montana house of representatives

Preliminary results from Helena-area 2026 legislative primary elections

Tuesday was primary election night in the Queen City, and votes from the people of Lewis and Clark, Jefferson and Broadwater counties were cast.

The Helena area saw competitive races across four House districts and three Senate districts.

Here are the preliminary results as of 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Montana secretary of state's office:

Contested primaries

HD 80 — West Valley

Democrat Qasim W. Abdul-Baki of Helena: 38% (558)
Democrat Megan Lane of Helena: 62% (898)
Republican Katie Fruits of Helena: 100% (963)
Seat currently held by Democrat Melissa Romano

HD 81 — Downtown, Northeast Valley

Democrat Janet Ellis of Helena: 63% (1,237)
Democrat Ben Kuiper of Helena: 37% (715)
Republican John J. Loonery Sr. of Helena: 100% (1,042)
Seat currently held by Democrat Mary Caferro of Helena

HD 84 — Tri-Lakes area

Republican Roy Caldwell of Helena: 62% (1,374)
Republican James Marshal of Helena: 38% (843)
Democrat Tia Nelson of Helena: 52% (596)
Democrat Jamie Van Valkenburg of Helena: 48% (549)
Seat currently held by Republican Julie Darling of Helena

SD 41 — Helena Valley

Democrat Erin Farris-Olsen of Helena: 70% (2,575)
Democrat Dana Toole of Helena: 30% (1,120)
Libertarian Dru Koester of East Helena: 100% (86)
Seat currently held by Democrat Janet Ellis of Helena

SD 42 — Southeast Lewis and Clark County

Incumbent Democrat Mary Ann Dunwell of Helena: 100% (3,011)
Republican Nicholas Lancette of Helena: 25% (893)
Republican Stephen Lapraim of Helena: 40% (1,471)
Republican Mike Talia of Helena: 35% (1,289)

HD 17 — Northern Lewis and Clark County

Democrat Chris Bechtold of Choteau: 100% (627)
Republican Justin W. Cleveland of Fairfield: 58% (1,778)
Republican Michael J. Fasbender of Helena: 19% (581)
Republican Susan Giese of Helena: 24% (728)
Seat currently held by Republican Zack Wirth of Wolf Creek

SD 09 — Birdseye to Canadian border

Democrat Noy Holland of Choteau: 100% (970)
Republican Llew Jones, currently the House District 18 representative: 52% (3,264)
Republican Zack Wirth, currently the House District 80 representative: 48% (3,012)
Seat currently held by Republican Bruce “Butch” Gillespie

Uncontested races

Not all races were competitive, and some candidates will be advancing straight to the November general election without a challenger. Here are those races: