HELENA, Mont. — Montana’s 2026 primary election ballot is taking shape after a busy candidate filing period that drew hundreds of hopefuls.

Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and the Montana election team finalized the list of candidates after 380 total candidates filed between Feb. 17 and March 4. Of those candidates, 19 withdrew from their races.

Six independent candidates are still waiting to qualify via petition before being added to the general election ballot.

The following was sent out by the Office of the Montana Secretary of State:

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and the Montana Election Team have completed ballot certification for Montana’s 2026 Primary Election, finalizing the list of candidates who will appear before voters on Tuesday, June 2.

Pursuant to Montana law, county election administrators certify local candidates for the primary ballot in their respective counties, while the Secretary of State’s Office certifies the names and designations of statewide and state district candidates, including candidates for federal, legislative, and certain judicial offices.

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) notified the Secretary of State’s Office and the county election administrators of any candidate(s) whose name(s) may not appear on the ballot pursuant to Montana law.

“The ballot certification process is a key step in ensuring Montana’s elections are accurate, secure, and transparent,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “I’m grateful to our state election officials and the county election administrators and their teams across the state for their hard work preparing for the 2026 Primary Election.”

A total of 380 candidates filed with the Secretary of State’s Office during the candidate filing period (Tuesday, February 17 – Wednesday, March 4). Several candidates withdrew from their respective races, while Independent candidates are pending petition requirements to qualify for the general election ballot.

Filings with the Secretary of State’s Office included:

• United States Senator: Twelve total candidates filed for the office, though one withdrew and one is pending petition requirements. Five Democrats, three Republicans, and two Libertarians will appear on Montanans’ Primary Election ballots. One Independent candidate must meet Montana’s petition requirements.
• United States Representative: Sixteen total filings in the 1st and 2nd Congressional races.
• 1st Congressional (MT-01) Ten candidates submitted paperwork for the Congressional seat – four Democrats, four Republicans, and one Libertarian. One Independent candidate must meet petition requirements. The incumbent did not file for re-election.
• 2nd Congressional (MT-02) Six candidates submitted filing paperwork, including the incumbent, who is the lone Republican to file for the race. Three Democrats and one Libertarian filed, while one Independent also submitted their paperwork for the race and is pending petition requirements.
• Public Service Commission: Seven candidates will appear on the ballot for the two PSC seats.
• PSC District 1: Two Republicans and one Democrat will appear before voters for the open seat.
• PSC District 5: The incumbent is one of three Republicans to file for the seat, while one Democrat also filed.
• Supreme Court Justice: Two candidates filed for the Supreme Court Justice No. 4 race – Judge Dan Wilson was the first to file for Montana’s high court, and Judge Amy Eddy followed suit later the same day.
• District Court Judge: Thirteen candidates submitted filings, including several judges currently on the bench.
• Legislature: The majority of candidate filings were for Legislative seats, where 329 total filings were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office, nearly 130 of which came on the opening day.
• Montana State Senate: Sixty-six candidates qualified for the 2026 Primary Election, including more than 10 incumbents.
• Montana State House: A total of 235 candidates qualified for the 2026 Primary Election. Three Independent candidates are pending petition requirements. Dozens of incumbents filed for re-election.

For more information, visit the candidate filing page on the Secretary of State’s website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/filing/.

CHAPARRAL, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A decision by the Otero County Commission to renew a federal detention services contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is invalid under New Mexico law, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice, stating that the commission violated the state’s Open Meetings Act.

The New Mexico Department of Justice said it determined the commission broke the Open Meetings Act when it convened an emergency meeting on March 13 to renew an ICE contract, continuing to operate an immigration processing center.

Commissioners said the processing center has operated under an intergovernmental service agreement with ICE since the facility opened, and that the agreement is tied to revenue pledged to secure bonds used to build the facility, adding that the existing agreement was set to expire Sunday, March 15, and that ICE sent a replacement agreement a day before the meeting.

Commissioners said the timing forced them to act under emergency authority because there was less than four days before the current agreement expires, and they could not provide a 72-hour notice for a special meeting.

However, after a review by the NMDOJ’s Government Counsel and Accountability Bureau, the department concluded the commission improperly classified the meeting as an “emergency” and failed to meet legal requirements for bypassing standard public notice and transparency procedures.

The NMDOJ also found the expiration of the ICE contract was a known and predictable deadline, not an unforeseen event.

As a result, NMDOJ said the action taken during that meeting, including the vote to renew the contract, is invalid under New Mexico law.

“The Open Meetings Act is not optional,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said. “It ensures that public business is conducted in the open, not rushed through under the guise of an emergency when no true emergency exists. New Mexicans have a right to transparency and accountability from their local governments, especially when decisions of this magnitude are being made.”

Otero County renews ICE detention contract despite New Mexico ban taking effect in May

Under the Open Meetings Act, emergency meetings are permitted only in response to unforeseen circumstances that pose an immediate threat to public health, safety, property, or cause substantial financial harm.

According to the commissioners, last week’s emergency meeting and renewal were also tied to funding, stating that allowing the agreement to lapse would create significant financial consequences tied to the bonds.

“These revenue bonds were issued in 2007 to finance the construction of Otero County Processing Center,” commissioners said last week, adding the bonds “are still outstanding” and that “the total remaining debt service as of this afternoon is in excess of $19 million.”

Commissioners said the next principal-and-interest payment is due April 1 and warned that if the current agreement expired Sunday, the county would not be able to make that payment.

“If the current IGSA were to expire on Sunday, the payment for that payment would absolutely not be able to be made,” commissioners said.

However, the NMDOJ also determined the county’s justification of potential financial impacts tied to bond obligations stemmed from internal planning failures, not a legitimate emergency, stating that the law does not allow public bodies to use emergency procedures to address foreseeable administrative or financial matters.

Meanwhile, this comes after the Immigrant Safety Act was approved by state lawmakers last month. The law prohibits state or local governments from entering into or renewing contracts to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations.

This means new ICE detention centers cannot be approved, nor can existing contracts be renewed. The law, which was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in early February, is set to take effect in May.

The NMDOJ has directed the Otero County Commission to respond with outlined steps to come into compliance with the law.

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RECOMMENDED: New Mexico bans new and renewed ICE detention contracts under Immigrant Safety Act

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