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Finalists already set for 2026 Montana Supreme Court race

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Finalists already set for 2026 Montana Supreme Court race


KALISPELL — There’s one open seat on the Montana Supreme Court in this year’s elections, and only two candidates filed to run for it. That means both Dan Wilson and Amy Eddy will be moving on to the general election in November, regardless of what happens in the June primary.

Wilson and Eddy are running for an associate justice position, currently held by the retiring Justice Beth Baker. They have several key things in common – most notably, both are state district judges, holding court at the Flathead County Justice Center in Kalispell.

(Watch the video to hear from the two candidates.)

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Finalists already set for Montana Supreme Court Race

For many Montana voters, Wilson will be more familiar, after he ran for associate justice unsuccessfully in 2024.

“What’s different for me this time is that people are really wanting to know and have their questions answered about my judicial philosophy and my judicial approach,” he told MTN. “I would say the last time I ran, they were more curious just to get to know me as a person, meet me face to face and shake my hand and that sort of thing.”

Wilson, elected as a district judge in 2016, describes himself as a “constitutional conservative” and says Montana courts have leaned too far toward “judicial activism.”

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“A judicial activist, in my view, is one whose judicial decision-making is dominated in those questionable cases by perhaps their own personal agenda or the agenda of special interests who advance their career,” he said. “A constitutional conservative does not look to the end result first, but looks to the law.”

Jonathon Ambarian

District Judge Amy Eddy, a candidate for Montana Supreme Court, spoke during a Hometown Helena presentation at Helena College, March 12, 2026.

Eddy was first appointed to the bench in 2015. As she hasn’t run statewide before, she says she’s been working hard to introduce herself to voters.

“We’re approaching the campaign the same way we have been since May, when we announced,” she said. “We’re out talking to everybody in as many counties as we can.”

Eddy says her campaign is emphasizing the nonpartisan nature of judicial elections and the court’s role in upholding the state constitution and protecting individual liberties.

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“People want nonpartisan, independent courts, and they want a government that functions, which is something we can certainly all get behind,” she said. “Then, of course, with the focus on the Montana Constitution right now and the different constitutional initiatives, we have lots of conversations about the unique rights we have under the Montana Constitution that are not enjoyed under the U.S. Constitution.”

Both candidates have said they want to maintain judicial impartiality. For Eddy, she says that means not participating in campaign events sponsored by political parties.

“We should not be checking in with a political party leadership, and before a judge makes a decision, they should not be saying, ‘How do I earn a standing ovation at a political party convention?’” she said. “They should be asking themselves, ‘What does the Constitution demand?’”

Wilson was a featured speaker at the Montana Republican Party’s winter kickoff in Great Falls earlier this year. In addition, he received $20,000 in two contributions from the state GOP – in the first election cycle since the Legislature repealed a law banning political parties from contributing to judicial candidates.

Dan Wilson 2026 Winter Kickoff

Jonathon Ambarian

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District Judge Dan Wilson, a candidate for Montana Supreme Court, spoke during the Montana Republican Party’s winter kickoff event in Great Falls, Feb. 6, 2026.

Wilson says judges in nonpartisan races aren’t supposed to seek endorsements from parties, but the First Amendment allows them to support whoever they want. He believes judicial ethics rules don’t disallow judicial candidates from attending party-sponsored events.

“I think it’s a little bit naive to think that you can run a statewide campaign as a nonpartisan candidate without getting out and trying to meet as many people as you can, and to attract as much support as you can,” he said.

Wilson says people supporting him don’t expect him to rule a specific way, but to be consistent and evenhanded in how he applies the law.

“The impartiality comes with giving each side a fair hearing and taking their arguments to their logical endpoint and deciding which one is more persuasive under the law, so it’s more about having and keeping an open mind as to what the outcome should be,” he said.

While Eddy is staying away from party meetings, she has addressed some interest groups like the Montana Conservation Voters. MTN asked how she would respond to people who said those events could be seen as having political leanings, and she said groups like MCV do include members from more than one party.

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“People can put a partisan view on it, but in fact, that organization is made up of lots of different people – and those are principles specifically protected in the Montana Constitution, which, of course, I’ve taken an oath to uphold,” she said.

The state constitution’s provision guaranteeing “the right to a clean and healthful environment” is at the center of one of Wilson’s major criticisms of the current Montana Supreme Court. In speeches and in interviews, he has said the majority overstepped in the Held v. Montana climate change case, when they struck down a law on the basis that state policies on greenhouse gas emissions were harming that right.

“The drafters of our constitution were adamant that this is a right that the Legislature – and therefore the people – needed to control, and that they were most concerned that the Supreme Court would take it over, issue a ruling that would bind the government and the citizens of Montana, possibly forever, and the citizens could never overturn,” Wilson told MTN.

Wilson has also criticized Eddy for having been part of a 2011 lawsuit making similar arguments to argue the state had a duty to manage the atmosphere as a public trust, and therefore to address emissions. Eddy told MTN she was one of the original attorneys on the case when plaintiffs asked the Montana Supreme Court to take jurisdiction, but that she wasn’t involved further after the court sent it back to district court for a trial. She said it hasn’t been an issue she’s heard concerns about from voters yet.

“We spent three weeks living out of our car in eastern Montana and it never came up,” she said.

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Bring your Treasures to the Montana Appraisal Fair in Billings

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Bring your Treasures to the Montana Appraisal Fair in Billings


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You will be asked to register and login.

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Montana Might Get a Rare Northern Lights Show This Week

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Montana Might Get a Rare Northern Lights Show This Week


Montana’s Weather Transformation

After days of gloomy, wet, and even snowy weather across Montana, things are finally starting to turn around. And just in time, too, because we could be in for a pretty incredible night sky show.

Forecasters say skies are expected to clear enough for a strong chance to see the Aurora Borealis Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conditions are lining up across a wide stretch of the northern U.S. That includes much of Montana, along with parts of Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If everything comes together, this could be one of those rare nights when the lights dip farther south than usual.

Maximize Your Aurora Viewing Experience

Of course, it all comes down to cloud cover. Even with strong solar activity, clouds can block the view. If you are planning to head out, keep an eye on local conditions. The best viewing window is usually late at night into the early morning hours, away from city lights.

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READ MORE: Two Beautiful Montana Locations That Have Dark Skies

There is also a bigger weather picture starting to take shape.

Summer Forecast: Drier Days Ahead

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a dry summer across both eastern and western Montana. Both regions are expected to trend drier than average, though western Montana could see slightly cooler temperatures. That could take some of the edge off the heat during peak summer months.

READ MORE: Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Dry Montana Summer with Wild Temperature Swings

For now, though, all eyes are on the sky. If the clouds cooperate, Wednesday night could bring a rare and memorable light show across Big Sky Country.

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45 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Montana’s Northern Lights

Locals submitted their best photos of Montana’s Northern Lights and they are absolutely breathtaking. Which is your favorite?

Gallery Credit: Chris

WOW: 19 Exotic-Looking Animals Surprisingly Found in America

While some are native and others arrived by accident, there are animals living quite happily in the U.S. that will make you say, “No way!” From seriously big cats to the pinkest bird you’ve ever seen, here are some of the most exotic creatures calling America home.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz





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Brady Wiseman: The Montana Plan for transparent elections is here, and just in time

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Brady Wiseman: The Montana Plan for transparent elections is here, and just in time


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