Helena-Area Candidates File for Montana Legislature Seats by March 4
The candidate filing period closed at 5 p.m. March 4 with 380 people filing for 143 offices; primary is set for June 2 and multiple Helena-area lawmakers filed at the Secretary of State’s office.
The Montana candidate filing period closed at 5 p.m. on March 4, leaving 380 candidates filed for 143 offices, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s candidate filing database; the primary election is set for June 2 and 25 state Senate seats plus all 100 state House seats will be on the ballot in 2026. Statewide and legislative candidates submitted paperwork through the Secretary of State’s office in Helena, with the agency’s candidate filing address listed as P.O. Box 202801, Helena, MT 59620-2801.
Opening-day activity in mid-February set the tone for the filing window: Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen said, "Tuesday was an incredible opening day for the 2026 candidate filing period," and added, "It was great to visit with so many of the candidates, and an honor to assist them with this step as they sign up to serve their community and state. I wish the best of luck to all of the candidates running for office this year." Nearly 150 candidates filed on the first day, about 40 appeared in person at the Montana State Capitol, and media photographers captured long lines and campaign photo opportunities on Feb. 17.
Helena-area filings included several named local and regional entrants who filed at the Secretary of State’s office on Feb. 17. Helena’s Tia Nelson was the first person to file in person at the Helena SOS office, registering for House District 84. Republican Katie Fruits posed for a photo after filing for House District 80 on Feb. 17. Democrat Ben Kuiper filed to run for Senate District 81 that day, and Democrat Erin Farris-Olsen filed for Senate District 41 at the Helena office. Rep. Zack Wirth, R–Wolf Creek, filed to run for Senate District 9 and was photographed talking with people outside the SOS office on Feb. 17.
Other specific filings and campaign moments in Helena included Randy Pinocci filing for Senate District 12 at the SOS office on Feb. 17, Sam Lux waiting in line to file candidacy for Montana’s 2nd Congressional District on Feb. 17, and Kathleen Williams approaching the Secretary of State’s office to file for State Senate District 31 on Feb. 17. Rep. Braxton Mitchell completed his paperwork on opening day as well.
Statewide context during the filing window featured a mid-period snapshot in which seven candidates had filed to run for Congress — three for Montana’s 1st Congressional District, two for the 2nd Congressional District, and two for the open U.S. Senate seat — and reporting noted a Libertarian challenger to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines among early entrants. Independent Seth Bodnar announced a U.S. Senate bid and the Ravalli Republic noted an endorsement for Aaron Flint in a western congressional primary race. The filing period also saw three Public Service Commission candidates and nine District Court Judge filings on opening day.
The record of filings contains at least one unresolved discrepancy: several reports stated U.S. Sen. Steve Daines was the first candidate to file on opening day, while a separate Helena-area item in the aggregated reporting carried a contrasting line that Daines announced retirement. That inconsistency remains in the filing-period record and merits confirmation against the Secretary of State candidate database and campaign statements. With the filing window closed and the June 2 primary approaching, Helena and Lewis and Clark County voters will see the certified candidate lists finalized in the weeks ahead.
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