DemocratIn office since Nov 2022

Mary Ann Dunwell

Montana State Senator, District 42 since 2022. Ran in 6 elections between 2014 and 2022, winning 5. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.

Montana State Senator, District 42

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 3 yrs; Since 2022
Bills became law: 0; 9 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 0.1%; Chamber median 0.5%
With party: 96%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +1.1; Won 2026
Next election: 2030; Nov 5, 2030

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

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Highways and Transportation · vice chair
Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
Civil Rights Violations and Censorship by Montana University System Interim
Legislative Administration
Local Government Interim
Taxation

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 9 sponsored · 0 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 126 Revise tenant moveout laws
Landlord and Tenant · Failed in committee May 2025

SB 189 Lower residential, commercial, and agricultural property tax rates
Revenue, Local · Failed in committee May 2025

SB 169 Revise intangible personal property exemption
Communications · Failed in committee May 2025

SB 496 Providing a use policy for the executive residence when the governor has an alternate residence
Rule Making · Failed in committee May 2025

SB 139 Eliminate clergy exemption in mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect
Crimes · 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 Dunwell sits in the Montana State Senate

Dunwell is closer to the center than 6% of the chamber's Democrats.

Closest: Jacinda Morigeau, Susan Webber, Andrea Olsen

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

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

Date	Bill	Dunwell	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 Dunwell 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 84 Montana State Senate, District 42

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 State Senate, District 42	Won	D+1.1	R+13.5	+14.6
2022	Montana State Senate, District 42	Won	D+10.6	D+3.8	+6.8
2020	Montana House of Representatives, District 84	Lost	R+59.5	R+3.4	−56.1
2018	Montana House of Representatives, District 84	Won	—	R+3.4	—
2016	Montana House of Representatives, District 84	Won	D+2.4	R+3.4	+5.8
2014	Montana House of Representatives, District 84	Won	D+0.6	—	—
2014	Montana House of Representatives, District 84 (primary)	Won	—	—	—