Montana Shooting Sports Association

2026 Candidate Grades and Endorsements

Please recirculate

(for the General Election, November 3, 2026)

KEY
A-F = Letter grade; "?" means no voting record OR MSSA Candidate Questionnaire returned.
Bold/E = Endorsed by MSSA

Federal Candidates

	PARTY	NAME	Endorsed	Grade
U.S. Senator	LIB	KYLE AUSTIN		A Q
	DEM	ALANI BANKHEAD		F Q
	REP	KURT ALME		?
	IND	SETH BODNAR		?

1st Dist. U.S. Representative	DEM	SAM FORSTAG		?
	REP	AARON FLINT	E	A Q
	LIB	NICK SHEEDY		?
	IND	KIMBERLY A PERSICO		?

2nd Dist U.S. Representative	DEM	BRIAN J MILLER		F Q
	REP	TROY DOWNING		?
	LIB	PATRICK MCCRACKEN		A Q
	IND	MICHAEL D EISENHAUER		?

Montana Legislature

Explanation about legislative candidate grades and endorsements (PLEASE READ): A HUGE amount of information goes into compiling these grades and endorsements. MSSA tracks legislative votes on gun-related bills before the Legislature. For example, MSSA tracked ten different votes for 100 members of the House and 17 votes in the Senate in the 20235session. That's 1,850 pieces of data to track. So, when an incumbent candidate is graded, know that this is from hard data and historic performance. Votes cast are highly relevant and dependable as a litmus of a candidate's RKBA performance and attitude. It also means that the candidate is an incumbent (usual) or has served in the Legislature before, so we have a voting record. MSSA’s 2026 Candidate Questionnaire has 12 questions for a candidate to answer with any one of five answers. That times the 237 candidates just for the House and Senate in the General Election is potential 14,220 bits of data to receive, store, and collate.

If a candidate returned MSSA's 2026 Candidate Questionnaire but has not served in the Legislature (if the candidate has a voting record, we consider votes cast to be a more reliable litmus and use that), then the candidate is graded based on that CQ. Many candidates (especially Democrats) are advised by others to NOT complete or return MSSA's CQ, which is why the reader will see so many candidates with a "?" rather than a grade. These candidates have no voting record and no CQ on file with MSSA. It is MSSA's position that these candidates are likely hostile to the RKBA, which is why they declined to return MSSA's CQ. Rarely, MSSA will grade a candidate with some other basis. That's because MSSA has some other source if information about the candidate than a voting record or CQ. For those few candidates who have a "+" after an "A" grade, that is because MSSA reserves the A+ only for legislators who have carried bills for MSSA. These are especially dedicated and proven supporters of the RKBA. Endorsed candidates are in Bold.

Note: MSSA does not endorse candidates who have no challenger and therefore no contest in the General Election. An endorsement declares that one candidate will better represent gun owners than other candidates in the same race. If there are no other candidates and no race, no endorsement.

Further note: Of the 237 candidates seeking the 125 seats up for grabs in the 2027 Legislature, MSSA has endorsed 55 Republicans and one Libertarian. Unfortunately, MSSA could not endorse any Democrats, either because incumbents had poor voting records or because new candidates chose to not return MSSA's Candidate Questionnaire (or, rarely, did return MSSA's CQ but did not score well). Honestly, MSSA would love to be able to endorse more Democrats. However, we won't do that gratuitously. To earn MSSA's endorsement, incumbents must have voted for pro-gun bills and new candidates must have returned a good CQ.

Also: An "E-Q" means endorsed because of a candidate questionnaire.

Montana	Senate
District	Party	Name	Endorsed	Grade
1	DEM	JONATHAN RUSSELL JAMESON		?
1	REP	STEVE GUNDERSON	E	A
4	REP	AMY REGIER	E	A
4	DEM	KYLE WATERMAN		?
6	DEM	PATRICK FITZPATRICK		?
6	REP	*MARK NOLAND	E	A
8	DEM	TYSON T RUNNING WOLF		F
8	REP	CHRISTOPHER PAUL BUCKLES		C Q
9	REP	LLEW JONES		C
9	DEM	NOY HOLLAND		?
10	DEM	MARGARET MITCHELL		?
10	REP	JESSICA DYRDAHL		B Q
11	REP	STEVEN GALLOWAY	E	A
11	DEM	VALYNDA HOLLAND		F Q
12	REP	GEORGE NIKOLAKAKOS		D
12	DEM	MINDY LEACH		?
14	REP	ERIC ALBUS		B
14	DEM	BLAKE BORST		?
18	REP	GREG KMETZ	E	A
18	DEM	STAN TAYLOR		?
19	DEM	DEANNA J DAIGREPONT		?
19	REP	CHRIS RINDAL		C Q
22	REP	*DANIEL ZOLNIKOV	E	A
22	DEM	LYLE HEDIN		?
23	DEM	*EMMA KERR-CARPENTER		F
23	REP	JOANNA OBLANDER		F Q
25	REP	*DENNIS LENZ	E	A
25	DEM	JULIE HIPPLER		?
28	DEM	KELLY HALE		?
28	REP	*FORREST J MANDEVILLE		C
29	DEM	SCOTT ROSENZWEIG		F
29	REP	JASON GUNDERSON	E	A Q
31	DEM	KATHLEEN WILLIAMS		?
31	REP	RICHARD AUNGIER		B Q
32	DEM	KELLY KORTUM		F
32	REP	NEAL GANSER		?
34	DEM	CARL ANDERSON		?
34	REP	CALEB HINKLE	E	A
41	DEM	ERIN FARRIS-OLSEN		?
41	LIB	DRU KOESTER		D Q
42	REP	STEPHEN LAPRAIM		C Q
42	DEM	*MARY ANN DUNWELL		F
43	REP	DAVID BEDEY		C
43	DEM	STEPHEN LEUCHTMAN		D Q
48	DEM	*ANDREA OLSEN		F
49	DEM	*WILLIS CURDY		D
49	REP	BRAD TSCHIDA	E	A
50	DEM	*SHANE A MORIGEAU		C

Montana	House
District	Party	Name	Endorsed	Grade
1	REP	MICHELLE BIANCO		?
1	DEM	DAKOTA V ADAMS		?
2	REP	*TOM MILLETT	E	A
2	DEM	JANE MAAHS		?
3	DEM	*DEBO POWERS		F
3	REP	DEREK PEACHEY		?
4	REP	SHAUN PANDINA	E	A Q
4	DEM	PAULA KOCH		?
5	REP	*BRAXTON MITCHELL	E	A+
5	DEM	LUCA WELLE		F Q
6	DEM	DARREN FIX		?
6	REP	JIM RILEY		C Q
7	DEM	MADISON EVANS		?
7	REP	*COURTENAY SPRUNGER	E	A
8	REP	*LUKAS SCHUBERT	E	A
8	DEM	CALVIN LIME		?
9	REP	*STEVEN C KELLY	E	A
9	DEM	KATE MCLAUGHLIN		?
10	REP	*TERRY FALK		C
10	DEM	CATHERINE C ALLEN		?
11	REP	*ED BYRNE	E	A+
11	DEM	MAEVE KINTZLER		?
12	REP	*TRACY A SHARP	E	A
12	DEM	CINDY L BRUCKNER		?
13	REP	FINLEY WARDEN	E	B
13	DEM	DALTON BRADFORD		?
14	REP	*PAUL FIELDER	E	A
14	DEM	COLLEEN HINDS		?
15	DEM	*THEDIS B CROWE		F
15	REP	RALPH FOSTER		?
16	DEM	LONA R RUNNING WOLF		?
17	REP	JUSTIN W CLEVELAND		C Q
17	DEM	CHRIS BECHTOLD		?
18	REP	BRUCE "BUTCH" GILLESPIE	E	A
19	REP	HANNAH TREBAS		?
19	DEM	*JANE WEBER		F
20	REP	*MELISSA NIKOLAKAKOS		B
20	DEM	STEVE KELLER		?
21	REP	TREVOR P FUNSETH		C Q
21	DEM	LELA GRAHAM		?
22	REP	JASON LORANG		?
22	DEM	NEAL MILLER		?
22	LIB	DAVE VON ESCHEN		?
23	REP	*ERIC TILLEMAN	E	A
23	DEM	REBECCA BOGDEN-RICHARDS		?
24	REP	*STEVE FITZPATRICK		B
24	DEM	PAM CARROLL		?
25	REP	*STEVE GIST	E	A
25	DEM	JERRY FERDERER		?
26	DEM	PAUL JEFFERSON		?
26	REP	*RUSSEL MINER	E	A
27	DEM	*PAUL TUSS		F
27	LIB	JORDAN OPHUS		?
28	REP	CHISHOLM B CHRISTENSEN		?
29	REP	*VALERIE MOORE		B
29	DEM	TESS FAHLGREN		?
30	REP	*MORGAN THIEL	E	A
30	DEM	JASON BOESHORE		?
31	DEM	NATALIE ONEAL		?
32	DEM	*MIKE FOX		F
33	REP	*BRANDON LER	E	A
33	DEM	TRISTAN VEVERKA		?
34	REP	*JERRY SCHILLINGER	E	A
34	DEM	JASMINE ERICKSON		?
35	REP	*GARY PARRY	E	B
35	DEM	NATALIE PARKER		?
36	DEM	BENJAMIN KEYES		?
36	REP	TY LINGER		?
37	REP	*SHANE KLAKKEN	E	B
37	DEM	TRACEY MILLER KARCHER		?
38	REP	*GREG OBLANDER	E	A
39	DEM	MELISSA SMITH		?
39	REP	*KERRI SEEKINS CROWE	E	A
40	REP	*MIKE VINTON	E	B
40	DEM	GABRIEL BRADSHAW		?
41	DEM	*JADE SOOKTIS		F
42	DEM	*SIDNEY CHIP FITZPATRICK		F
42	REP	JEREMIAH JABS		?
43	REP	*LARRY BREWSTER		C
43	DEM	RUDOLF HADEN		?
44	DEM	MIKE EATON		?
44	REP	*KATIE ZOLNIKOV	E	A
45	DEM	*DENISE BAUM		F
45	REP	BRYCE WALSTON		?
46	REP	KIM WELZENBACH	E	C
46	DEM	*DENISE JOY		F
47	DEM	*JAMES REAVIS		F
47	REP	JOHN MAXWELL		?
48	REP	*CURTIS SCHOMER	E	A
48	DEM	TUCKER COLVIN		?
49	REP	CHARLIE LOVERIDGE		?
49	DEM	REBECCA NOELL		F Q
50	REP	STEWART HARRIS		?
50	DEM	MARK PETERS		?
51	REP	*JODEE ETCHART	E	A
51	DEM	PRECIOUS MCKENZIE		F Q
52	REP	*STACY ZINN		?
52	DEM	ELIZABETH HEALD		?
53	REP	TROY CHARBONNEAU		?
53	DEM	MATTHEW J HANKINS		?
54	REP	*LEE DEMING	E	A+
54	DEM	JANINE COOLE		?
55	REP	*BRAD BARKER	E	B
55	DEM	RICHARD GESSLING		?
56	REP	*FIONA B NAVE		A
57	REP	BOB CRANK		?
57	DEM	JORDAN VIEGUT		?
58	DEM	*JAMIE L ISALY		F
58	REP	JOSHUA CONGLETON		?
59	REP	MARC GREENDORFER	E	B
59	DEM	*KATIE FIRE THUNDER		?
60	REP	GREG LEMAN	E	A Q
60	DEM	*ALANAH GRIFFITH		F
61	DEM	RIO ROLAND		?
61	REP	ERIC JACOBS		?
62	DEM	*JOSHUA A SECKINGER		F
62	REP	ESTHER FISHBAUGH	E	C Q
63	DEM	*PETER STRAND		F
63	REP	LAWRENCE R MOORE		?
64	REP	DANIEL RICARDO MARTINEZ	E	A Q
64	DEM	BRADY BREMER		?
65	DEM	*BRIAN CLOSE		F
65	REP	JOE FLYNN		?
66	DEM	*ERIC MATTHEWS		F
66	REP	OWEN LANG		?
67	REP	*JEDEDIAH HINKLE	E	A+
67	DEM	LOGAN HENKE		?
68	REP	RANDY CHAMBERLIN	E	C Q
68	DEM	JOCELYN KENT		?
69	REP	TREVOR WALTER		A Q
70	REP	*SHANNON MANESS	E	A
70	DEM	KOBI CRADDOCK		?
71	DEM	*SCOTT DEMAROIS		F
71	REP	SUZZANN NORDWICK		?
72	DEM	*DONAVON HAWK		F
72	REP	MICHAEL SAUL		?
73	DEM	*JENNIFER LYNCH		F
73	REP	GERRY KENNEDY		?
74	DEM	*MARC J LEE		F
74	REP	TRENIN BAYLESS		?
75	DEM	PATRICK SULLIVAN		?
75	LIB	GREG DEVRIES	E	B Q
75	REP	MARK REINSCHMIDT		?
76	REP	TRISH SCHREIBER		A Q
77	DEM	DEBORAH ANNE HANSEN		?
77	REP	*JANE GILLETTE	E	A
78	REP	*RANDYN GREGG	E	A
78	DEM	MARK WHITE		?
79	DEM	*LUKE MUSZKIEWICZ		F
79	REP	CHIKO OLSON		?
80	REP	KATIE FRUITS	E	A Q
80	DEM	MEGAN LANE		?
81	REP	JOHN J LOONEY SR	E	A Q
81	DEM	JANET ELLIS		F
82	DEM	*PETE ELVERUM		F
82	REP	CLINTON MCKAY		?
83	REP	AARON J LEAS	E	B Q
83	DEM	JOE COHENOUR		?
84	REP	ROY CALDWELL	E	B Q
84	DEM	TIA NELSON		?
85	REP	KIM DAILEY	E	B Q
85	DEM	LAURA JACKSON		?
86	REP	WAYNE RUSK		F
86	DEM	ARCHIE THOMAS		?
87	REP	*TERRY NELSON	E	A
87	DEM	BILL JONES		?
88	REP	*GREG OVERSTREET	E	A
88	DEM	EVAN SCHROEDEL		D Q
89	DEM	*MARK A THANE		F
89	REP	LYN HELLEGAARD	E	A
90	REP	JEFF STANEK		B Q
91	DEM	*SHELLY FYANT		F
91	REP	CHARLES HEADLEY		?
92	DEM	MONICA TRANEL		?
93	DEM	BEN DAVIS		?
93	REP	ROY HANDLEY		?
94	DEM	ROBIN KENDALL		F Q
94	REP	GREG WOODWARD		D Q
95	DEM	*ZOOEY ZEPHYR		F
96	DEM	*BOB CARTER		F
97	DEM	*MELODY J CUNNINGHAM		F
97	REP	MICHAEL P HAGESTAD		C Q
98	DEM	*JONATHAN KARLEN		F
98	REP	BRYAN MUZZANA		?
99	DEM	*TOM FRANCE		F
99	REP	RYAN DARLING		?
100	DEM	*SJ HOWELL		F
100	REP	MICHAEL DANIEL BOWLES		?
100	LIB	JC WINDMUELLER		?