "2026 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "The 2026 House Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Drew, Micah (January 23, 2026). "Poll shows Zinke up on Busse, Forstag". Daily Montanan. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  20. ^ Lutey, Tom (December 18, 2025). "The Poll...err Express". Montana Free Press. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  21. ^ a b c Ambarian, Jonathon (November 12, 2025). "Montana's Eastern Congressional District: Downing running, two Democrats file". KTVH-DT. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  22. ^ "Thank You for Supporting Pro-Israel Candidates". Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  23. ^ a b "2026 Election United States House - Montana 2nd". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  24. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (January 2, 2026). "How 2026 is shaping up in Montana politics". KXLF. Retrieved January 2, 2026. Michael Eisenhauer, a cardiologist from Great Falls, has announced plans to run for the seat as an independent.
Official campaign websites for 1st district candidates
Official campaign websites for 2nd district candidates
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