Montana Democrats Flip Four State Seats
New congressional and legislative results show a shift in power despite Republican holdovers in key statewide races.
By Rafael Delgado ·
The margin was 46 votes. That slim difference decided the fate of House District 20 in Great Falls, where Democrat Steve Keller defeated incumbent Republican Melissa Nikolakakos. This razor-thin result underscores the tightness of the 2026 midterm elections in Montana, a state where both major parties claim victory based on different metrics.
Democrats secured a major breakthrough in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sam Forstag won the seat for Montana’s western district, ending a streak that has kept the state’s congressional delegation solidly Republican since 2018. His victory is the first time Montana voters have sent a Democrat to Congress since Jon Tester won re-election. Forstag’s win aligns with a national trend where Democrats retake control of both chambers in Washington, D.C.
Republican Kurt Alme held the U.S. Senate seat, defeating independent Seth Bodnar by a 10-point margin. Despite losing the general election, the combined vote totals of Bodnar and Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead exceeded Alme’s count by several thousand votes. Party officials attribute this split to the independent candidacy, which drew votes away from the Democratic line. State Democratic Party executive director Emily Marburger argued that the outcome validates concerns about third-party candidates in heavily contested states.
In the state legislature, Democrats flipped two seats in each chamber. In the House, Paula Koch won District 4, and Steve Keller took District 20. In the Senate, Margaret Mitchell captured District 10, and Scott Rosenzweig won District 29. These gains reduce the Republican supermajority but do not alter overall control of the chambers.
Republicans maintained their majorities in the Montana Legislature. When the 2027 session begins in January, the chamber will feature 30 Republican senators and 20 Democrats. In the House, Republicans will hold 56 seats against 44 Democrats. The party caucuses are scheduled to meet next week at the State Capitol to elect their leadership.
Republican leaders emphasized their performance relative to other states. State party chair Art Wittich stated that Montana voters supported candidates who focused on affordability and local issues. The party noted that they held onto five tossup seats in Great Falls and Billings, including a 32-vote victory for Curtis Schomer in House District 48, which was the closest race in the state.
