Bob Phalen
Montana State Senator, District 17 since 2024. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 0
- 8 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.1%
- Chamber median 0.5%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
- Civil Rights Violations and Censorship by Montana University System Interim
- Fish and Game
- Fish and Wildlife
- State Administration
- Water Policy Interim
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Energy · Failed in committee May 2025
Energy · Failed in committee May 2025
Education - K-12 · Failed in committee May 2025
Education - K-12 · Failed in committee May 2025
Criminal Procedure · Failed in committee May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Phalen sits in the Montana State Senate
Phalen is closer to the center than 31% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Matt Regier, Dennis Lenz, Forrest Mandeville
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Phalen’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans97%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Montana State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Phalen’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Phalen | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 860: Provide for veterinary training loan program | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 41–9 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 129: Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteers | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–22 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishments | No | No | Yes | Passed 29–21 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Phalen was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Montana State Senate, District 17 | Won | — |
| 2022 | Montana House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | — |
| 2020 | Montana House of Representatives, District 36 | Won | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Phalen has held
- Montana State Senate, District 17 · since 2024
- Montana House of Representatives, District 36 · 2020–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Phalen
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/cf7f704c-87ac-4bcd-821a-9377bbbee43f
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET