Russel Tempel
Montana State Senator, District 14 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 2
- 5 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.1%
- Chamber median 0.5%
- With party
- 42%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +43.2
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education and Cultural Resources · vice chair
- Highways and Transportation · chair
- Transportation Interim · chair
- Executive Branch Review
- Finance and Claims
- Health and Human Services Interim Budget
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Counties · Became law May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Tempel sits in the Montana State Senate
Tempel is closer to the center than 94% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Wendy McKamey, Gregg Hunter, Gayle Lammers
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Tempel’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans42%
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: Tempel’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Tempel | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 860: Provide for veterinary training loan program | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 41–9 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 129: Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteers | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 28–22 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishments | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 29–21 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Tempel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Montana State Senate, District 14 | Won | R+43.2 |
| 2018 | Montana State Senate, District 14 | Won | R+1.5 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Tempel has held
- Montana State Senate, District 14 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Tempel has run against
- David H. Brewer (D) · 2022 general, won
- Paul Tuss (D) · 2018 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Tempel
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8a8a229e-b35e-4fea-a4a9-114cc9f7488e
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET