Dave Fern
Montana State Senator, District 2 since 2024. Ran in 6 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 5. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 7
- 15 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.3%
- Chamber median 0.5%
- With party
- 79%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +4.8
- 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.
- Revenue Interim · vice chair
- Taxation · vice chair
- Highways and Transportation
- Local Government
- School Funding Interim Commission
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Revenue, Local · Became law May 2025
Legislature · Became law May 2025
Traffic Regulations · Became law May 2025
Cities and Towns · Became law May 2025
Counties · Became law May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Fern sits in the Montana State Senate
Fern is closer to the center than 94% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Sara Novak, Derek Harvey, Emma Kerr-Carpenter
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Fern’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats79%
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: Fern’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Fern | Dem. majority | Rep. 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 | Yes | No | Passed 28–22 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishments | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 29–21 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Fern 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 | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Montana State Senate, District 2 | Won | D+4.8 | R+1.7 | +6.5 |
| 2022 | Montana House of Representatives, District 5 | Won | D+22.8 | D+18.0 | +4.8 |
| 2020 | Montana House of Representatives, District 5 | Won | D+20.2 | D+5.1 | +15.1 |
| 2018 | Montana House of Representatives, District 5 | Won | D+38.2 | D+5.1 | +33.1 |
| 2016 | Montana House of Representatives, District 5 | Won | D+13.5 | D+5.1 | +8.4 |
| 2012 | Montana State Senate, District 2 | Lost | R+6.7 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Fern has held
- Montana State Senate, District 2 · since 2024
- Montana House of Representatives, District 5 · 2016–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Fern has run against
- Doug Adams (R) · 2024 election, won
- Lyn Bennett (R) · 2022 election, won
- Catherine Owens (R) · 2020 election, won
- Cindy Dyson (L) · 2018 election, won
- Chet Billi (R) · 2016 election, won
- Dee L. Brown (R) · 2012 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Fern
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/9c542cad-1c8f-4dfd-b41f-12468fd2d806
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET