Christi Jacobsen enters Western Montana House race after Zinke exit

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen filed Tuesday, March 3, 2026, around 11 a.m. at the Secretary of State’s Office to run as a Republican for the open U.S. House seat representing Western Montana, declaring her candidacy a day after Rep. Ryan Zinke said he would not seek reelection, citing health problems, Montana Free Press reported.

In a news release quoted by KRTV, Jacobsen framed her campaign with the line, "Montana values, proven leadership, and putting America First. Period. I’m here to serve the people, not the political establishment. I’m taking my battle-tested record from the Secretary of State’s office straight to Washington, to fight for our families, our freedoms, and our future." NBC Montana published a longer excerpt of that press release in which she added, "As your Secretary of State, I’ve stood up to Washington overreach, defended election integrity, and delivered real results for Montanans. In 2020, voters gave me a mandate to clean up our elections, grow Montana business, and push back against radical liberal special interests. I delivered. Now it’s time to take that same results-driven, America First leadership to Congress."

KRTV reported Jacobsen says her campaign will prioritize lowering the cost of living for Montana families, "completing mass deportations and securing our borders," and "unleashing American energy to grow our economy." Montana Free Press noted Jacobsen announced on Facebook with a campaign video that portrays her as a political outsider and "the favorite of Donald Trump," a characterization presented in the video rather than as a separate endorsement.

Jacobsen enters a GOP primary that already includes conservative radio host Aaron Flint and Dr. Al Olszewski. KRTV and MTPR identify Flint as a statewide conservative talk radio host and report that many of Montana’s statewide and federal elected leaders have already endorsed Flint, without listing endorsers. KRTV and MTFP describe Olszewski as a former Kalispell legislator and orthopedic surgeon who challenged Zinke in the 2022 Republican primary, losing by two points.

Jacobsen has served as Montana’s top elections official since her first election in 2020 and was reelected in 2024, having previously served as deputy secretary of state under Corey Stapleton, KRTV and NBC Montana reported. Montana Free Press reported that Jacobsen "led all Republican statewide candidates in raw votes, including Donald Trump" in 2024 and did the same in 2020, and MTFP added that term limits prevent her from running for reelection as secretary of state.

If Jacobsen resigns the secretary of state’s office to run or serve in Congress, Montana Public Radio and MTN noted the state constitution gives the governor authority to appoint a replacement until the next general election. With the filing window closing the following day, KTVH reminded candidates that the final day to file for Montana’s 2026 elections opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., setting the stage for a contested three-way Republican primary for the Western Congressional District.