Brian Close
Montana State Representative, District 65 since 2024. Ran in 1 election in 2024, winning 1. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 2
- 7 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.7%
- Chamber median 0.2%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +24.7
- Won 2026
- 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.
- Civil Rights Violations and Censorship by Montana University System Interim
- Economic Affairs Interim
- Human Services
- Taxation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Labor and Employment · Became law Apr 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Close sits in the Montana House of Representatives
Close is closer to the center than 36% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Melissa Romano, Marilyn Marler, Ed Stafman
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Close’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats94%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Montana House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Close’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Close | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2025 | SB 118: Generally revise student data laws to enhance privacy | No | No | Yes | Failed 33–67 |
| Apr 25, 2025 | SB 151: Direct the director of the public defender's office to create units for family defense and… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 49–50 |
| Apr 25, 2025 | SB 321: Provide tax credits for children and child care | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 46–53 |
| Apr 24, 2025 | SB 322: Increase business equipment tax exemption | No | No | Yes | Failed 48–52 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Close 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 | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Montana House of Representatives, District 65 | Won | D+24.7 | D+11.8 | +12.9 |
| 2024 | Montana House of Representatives, District 65 | Won | D+11.4 | D+11.8 | −0.4 |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Montana Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $8.5K
- Spent
- $4.9K
Source: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices filings through Oct 1, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Close, Brian F State | Active |
Source: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices filings through Oct 1, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 AM ET
Seats Close has held
- Montana House of Representatives, District 65 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Close has run against
- Joe Flynn (R) · 2026 election, won
- Esther Fishbaugh (R) · 2024 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Montana Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Close
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/733ea07d-29e9-4259-b489-6ae30bc76bce
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET