Montana State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
Montana Senate District 26
A district of about 20,000 people, 51% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+21.4 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Tom McGillvray (R) · won63.9%
- Karen Lyncoln (D)36.1%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 50 seats
Every Montana State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
17 races since 1968; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2024 | |||
| 2024 | Tom McGillvray (R) | Karen Lyncoln (D) | 27.8 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Chris Friedel (R) | Margie Macdonald (D) | 5.1 |
| 2016 | Don Roberts (R) | Margie Macdonald (D) | 5.4 |
| 2012 | Robyn Driscoll (D) | Malcolm Long (R) | 17.3 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Lynda Moss (D) | Max Graham (R) | 20.9 |
| 2004 | Lynda Moss (D) | Bruce T. Simon (R) | 0.8 |
| 2002 | Steve Bullock and Mike Cooney (D) | Mary Jo Fox (R) | 36.2 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1998 | Mignon Waterman (D) | Ben Roberts (R) | 26.1 |
| 1994 | Mignon Waterman (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1992 | Barry Stang (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Paul Rappsvrcek (D)Flip | Mary Naegeli (R) | 27.1 |
| 1984 | George McCallum (R) | David F. Colyer (D) | 28.4 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Donald Ochsner (R) | Robert G. Barthelmess (D) | 0.1 |
| 1976 | William L. Mathers (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1974 | William L. Mathers (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | Elmer Flynn · Fred G. Carl (DEM) | Mills Folsom (R) | 0.8 |
| 1968 | G. W. Deschamps · Harry T. Northey (R) | Wes Waldbillig (D) | 6.3 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 26
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 26's area in each.
- U.S. House
- MT-2 100%
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+24.1 | No race | R+20.3 | R+20.9 |
| U.S. Senate | No race | R+4.8 | R+16.7 | R+13.2 |
| Governor | R+5.4 | No race | No race | R+26.2 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 50 seats. Small marks are other seats in Montana. The black marker is District 26.
Higher than 88% of seats.
Lower than 80% of seats.
Lower than 73% of seats.
Lower than 71% of seats.
Higher than 80% of seats.
Denser than 84% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 2538% college gradsR+24.1Held RDistrict 42
43% college gradsR+11.8Held DDistrict 3
40% college gradsR+40.8Not up in 2026District 12
33% college gradsR+14.7Held R
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET