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HELENA, Mont. — Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen opened Montana’s 2026 candidate filing period on Tuesday morning, officially beginning the 2026 election cycle in the Treasure State. Secretary Jacobsen opened the doors to the Secretary of State’s Office at 8 a.m. as candidates look to serve their communities and state.
The first candidate to file for office was U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who submitted his paperwork to run for re‑election to the United States Senate.
“Our office is honored to open the doors for another election year and to welcome candidates as they step forward to represent their neighbors and communities,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “It is an honor and a privilege to run for office in Montana, and I want to thank every candidate who is willing to serve our state. I wish the best of luck to all of the candidates running this year.”
During the 2026 election cycle, Montanans will elect one U.S. Senator, both of Montana’s U.S. Representatives, 25 state senators, all 100 members of the Montana House of Representatives, and a variety of other offices, including Supreme Court Justice and Public Service Commission. Montanans will also elect several local leaders in 2026.
The 2026 candidate filing period runs from 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4.
For more information about the candidate filing period, including the offices on the ballot and important dates, visit the Secretary of State’s candidate filing page at https://sosmt.gov/elections/filing/.