Melody J Cunningham
Montana State Representative, District 97 since 2024. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 3
- 7 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.1%
- Chamber median 0.2%
- With party
- 93%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +34.0
- 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.
- Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim
- Civil Rights Violations and Censorship by Montana University System Interim
- Human Services
- Judiciary
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Health · Became law May 2025
Alcohol · Became law May 2025
Education - K-12 · Became law May 2025
Education - K-12 · Failed in committee May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Cunningham sits in the Montana House of Representatives
Cunningham is closer to the center than 67% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Scott Rosenzweig, Jennifer Lynch, Mike Fox
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Cunningham’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats93%
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: Cunningham’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Cunningham | 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 Cunningham 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 District 97 | Won | D+34.0 | D+21.3 | +12.7 |
| 2024 | Montana House of Representatives, District 97 | Won | D+24.8 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Montana Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $12.8K
- Spent
- $10.8K
Source: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices filings through Sep 22, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Cunningham, Melody J State | Active |
Source: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices filings through Sep 22, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 9:16 AM ET
Seats Cunningham has held
- Montana House of Representatives, District 97 · since 2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cunningham has run against
- Michael P. Hagestad (R) · 2026 general, won
- Nick Knowles (R) · 2024 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Montana Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Cunningham
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/7bfc5a9c-40aa-4698-907c-578c772aef43
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET