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Montana's 2020 election
Montana's 2020 election
The Montana Free Press guide

Montana offices up for election in 2020

This list excludes state legislative races and local races such as city commission and school board seats.

Montana races for federal office (U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats) are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Election Commission. State office races are regulated by the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices.

Governor

Montana’s chief executive, tasked with overseeing state agencies and proposing state budgets to the Montana Legislature, elected to a four-year term. Also one of five seats on the Montana Board of Land Commissioners, which has authority over state trust lands. Incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock is facing term limits and running for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Senate

One of Montana’s two representatives in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress, elected to a six-year term. Incumbent Steve Daines is seeking re-election. Montana’s other senator, Jon Tester, is next up for re-election in 2024.

U.S. House

Montana’s sole representative in the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, elected to a two-year term.

Attorney General

The state’s chief law enforcement and legal officer, who oversees the state Department of Justice, issues legal opinions interpreting state law, and advocates for the public interest in certain legal proceedings. One of five seats on the state land board, and elected to a four-year term. Incumbent Tim Fox is facing term limits and made an unsuccessful run for governor.

Secretary of State

Oversees Montana elections and manages state records, as well as serving on the state land board. Elected to a four-year term. Incumbent Corey Stapleton made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Heads the Montana Office of Public Instruction and oversees the state’s K-12 school system, much of which is governed directly by locally elected school boards. Also holds a seat on the state land board. Elected to a four-year term. Incumbent Elsie Arntzen is seeking re-election.

State Auditor

Runs the office responsible for protecting Montanans from fraud by regulating the insurance and securities industries. Also holds a seat on the state land board. Elected to a four-year term. Incumbent Matt Rosendale is running for the U.S. House.

Montana Supreme Court

Two seats on the Montana Supreme Court, which hears cases appealed from lower courts and oversees the state judicial system. In districts that had more than two candidates, the two who received the most votes in the June primary advanced to the November general election. Montana judicial elections are nonpartisan.

Public Service Commission

Three district-based seats on the five-member Montana Public Service Commission, which regulates monopoly utilities including power companies such as NorthWestern Energy. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms. The remaining two commissioners, Randy Pinocci and Brad Johnson, are out-of-cycle in 2020. Johnson made an unsuccessful bid for secretary of state.