2026 Candidates & Elected Officials

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  • Zach Brown

    For County Commissioner District 1

  • Jennifer Boyer Headshot

    Jennifer Boyer

    County Commissioner District 2

  • Ryan Finn

    For County Commissioner District 3 (Write-In)

  • Audrey Cromwell

    Audrey Cromwell

    For County Attorney

  • Garrett Grimm

    For County Sheriff/Coroner

  • Stephen Ball

    For County Treasurer

  • Eric Semerad

    For County Clerk and Recorder

  • John Nielson

    John Nielson

    Superintendent of Schools

  • Jill Therrien

    For County Auditor

  • Sandy Erhardt

    Clerk of District Court

  • Katie Fire Thunder

    For House District 59

  • Alanah Griffith

    House District 60

  • Becky Edwards for Montana District 61

    Becky Edwards

    House District 61

  • Rio Roland for Montana House District 62

    Rio Roland

    For House District 61

  • Josh Seckinger

    For House District 62

  • Peter Strand Montana House District 63

    Peter Strand

    For House District 63

  • Brady Bremer

    For House District 64

  • Brian Close for Montana House District 65

    Brian Close

    For House District 65

  • Eric Matthews Headshot

    Eric Matthews

    for House District 66

  • Logan Henke

    For House District 67

  • Jocelyn Kent

    For House District 68

  • HD 57 Candidate Scott Rosenzweig

    Scott Rosenzweig

    House District 57, For Senate District 29

  • Cora Neumann

    Senate District 30

  • Pat Flowers, Senator District 32

    Pat Flowers

    Senate District 31

  • Denise Hayman

    Denise Hayman

    Senate District 32

  • Kelly Kortum

    House District 64, For Senate District 32

  • Chris Pope, candidate for Senate District 31

    Chris Pope

    Senate District 33

  • Carl Anderson

    For Senate District 34

Zach Brown

For County Commissioner District 1

Goals

As your County Commissioner, I will:

  1. Protect traditional agriculture, our local food system, and open spaces
  2. Promote smart growth and economic development planning
  3. Promote fiscal responsibility and transparency

Candidate Statement

As a Gallatin County Commissioner, I want to continue meeting our challenges head-on. My call to community service is rooted in a belief that this moment in time demands that we all contribute to serving our fellow citizens. I am running because I love this place and want to play an active, positive role in shaping its future. I will invest my experience and expertise to work for you and all our neighbors. I grew up here. I am a proud product of the Bozeman public school system, and I represented Gallatin County for three terms in the Montana State Legislature where I demonstrated my ability to work across partisan and cultural lines. I spent over five years working at One Montana where we built innovative and collaborative solutions between rural and urban community interests. County government does not just serve rural residents. Citizens who live within our towns and cities pay many county taxes and depend on many county services including protection of our water, public health, and the detention center to name a few. I believe our County Commission must represent all of us. I bring to the table curiosity, compassion, an open mind, and bridge-building skills that will help improve collaboration and inspire people in our county and city government to work together instead of against each other.

I was a three-term Montana Legislator, representing Southwest Bozeman and the campus of Montana State University in the House of Representatives since 2014. I have served as the minority Vice Chair of the House Taxation and Natural Resources committees, and am currently Chair of the bipartisan Water Policy Interim Committee. At home, I am a nonprofit professional, having worked for One Montana from 2014 – 2019, and am currently working for the Human Resources Development Council. I have previously worked for my family’s Gallatin Valley small construction and retail businesses and spent time as a professional researcher at Georgetown University.

Jennifer Boyer Headshot

Jennifer Boyer

County Commissioner District 2

Jennifer is a mom, a facilitator, a wife, a farmer and a volunteer and lives with her family on their farm east of Bozeman. Her experiences have focused on public engagement, building partnerships, and policy development.  She has also served as the strategic facilitator and community engagement leader of a planning effort, bringing together stakeholders from all perspectives to create the Triangle Community Plan and Triangle Trails Plan. Recently approved by the Gallatin County Commission, these plans provide the people of Gallatin Valley an effective roadmap for future development. Jennifer has served on numerous boards and community initiatives including the Gallatin Growth Policy committee, Gallatin County Planning Board and Consolidated Board of Adjustments. With her family, she runs a goat farm, supplying meat to local restaurants and butchers. To learn more, visit www.boyerforgallatin.com. 

Hear directly from Jennifer at this recording of her speaking at our monthly meeting!

Ryan Finn

For County Commissioner District 3 (Write-In)

Ryan has built a career around keeping our communities safe, orderly, and fair. Previously serving as a Code Enforcement Officer for the Belgrade Police Department, Ryan worked daily to address local concerns, solve problems on the ground, and maintain the standards that make our neighborhoods great places to live.

Previously, Ryan served as a Pretrial Officer, where his primary focus was conducting thorough background investigations. That experience taught him the critical importance of looking closely at the facts, asking the right questions, and making impartial, informed decisions—skills that are essential for a County Commissioner managing our region’s complex growth and budget.

When Ryan is not working for the community, his world revolves around his family. Ryan’s wife, JaNaie’, their four kids, and dog, Rio, are his biggest motivators. Whether they are exploring the valley, getting involved in local events, or just spending time together here in Belgrade, they remind Ryan every day why the future of Gallatin County is worth working for.

Audrey Cromwell

Audrey Cromwell

For County Attorney

Audrey Cromwell was raised in Billings, Montana by public service-oriented parents in the medical field. Since earning her law degree from University of Montana she has worked in criminal law, serving the community as a Judge pro tem, prosecutor, public defender, and private defense attorney. Audrey is a proud mom to her elementary-aged son, and proud partner to her husband Charlie, a U.S. Army veteran.

Audrey understands the underpinnings of the Montana state justice system and recognizes the specific challenges that stymie a healthy community. In the face of escalating conflict created by the county’s current mental health and housing crises, she brings a sharp perspective tempered by a passion for collaboration. For more information on her policies, please visit www.audreycromwell.com.

Garrett Grimm

For County Sheriff/Coroner

Garrett Grimm has lived in Bozeman for over 35 years, and went to Gallatin Community College and MSU. He earned a degree in Photonics and Laser Technology, and has worked in the optics field for over 10 years.

In 2025, Garrett saw a need for building community in a divided country. He co-founded a non-profit, Gallatin Community Gun Club (GCGC), to build community and foster access to 2nd amendment rights for populations that have historically been excluded. Concepts that are extremely important to Garrett Grimm include community, mental health, equality, self-sufficiency, and mutual aid.

With local and national changes in politics and society, including the recent ICE activity in Gallatin County, Garrett saw a need to protect his community and the rights of its residents.
Starting a write-in campaign for Sheriff Garrett Grimm aims to equally and justly enforce laws and protect the rights of everyone in Gallatin County.

Stephen Ball

For County Treasurer

Eric Semerad

For County Clerk and Recorder

Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder/Surveyor/Election Administrator Eric Semerad is running for re-election.

Eric graduated in 1997 from Montana State University with a degree in earth science. He has worked in the office of the Clerk & Recorder for 32 years and served as the Drafting Technician,Chief Deputy Clerk and Recording Department Supervisor before being elected by Gallatin County voters as Clerk & Recorder in 2018.

Since his election, he has served on the Gallatin County Planning and Zoning board, acting as chair in 2021. Under his leadership both the Recording Office and Election Office continued to operate effectively throughout the pandemic. The Election Department won an honorable mention award for election innovation for the use of satellite offices during 2020 Presidential Election. He is currently serving on the Executive Board for the Montana Association of Clerk and Recorder’s.

Eric is recognized around the State of Montana as an expert in county recording issues and his office is a model for modern and efficient operation for both land records and elections. Eric has many working relationships in his years of service and has proven to be able to work effectively with all who he comes in contact with including federal, state, county and city departments. He is a lifelong public servant who wants nothing more than to best serve the people of Gallatin County by continuing to improve county records accessibility and running secure, efficient and accurate elections. Outstanding public service is and always will be his first priority as Clerk & Recorder.

John Nielson

John Nielson

Superintendent of Schools

John was born and raised in Havre, Montana. He has an undergraduate degree in American Studies from Carleton College, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Montana, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Montana State University. John and his partner, Rochelle, live in Bozeman and have two children currently in Bozeman Public Schools. John also works as an educational consultant and as a performance coach. He has been a licensed educator for 23 years and an athletic coach and outdoor instructor for many years before that. John will bring a passion and advocacy for all kids in the county to the superintendency. He has been a public school teacher, a private school teacher, an administrator, and has homeschooled his own kids during the pandemic. He strives to help students find the fun in learning by helping them figure out how they best learn.

John wants to be the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools because he knows firsthand that education in America is evolving – and John wants to help ensure that evolution is a positive one across Gallatin County. He believes that our kids need as many allies as they can get right now. School and the world is challenging for them in a very different way than it was for their parents. He knows today’s kids need to access both their creativity and activate their problem solving skills – and that students learn best when they are engaged and find joy in learning.

John also knows that teaching is hard, especially now. As a trainer and coach, he has a track record of helping teachers reach kids, be better at what they do and happier doing it. He wants to support all teachers, whether they are a parent teacher, a private school teacher, or a public school teacher. Importantly, John knows how to reach kids, support teachers AND connect with parents as educational partners. He knows that for students to succeed, they need education systems that work for them.

Jill Therrien

For County Auditor

Sandy Erhardt

Clerk of District Court

Goals

  • Modernization of Gallatin County’s court system, to include e-filing and the implementation of a digital case management system
  • To provide excellent customer service to the public
  • Ensure access to our judicial system

Candidate Statement

Given the District Court’s caseload and Gallatin County’s growth, a well-functioning District Court is vital to justice in our community. My extensive experience has prepared me for the job and has given me firsthand knowledge of the specific challenges our judicial system faces. Providing excellent customer service, maintaining accurate records efficiently, and ensuring access to our judicial system will be my top priorities as the Clerk of District Court.

Our court system is behind on services that should have been available years ago. As Clerk I will advocate for the modernization of Gallatin County’s court system, including e-filing and the implementation of a digital case management system – these are imperative in improving efficiency and access of our court system.

Current Occupation and Qualifications

I have worked in the Clerk’s office, serving the people of Gallatin County with integrity and dedication for nineteen years. I have been the Management Supervisor since 2016. My strong work ethic, proven dedication, and nineteen years of experience make me the most capable candidate for the Clerk of Court.

Just for fun – what is your favorite type of pet and why?

I am definitely a dog person and we have the best dog ever, a golden retriever named Frida. She brings so much joy to our family – she is my loyal running partner and my kids’ best friend.

Katie Fire Thunder

For House District 59

Katie Fire Thunder, member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, was unanimously elected by the county commissioners to serve as the Representative of House District 59 in December 2025. Katie is the youngest Democratic state legislator in Montana.

Born and raised in Bozeman, Katie earned a bachelor of arts in political science with a minor in Native American studies from from Montana State University in 2024. She now serves as a legal assistant at the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office and co-founded Bozeman Tenants United, a nonprofit fighting for safe and affordable housing.

Alanah Griffith

House District 60

I was born and raised in Gallatin County.  I was lucky enough to be able to move back to Bozeman after law school in 2002 and back to the district in 2013.  We are close to my parents who still live in our family home in Four Corners and are happy that we are raising our son here. My parents instilled in me the importance of serving our community. My father, Gary Griffith, served as the Chair of the Monforton School Board for 30 years.  My mother, Linda Griffith, was involved with Eagle Mount for more than 20 years, 10 of those as Executive Director.  Like my parents, I also have served our community in a variety of ways, both through my work and my volunteer experiences.  I taught debate at Monforton, I am the coach of the Mock Trial Team in Big Sky, served on the boards of nonprofits Reach and Morningstar Learning Center, and volunteered my time at Eagle Mount and the Gallatin Legal Assistance Clinic.

I have been practicing law for almost 20 years.  Most of my practice is dedicated to representing owner’s associations.  I help them with everything from redrafting their governing documents so that their rules actually address the needs of the community, working with government agencies on infrastructure, acting as a mediator between neighbors who may not see eye to eye on a subject and when all else fails, going to court to argue on their behalf, and helping them preserve property values.  Basically, I am like a legislator for my associations.  I work hard to get their needs addressed through changes in their laws and working with various branches of government.  

I hope to take my decades of experience giving my clients a strong voice in their communities and in court and put it to good use representing us in Helena.  I believe together, we can find the common sense solutions to the real challenges facing our state today.

 

Becky Edwards for Montana District 61

Becky Edwards

House District 61

Becky is a 26-year resident of Bozeman, working mom of three daughters, local small-business owner, and an executive director of a national conservation organization. Vital voices are largely missing from the state legislature–her family struggles with affordability issues and she worries her teenage daughters won’t have access to quality public education or safe healthcare. Edwards made a career of protecting our cherished public lands and climate.

Becky’s Values:

  • Women’s & LGBTQI+ Rights
  • Conservation & Climate
  • Education
  • Affordability

 

 

Rio Roland for Montana House District 62

Rio Roland

For House District 61

My name is Rio Wittmayer Roland. I was born and raised in the Turtle Mountains of north-central North Dakota. I have an undergraduate degree at Oregon State University in Bioresource Research and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Minnesota.

I’ve worked as a land use and environmental planner for Minnesota, and later at an environmental consulting firm focused on hydrologic restoration opportunities and critical trout habitat preservation. I have spent the past 16 years working for renewable energy developers and wind turbine manufacturers.

I also volunteer on the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, for state and local Democratic candidates, as an Executive Committee member of the Gallatin County Democrats, and as a commissioner on the Bozeman Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Board.

Oh, I love to fly-fish and have a super cute dog, BeBe, who loves being on the water.

I Am Running Because I Have A Vision For Montana’s Future

  • Affordable Housing
  • Fair Taxation
  • Public Lands
  • Renewable Energy
  • Responsible Growth
  • Personal Freedom

Josh Seckinger

For House District 62

Josh Seckinger is a long-time Bozeman resident and fly fishing guide. A passionate, pragmatic, progressive, Josh is committed to protecting our public lands, upholding women’s reproductive rights, and strengthening our public school system. Josh is also willing to work with anyone who has a good idea on tax relief, climate change policy, increasing access to health care, or housing availably and affordability. Josh is looking forward to getting to work, for the people who go to work everyday.

Through his frequent travels and love for the outdoors, Josh has gained a deep understanding of Montana and its people. His outgoing and personable nature has allowed him to connect with individuals from all walks of life, giving him a unique perspective on the needs and desires of everyday working Montanans. After years of simply talking, listening, and engaging with the people of Big Sky Country, Josh is convinced that the preservation of Montanan’s way of life is of utmost importance to its residents. He strongly believes that Montanans are dedicated to ensuring that the “last best place” remains just that.

Red Line Issues:

  • Reproductive Rights
  • Public Lands
  • Public Education
  • LGBTQ+ Rights

Pragmatic Issues:

  • Property Tax Relief
  • Fair Share Income Taxation
  • Climate Change Policy
  • Healthcare
  • Local Government Control
  • Housing Availability & Affordability
Peter Strand Montana House District 63

Peter Strand

For House District 63

Peter served Bozeman as a public school teacher for nearly three decades, primarily at Irving Elementary School. In that role, he was named 2007 Montana History Teacher of the Year and 2019 Teacher Fellow with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Also, he worked actively to secure three sizeable grants through the US State Department, bringing to Irving full-time Arabic teachers and programming from overseas. In addition to his teaching role, Peter served as a legislative organizer for MFPE for three years, where he discovered the possibilities afforded by legislative organizing, even when confronting an extremist supermajority. All of these are markers of his commitment to the community.

While acquaintances are sometimes puzzled by Peter’s switch from teaching children to running for office, to him the progression is natural: Schools present arguably the most complex, emotionally charged, high-stakes, unpredictable work environments in the valley. When you can remain productive and successful there, you are well poised to ride the rollercoaster that is our current legislature. Peter has dedicated himself tirelessly to Bozeman families for decades, and now he seeks to give similarly but in a fresh way.

Peter wants to see Montana’s government return to serving the needs of regular Montanans rather than the interests of gargantuan corporations and the hyper-elite. Montana should prioritize expanding access to opportunities for people who can’t pay for them out of pocket: robust public schools for our children, meaningful access to services, affordability and fair taxation, stopping governmental overreach into our private lives, protections, and fair compensation for anyone on the clock, reproductive rights, and access to public lands.

Peter feels lucky to have raised his three now twenty-something children in the Bozeman community with his wife, Cameron Hildreth. You may have seen him walking the streets with one of his better friends, his wheaten terrier, Severus.

Brady Bremer

For House District 64

As a renter in Bozeman, Brady Bremer sees firsthand just how expensive living in Montana has become. He has always been a vocal advocate for a better Montana, spending time as an organizer on campus at Montana State University and as a Precinct Representative in House District 64. During the 2024 election cycle, he spent nearly 200 hours on campus registering students to vote. As an organizer, he heard from people who are anxious about Bozeman’s rising cost of living and frustrated with leadership in Helena that does too little to stand up for hard working Montanans. The passion and enthusiasm that voters share is what drives Brady to fight for a more affordable state that creates opportunities and security for every Montanan.

Brian Close for Montana House District 65

Brian Close

For House District 65

Brian Close moved to Bozeman in 1994, where he created an independent law office specializing in estate planning and tax law. Over the last 30 years, he has served as Chairman of Galavan, chaired the city task force on transit, pushed through Bozeman’s Smokefree Ordinance, co-wrote the Bozeman City Charter, which includes ethics reform, and chaired the Recreation board that proposed and passed the creation of Bozeman’s park district. A staunch opponent of censorship and advocate for public libraries, Brian served as a Lawyer for Libraries, pro bono, and is a recipient of a special award Intellectual Freedom award made by the Montana Library Association.

In his own words, Brian says on his candidacy, “I am running for the state house office after hearing the concerns of my fellow citizens about decisions made at the recent session of the Montana State Legislature. Seniors, in particular, are being devastated by the irresponsible property tax hike pushed through by Republicans in the last legislative session. As a tax attorney and experienced policymaker, I have the skill to fix that.

The state constitution, medical privacy rights, libraries, the LGBTQ+ community, professional credentials, and the Montana Supreme Court are all under attack by Republicans. Meanwhile, our antiquated tax system, state hospital at Warm Springs, mental health infrastructure, and Medicaid wither on the vine dying from lack of attention. We need less culture war and more good government.

As we campaign across the district, I look forward to hearing from the voters and better understanding their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Government should serve the people. If elected, I will devote my legal expertise and policy-making experience to protect taxpayers, and improve how our government works for all Montanans, especially the most vulnerable among us.”

Eric Matthews Headshot

Eric Matthews

for House District 66

Eric has spent years supporting his fellow workers in Montana. He believes in strong wages, health care, education, retirement with dignity, and a fair equitable tax system for all Montanans.

Matthews, a Chief Joseph Middle School teacher and Bozeman native, has filed as a Democratic candidate for the Montana Legislature, representing House District 66 in central Bozeman. Matthews was born in HD 66 and lives in the district. He’s a graduate of Bozeman High School (1992) and an alumnus of Montana State University, earning two degrees from MSU. Matthews has been a teacher for 23 years, tended bar at the Haufbrau for a decade, and is a proud member of our community. Matthews has been an active leader within the school district for more than 20 years, helping to negotiate contracts for educators and facilitating contracts for classified personnel in the district. He has served as the Bozeman Education Association vice president for 6 years and in 2018, joined the board of Montana’s largest workers union, MFPE (Montana Federation of Public Employees) to advocate for working Montanans. In 2021 Matthews was elected to serve as the first vice president of MFPE.

Logan Henke

For House District 67

Jocelyn Kent

For House District 68

HD 57 Candidate Scott Rosenzweig

Scott Rosenzweig

House District 57, For Senate District 29

Scott is a proven entrepreneur, executive and Business Development expert, with significant experience in the leadership of technology growth companies. He has built success with organizations of many sizes, from smaller start-ups up to and including mid-size and multinationals. Scott creates customer and employee loyalty by leading and executing projects with unwavering ethics and an endless pursuit of win-win partnerships, driving organizations to succeed on their merits, with technical success.

Scott has built repeated success in the wireless space (satellite, cellular, wireless and IOT), applying decisive insight to successfully work through complex challenges, working with multi-partner organizations. He has one, lingering career goal, which is to bring to the US Government the best and most cost effective asset tracking solution it has ever had.

Scott is also a BridgerCare Ambassador.

Cora Neumann

Senate District 30

Cora Neumann is a rural health and economic development leader with a track record of delivering results for underserved and rural communities, improving access to health care, and protecting our public lands. She’s running for Congress to make sure Montanans have access to good jobs and wages; that our small businesses can succeed; and that families who’ve lived here for years or generations can afford to stay.

To get her education, Cora worked as a waitress, nanny, and construction worker – and still has student debt to this day. Over the past 25 years, Cora has founded and led multiple non-profit organizations that help create jobs, improve child nutrition and mental health services, boost maternal health, and protect our public lands. She has done this work in Montana and across the country and world – working with local leaders, Republicans and Democrats alike, to solve problems that families and workers are facing.

When COVID hit, Cora founded We Are Montana to get personal protective equipment, life-saving information, financial aid, and vaccines out to Montanans so our economy could re-open as quickly and safely as possible. She worked with small business owners to help them keep the lights on, raised money to support rural county commissioners and health workers, and centered her work on delivering tangible results to rural counties.

Since 2015, Neumann has been working across Montana and the Rocky Mountain West to fight for the protection of public lands. As part of that effort, she collaborated with Indigenous communities, farmers and ranchers, and the conservation community to fight back against Washington’s attempt to cut protections for public lands – recently celebrating the restoration of Bears Ears National Monument.

We deserve a leader who understands what Montanans are experiencing and can meet this moment. Someone whose Montana roots and experience delivering for rural communities gives them the backbone to stand up to Washington and protect the Montana we love. And someone who will make sure Montana continues to be a place where our children can grow and thrive. Cora is that leader.

Cora Neumann was raised in Bozeman by her mom, a homemaker, and her step-father, a union carpenter. She and her husband are raising their two teenage children there, surrounded by four generations of family.

Pat Flowers, Senator District 32

Pat Flowers

Senate District 31

Who is Pat Flowers?

I moved to Montana from my Ohio birthplace in 1977 as a college junior to finish my undergraduate degree in forestry, and complete a master’s degree in forest economics at the University of Montana. I went on to a career in forest fire research, forest economics, forest management, and fish, wildlife and parks.  I raised two daughters in Montana with my wife, Hedvig, who passed away in 2007.   In 2014 I remarried.  My wife, Melissa, and I now share four daughters who are either pursuing their college degrees or professional careers.

Why is Pat running?

I am running for Senate District 32 to strengthen the reasons why you choose to live, work and recreate in Montana — including a robust public education system, access to affordable health care, and exceptional open access to our rivers and public lands. I bring a lifetime of public-service experience working to address Montana’s toughest natural resource issues. With your support, we will translate that problem-solving success into home-grown progress in many other areas.

Pat’s Values

Pat has demonstrated integrity throughout his public service career. He has taken on some of the toughest issues in Montana and through it all maintained a commitment to the sound management of our resources and the well-being of our citizens.

Pat has shown great perseverance on issues like elk management where he pushed for solutions that recognized the concerns of private landowners, while focusing on the goal of managing elk as valued Montana wildlife of great importance to sportsmen and women.

As a public servant, Pat has embraced transparency in government, hosting hundreds of public meetings and forums on difficult issues. He understands the value and need for state government to find solutions in an open setting where Montana citizens can participate.

Pat recognized throughout his professional career that the toughest problems are best solved with all interests at the table. The shared solutions that come out of those efforts are not only better crafted, but they also result in outcomes that are more broadly supported, and better stand the test of time.

Learn more about Pat and his positions on key issues

2023 Leg. Session Zoom Check-in: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pOuIrjsCyEmi0orHVNSRUV_W1BGIiIfq/view?usp=share_link

Denise Hayman

Denise Hayman

Senate District 32

After four terms in the House where she serves as one of four Democratic Minority Whips and on the Energy, Technology and Federal Relations; and State Administration Committees, Hayman is running for Senate. Hayman, a long-time Bozeman School board member, is an advocate for quality public education. She is a strong supporter of public lands and for small businesses.

2021 Voting Record

100% on environmental issues (Montana Environmental Information Center)

100% on LGBTQ2S+ rights (Forward Montana)

10o% on Native rights and voting rights (Western Native Voice)

 

Kelly Kortum

House District 64, For Senate District 32

Goals

  • Defend and expand healthcare coverage to every Montanan
  • Assure Montanans’ right to vote is protected
  • Encourage forward-thinking economic policy that supports local small business and workers

Candidate statement

To make laws that are equitable for all Montanans, our government must be composed of a representative sample of our state’s inhabitants. The current legislature trends much older and wealthier than the average Montana resident. I will balance the legislature with fresh eyes on policies regarding technology, housing, healthcare, and education. If we wish to remain the ‘Last Best Place,’ we will need to be as innovative and versatile in our government as Montanans are known for being in our daily lives. ‘Business as usual’ hasn’t turned out too great for your typical worker for the last thirty years; I will respectfully point that out, and tirelessly work to change it. I would be honored to receive your vote to represent you.

Current occupation and qualifications

Kelly is a lifelong Montanan and has worked in farming, construction, and fire fighting before committing to a career in technology. He graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from MSU. Kelly is currently an IT System Administrator at the Community Food Co-op, specializing in hardware, networking, and customer support. He has worked in IT at the Co-op for 10 years. Kelly has volunteered in elections and politics for 5 years in Gallatin County and contributed amendments to the Montana Democratic Party’s platform.

Chris Pope, candidate for Senate District 31

Chris Pope

Senate District 33

Goals

  • Moving the state to a New Energy Economy that addresses climate change, reduces emissions, and creates thousands of well-paying 21st Century jobs
  • Protecting and Promoting Access to Public Lands
  • Expanding Educational and Vocational Opportunity for Montana students with disabilities
  • Providing Property Tax Relief via progressive local option sales tax reform

Qualifications

  • 15 Years as a Main Street Business Leader
  • Past Chair, Bozeman Parking Commission
  • Presented Bozeman “Life is Downtown” achievement award
  • Board Member, Eagle Mount, the Yellowstone Business Partnership
  • Board Treasurer, Montana Conservation Corps

Candidate Statement

Chris Pope is a Bozeman business and community leader who is running as a Democrat for State Senate District to improve the quality of life for working Montanans and their families.

Chris is an advocate for a strong, transparent, and efficient state government, and is committed to finding practical solutions to critical issues facing residents and taxpayers working across the aisle to break down the political polarity that has recently undermined the effectiveness of state leadership.

Chris believes that Montana is well-positioned to grow its agricultural, tourism, and high-tech industries, with the objective of creating high-quality, well-paying jobs and expanding markets for value-added Montana goods and services. An essential component of Montana’s future economic success is the continued stewardship of Montana’s environment and wildlife, as is a robust public education system and access to affordable health care.

Chris is a two-term member of the Montana House of Representatives who has extensive private sector experience, not to mention volunteer service in the non-profit and public sectors.

Chris is 67 years old, and lives with his wife, Maddy, in Bozeman. He is an avid amateur photographer and speaks fluent Spanish. He and Maddy have two adult-age children, Jessie and Ben.

Just for fun – what is your favorite type of pet and why?

I am a through-and-through animal lover with a particular and deep fondness for my Golden Retriever, Laramie. It was Laramie who was my companion when I was just 10 and dealing with my father’s sudden departure from our family. Laramie and I became ‘world travelers’ – when my world was the back yard, a dusty dirt road where I learned to ride my bike, and a wonderful small algae pond full of turtles and other mysteries across the street.

Carl Anderson

For Senate District 34

I’m Carl and I’m proud to be running for Montana Senate District 34 to represent Belgrade in the state legislature.

I was born and raised in a small  Eastern Montana town—for many folks,  just a gas station stop called Forsyth, on the way to North Dakota or the distant mountains of Western Montana.

My dad was a family physician for forty years. Often throughout that time, he was the only doctor in Rosebud County—a vast area encompassing Montana’s fifth-largest county. My mother was an X-ray and laboratory technician working at the Forsyth Hospital where she and dad met. I have 3 brothers; my eldest brother has served in the Coast Guard for 25 years, my elder brother has been a union pipefitter for 20 years, and my younger brother served in the army for four years with two tours in Iraq earning him a Purple Heart.

Through their hard work raising our family and bringing healthcare to one of Montana’s most remote and underserved places, my parents set an example of service—giving to one’s friends, neighbors, and community without expecting anything back. It is out of that legacy of service that I decided to run for the Legislature to represent Montana HD 67.

I’ve called the Gallatin home for 13 years. It’s here that I’ve chosen to build a life with my partner Coleen and our daughter, Krystal, both proud members of the Blackfeet Nation.

We’ve watched with dismay as social media and poisonous political messaging try to tear us apart. We must do better. We must find common ground.

That is why I am running for Montana SD34. I respectfully ask for your vote. Together, we can forge a new beginning as friends, neighbors, and Montanans.

2026 Ballot Initiatives

The following ballot initiatives will appear to Gallatin County voters in the 2026 General Election:

  • Montana Initiative 194: Prohibit artificial persons, as defined in the initiative, from contributing to campaigns, ballot measure elections, or political parties.
  • CI-132: Add a new section to the Montana Constitution to require that all judicial elections are nonpartisan. 
  • CI-133: Add the power of initiative and referendum to the state’s Declaration of Rights.