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June 04, 2026
Montana’s June 2 congressional primaries have signaled an end to the 30-year era of baby boomers representing the state in Congress. This shift began with Republican Rick Hill’s election in 1996 and concluded with the recent primary results.
Republicans advanced three Gen X males: Troy Downing and Kurt Alme are both 59, while Aaron Flint is 46. Democrats nominated their second-ever female Senate candidate, Alani Bankhead, 43, the first millennial nominee for the Senate.
Democrats also nominated Sam Forstag, 31, and Brian Miller, 54, for the House, representing millennials and Gen X, respectively. The generational shift emerged quickly, as previously all members were baby boomers until 2024.
“On the Democrat side, the older generation of Democrats, the statewide offices, they all lost,” said Jeremy Johnson, head of the political science department at Carroll College in Helena.
The shift is due to the different priorities of younger voters, who focus on issues like childcare and affordable homeownership. According to the 2025 Harvard Youth Poll, only 15% of them felt the country was on the right path.
TESTER DECLINES THE CALL
The Democratic National Committee initiated a search for new leadership following its autopsy of the 2024 presidential election. Jon Tester of Montana was suggested but declined the position.
Tester mentioned on his “Grounded” podcast that the suggestion was unexpected, given his strained relationship with the state Democratic Party.
He expressed disinterest in leading the national party, describing it as “perhaps the worst job in America.”
WITTICH GETS WINNOWED
The Flathead County Republican Central Committee experienced a leadership coup initiated by numerous Republicans filing for vacant precinct positions on March 4.
Kalispell Republicans were dissatisfied with the GOP’s candidate-vetting process, particularly during the 2026 primary, where endorsements clashed with voter preferences. Incumbent Republican Sheriff Brian Heino secured 89% of the vote despite the committee’s endorsement of another candidate.
Art Wittich faced a precinct committee challenge from Giuseppe “GMan” Caltabiano, a Whitefish City Council member, who was elected without fanfare.
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