Montana GOP Factions See Mixed Results in Contentious Primary Battles

The Montana Republican Party’s long-standing internal divisions shaped a hotly contested primary election, with both centrist and far-right factions claiming victories, as reported by The Associated Press. The state’s political scene has been dominated by these splits, drawing significant attention and heavy campaign spending on each side. With limited competition in the general election, many primary winners are projected to secure their seats come November.

In a significant contest, Rep. Llew Jones of the centrist faction narrowly defeated far-right Rep. Zack Wirth for Senate District 9 by a margin of 4 percentage points. Jones, acknowledging the contentious nature of the race, remarked on the overall positive outcome for moderates. Meanwhile, Rep. George Nikolakakos, another centrist, triumphed over Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci by a decisive 36 points in Senate District 12 in Great Falls.

One of the tightest races was in Senate District 43, where centrist Rep. David Bedey led conservative Rep. Kathy Love by just 1.2 percentage points with nearly all votes counted. Conversely, moderate Rep. Linda Reksten lost to 20-year-old Finley Warden by 29 points, reflecting the rightward shift among some voters.

In Great Falls’ Senate District 11, former Republican Rep. Steven Galloway defeated Rep. Ed Buttrey by a substantial 32 points. Galloway aligns with the Montana GOP, advocating for hardline Republican policies and opposing Medicaid expansion, a stance that Buttrey had supported.

Former Senate President Jason Ellsworth, involved in a criminal case, suffered a major defeat, losing his primary by 72 percentage points to Rep. Jerry Schillinger. Ellsworth, who represented Ravalli County, faced accusations of attempting to secure a no-bid contract for a friend, leading to his lifetime ban from the Senate and an ongoing legal battle.

The discord within the Montana GOP stems from the 2025 legislative session when nine centrist senators allied with Democrats, shifting the power dynamics. This coalition pushed through significant policies like Medicaid expansion, causing friction with far-right Republicans. The party’s leadership disavowed these senators, promising no support in future races.

As predicted by political figures, these internal conflicts have led to intense primary contests. “This is probably one of the most contentious primaries I’ve seen in my legislative career from 2012,” stated Sen. Greg Hertz, chairman of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. The results underscore the ongoing ideological battles within the party.