DemocratIn office since Nov 2024

Sara Novak

Montana State Senator, District 36 since 2024. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Montana State Senator, District 36

In office
1 yr
Since 2024
Bills became law
1
6 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.3%
Chamber median 0.5%
With party
89%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+24.8
Won 2024
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.

  • Education Interim · vice chair
  • Education and Cultural Resources · vice chair
  • Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
  • Fish and Game
  • Fish and Wildlife
  • School Funding Interim Commission

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 6 sponsored · 1 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 278 Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities
Developmental Disabilities · Became law May 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Novak sits in the Montana State Senate

Novak is closer to the center than 89% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianNovakMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Derek Harvey, Emma Kerr-Carpenter, Willis Curdy

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET

With Novak’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats89%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Montana State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Novak’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

DateBillNovakDem. majorityRep. majorityResult
Apr 23, 2025HB 860: Provide for veterinary training loan programYesYesYesPassed 41–9
Apr 23, 2025HB 129: Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteersYesYesNoPassed 28–22
Apr 23, 2025HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishmentsYesYesNoPassed 29–21

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Novak 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.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024Montana State Senate, District 36WonD+24.8
2022Montana House of Representatives, District 77LostR+1.0
2020Montana House of Representatives, District 77WonD+5.7

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Novak has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Novak has run against

  • Darlean Newman (R) · 2024 general, won
  • John Fitzpatrick (R) · 2022 general, lost
  • Heather Blom (R) · 2020 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Novak

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET