Leaving office January 1, 2027.Did not run for re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.

DemocratIn office until January 1, 2027

Janet Ellis

Montana State Senator, District 41 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Won the 2026 race for Montana House District 81.

Montana State Senator, District 41Born 1956Conservationist

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 7 yrs; Since 2018
Bills became law: 2; 3 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 0.1%; Chamber median 0.5%
With party: 96%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +21.6; Won 2026

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Finance and Claims · vice chair
Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
Legislative Finance
Modernization and Risk Analysis Interim
Natural Resources Interim Budget
Rules
State Administration

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 3 sponsored · 2 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 25 Revise election laws regarding disclosure requirements for the use of AI in elections
Communications · Became law May 2025

SB 238 Allow hunters to donate funds for archery equipment for disabled bowhunters
Fish · Became law May 2025

SB 559 Provide for appeals of various DEQ permit decisions
Environmental Protection · Failed in committee May 2025

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

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Ellis sits in the Montana State Senate

Ellis is closer to the center than 33% of the chamber's Democrats.

Closest: Cora Neumann, Denise Hayman, Laura Smith

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

With Ellis’s party

Votes with the chamber's Democrats96%

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: Ellis’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Date	Bill	Ellis	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 Ellis was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025202620272028Montana House of Representatives, District 81 Montana State Senate, District 41

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 District 81	Won	D+21.6	D+7.0	+14.6
2022	Montana State Senate, District 41	Won	D+10.7	—	—
2018	Montana State Senate, District 41	Won	D+15.5	—	—
2016	Montana House of Representatives, District 81	Won	—	—	—
2014	Montana House of Representatives, District 81	Won	D+17.0	—	—
2014	Montana House of Representatives, District 81 (primary)	Won	+8.4	—	—