Who's running (so far): A roundup of Bitterroot candidates for the Montana Legislature

Candidates are lining up to file their intention to run for state office in Ravalli County on the June primary ballot with several seats up for grabs.

The window to file to run for office opened on Feb. 17 and will close on March 4.

Ravalli County consists of four House Districts (HD 85, HD 86, HD 87, HD 88) and two Senate Districts (SD 43 and SD 44). All four Ravalli County House seats as well as one Senate seat, all currently held by Republicans, will be up for grabs in the 2026 election.

Senate District 43 is currently represented by Hamilton Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth, whose term expires at the end of the year. House District 86 incumbent Rep. David Bedey of Hamilton and House District 85 incumbent Rep. Kathy Love of Hamilton are both running in the Republican primary to fill the seat being vacated by Ellsworth. Both Bedey and Love’s terms as representatives in the state house expire at the end of this year. No Democrats have filed to run for the seat yet.

Former House District 85 Rep. Michelle Binkley of Hamilton has filed to run for her former seat currently occupied by incumbent Rep. Love, who is running in Senate District 43 against Rep. Bedey. Binkley currently has no opponent in the primary race. No democrats have filed to run for the seat yet.

Former House District 88 Rep. Wayne Rusk of Corvallis has filed to run for the House District 86 seat being vacated by incumbent Rep. Bedey. Rusk currently has no opponent in the primary race. No Democrats have filed to run for the seat yet.

Incumbent Terry Nelson of Victor has filed to run for election in House District 87. Nelson was appointed to the HD 87 seat in March of 2025 when Ron Marshall stepped down. Nelson currently has no opponent in the primary race. No Democrats have filed to run for the seat yet.

Incumbent Republican Greg Overstreet of Stevensville has filed to run for re-election in House District 88. Overstreet currently has no opponent in the Republican primary race. Democrat Evan Schroedel has also filed to run in the June primary for the HD 88 seat. He currently has no opponent in the Democratic primary. If neither candidate is challenged in the June primary, they will face each other on the November ballot.

Primary elections will be held June 2 by mail. Absentee ballots will be mailed out May 8. The 2026 general election will take place Nov. 3.

To see who's filed to run for local offices in Ravalli County such as sheriff and county attorney, please click below.

Candidates line up to run for local office in Ravalli County