RepublicanIn office since Nov 2024

Bob Phalen

Montana State Senator, District 17 since 2024. Ran in 3 elections between 2020 and 2024, winning 3. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Montana State Senator, District 17

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
Elections
3
2020–2024

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

2025–2026 session · 8 sponsored · 0 became law

No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.

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

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Phalen sits in the Montana State Senate

Phalen is closer to the center than 31% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianPhalenMore liberalMore conservative

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.

DateBillPhalenRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Apr 23, 2025HB 860: Provide for veterinary training loan programNoYesYesPassed 41–9
Apr 23, 2025HB 129: Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteersNoNoYesPassed 28–22
Apr 23, 2025HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishmentsNoNoYesPassed 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.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2024Montana State Senate, District 17Won—R+70.2—
2022Montana House of Representatives, District 36Won—R+59.7—
2020Montana House of Representatives, District 36Won—R+60.4—

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Phalen

One person, matched across every source we use.

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