The montana delegation
congressional officials …
Given its small size, Montana has difficulty proving its demographic diversity. The delegation is also very new, with one House member and one senator being elected as a freshman in 2024.
Of the four class members, all are Republican, male, and none of minority representation through the end of the year. One is a former U.S. Interior Secretary.
None are lawyers.
Congressman Zinke is a retired Navy Seal, the first Seal to serve in Congress or a presidential cabinet position. Senator Sheehy is also a former Navy Seal.
The average tenure for the delegation is less than two terms, assuming everyone completes their service through the end of 2026.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of push back on former and now current President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are essential to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, one of the four members of the current Montana delegation voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results on the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on critical matters because they control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century does not get one a good grade from Thomas.
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2026 elections today. One of the two United States Senators is up for re-election this season.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Senator Tester is included since he has a race in 2024. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating Montanans? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
There no vulnerable races in Montana for Thomas to watch in 2026.
the senators
Credit: US Senator Steve Daines
United states senator steve Daines (R)
Two-term Senator Steve Daines is a former at-large member of the House before winning his first Senate term in 2014. Re-elected in 2020 to a second term, Daines is the immediate past chair of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. A graduate of Montana State University, Daines is married and the father of four, and sits on the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee; the Finance Committee; the Foreign Relations Committee; and the Indian Affairs Committee.
Thomas Take: Up for re-election in 2026
Thomas Rank: A
Credit: US Senator Tim Sheehy
United States Senator Tim sheehy (r)
First-term Senator Tim Sheehy serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. A former Navy Seal officer, and Annapolis graduates, Sheehy is married and the father of four.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2026
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Ryan Zinke
district 1 - u.s. rep. ryan zinke (r)
Congressman Ryan Zinke was elected in 2022 after returning from a stint as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Donald J. Trump and a previous term in Congress from Montana before Interior. A businessman whose district stretches across the western part of the state including Kalispell, Bozeman, and Butte, Zinke is also a retired Navy Seal who is the first to serve in Congress. While at Interior, Zinke was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for several potential ethics issues but resigned before any Departmental decisions. Zinke, who is married and the father of three, graduated from the University of Oregon, and has a Master’s degree from National University and another Master’s degree from the University of San Diego. He serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 2 - U.S. Rep. Troy downing (r)
Congressman Troy Downing represents a district that runs through the center and eastern parts of Montana. The district used to be at-large but reapportionment created a new seat in time for the 2022 election. The freshman Congressman attended New York University, is married and the father of four. He serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Small Business Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: Too early to rank
Credit: US Rep. Troy Downing