Montana primary – Montana voters picked winners in several June 2 primary races that will shape November’s midterm elections. Republicans Aaron Flint and Kurt Almasia won key House and Senate nominations, while Democrats including Sam Forstag and Alani Bankhead advanced in race
June 2 didn’t feel like a quiet primary day in Montana. By nightfall, the votes were already lining up for the November midterm races—turning party momentum into ballot math, and forcing candidates to immediately pivot from winning a primary to winning the bigger fight for Capitol Hill.
For Republicans and President Donald Trump, the stakes are straightforward: keep control, or lose it. For Montana’s voters, the stakes are personal in a different way—because the primaries decided who will stand between their states and the national agenda when the general election comes around.
The state’s congressional contests now move toward November with at least one open seat in the House and one open seat in the Senate.
One House race to watch is Montana’s first congressional district, where a seat is open after Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he is not seeking a fourth term due to health reasons.
In District 1, the Republican nomination went to Aaron Flint, who won with 50% of the votes, defeating Christi Jacobsen at 23.6%, Al Olszewski at 19.8%, and Ray Curtis at 6.6%, with an estimated 95% of votes counted.
On the Democratic side in District 1, the race had not yet been called as of early Wednesday. Sam Forstag led with 37.3% of the votes, with an estimated 91% of votes counted.
District 2 was less eventful on the ballot. The Republican incumbent, Rep. Troy Downing, won the race uncontested.
The Democratic nomination in District 2 went to Brian Miller, who took 55.8% of the votes, defeating Sam Luz at 26.9% and Jonathan Windy Boy at 17.2%, with an estimated 94% of votes counted.
Montana’s Senate primary carried its own momentum—one of the state’s two Senate seats is open after Republican Sen. Steve Daines, 63, announced that he will not seek reelection in November’s midterm elections.
After Daines dropped out, Trump endorsed U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme. That endorsement landed quickly. The Republican nomination went to Kurt Alma. who won with 76.3% of the votes. defeating Lee Calhoun at 14.1% and Charles Walking Child at 9.6%. with an estimated 95% of votes counted.
On the Democratic side, Alani Bankhead won with 43.7% of the votes, beating Reilly Neil at 32.9%, Michael Black Wolf at 13.2%, Christopher Kehoe at 6.4%, and Michael Hummer at 3.9%, with an estimated 91% of votes counted.
The pattern across these races is hard to miss: in Montana, the primaries didn’t just crown nominees—they reshaped what both parties have to defend and what they can attack in November.
By the time the general election arrives, the major outcomes are set—Flint and Alma for the Republicans, Bankhead secured for Democrats, and a District 1 Democratic race that still hadn’t been called as of early Wednesday with Sam Forstag leading.
Montana primaries House primary results Senate primary results Ryan Zinke Steve Daines Kurt Alma Aaron Flint Alani Bankhead Sam Forstag U.S. Senate U.S. House Trump endorsed Kurt Alme June 2 election
Montana always gets dragged into national politics anyway.
Wait so Zinke is just done because of health? I feel like that’s the real news but everyone’s talking about who won the primary like it matters already. Also didn’t Trump already say he controls all this? lol
Flint got like 50% right? That seems low for someone to win, like half the people didn’t even pick him. So is Montana really just gonna let that guy swing things in November. I don’t get how primaries decide the whole state agenda thing.
I skimmed and saw District 2 was “uncontested” on the Republican side which… sounds like a setup? Like why even run then. And Forstag being at 37% but not called yet, that’s probably because more votes are still coming in, right? Idk Montana politics just feels like it’s always already decided by the time I hear about it.