Elections 2026
Thomas Jefferson:  "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

Run for Office   
​"If not you then who? If not now, then when?"

Why YOU?
If you feel our government is not representing your values and how you think our government should be working on behalf of all of us, why not run for office yourself?
After all, the government IS run by those who show up! And if you ask yourself "Why me?", the answer is "Why not?" 

Who Can Run?
Any law-abiding citizen over the age of 18 can run for office.
You don’t get picked by the party, you don’t have to take a test, you don’t have to have money. You just decide that you want to influence policy, decide what position interests you, and file to run. It’s as simple as that.

2026 Sanders County Office to be Filled
Sanders County Clerk & Recorder / Treasurer / Election Admin. / Supt of Schools, 4-year term. Non-partisan position.
Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 Only applies if 3 or more candidates run; top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026

Conservation District Supervisor, 4-year term 
Candidate Filing period: Feb 17 – March 4, 2026
Primary Election: Conservation District Supervisors are not in the primary election
General Election: November 3, 2026

Sanders County Coroner, 4-year term
Non-partisan position
Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 Only applies if 3 or more candidates run; top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026

Sanders County Commissioner District #3 Non-partisan position
Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 Only applies if 3 or more candidates run. Top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026

​Sanders County Justice of the Peace, 4-year term.
Non-partisan position
Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 Only applies if 3 or more candidates run; top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026

Sanders County Attorney, 4-year term
Non-partisan race
​Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 – only applies if 3 or more candidates run. Top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026

Sanders County Sheriff, 4-year term
Non-partisan position
Candidate Filing period: Jan 8 – Mar 9, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026 Only applies if 3 or more candidates run; top 2 proceed.
General Election: November 3, 2026​

Special Districts , Terms vary with district
Non-partisan positions
  • Filing dates Jan 20 – Feb 4, 2026, All special district candidates file with County Election Administrator
  • Election Day: May 5, 2026
  • When possible, a contact and phone number is given for further information.

FIRE DISTRICTS
Dixon RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Marilyn Athearn Board Sec. 406-246-3269

Heron RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Margaret Harker Board Sec. 406-847-0100

Hot Springs RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 - 4 yr terms
Board Sec. ?

Noxon RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Allison Smith Board Sec. 406-396-4206 / 406-847-2647

Plains/Paradise RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Melody Collett Board Clerk 503-812-2265

TFalls RF 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Bernice Robbins Board Sec. 406-827-3731

Trout Creek RF 2 Trustee positions open
Sandra Gubel Board Sec. 406-827-4091

HOSPITAL DISTRICT
Eastern Sanders County Hosp 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
Deb Pier Board Treasurer 406-741-2566

PARK DISTRICTS
Heron No open positions
Trout Creek 1 Commissioner position open 1 yr unexpired term
Elizabeth Stender Board Chair 406-531-2719

WATER/SEWER DISTRICTS
Paradise Water District: 2 Director positions open 4 yr terms
Cindy Arnold Board Sec. 406-310-1940
Sewer District 2 Director positions open 4 yr terms
Janie McFadgen Board Chair 406-880-1506
Noxon Water & Sewer: 3 Director positions open 4 yr terms
Rhonda Horner Board Sec. 406-214-8123
Woodside Water & Sewer: 2 Director positions open 4 yr terms
Board Sec ? 406-499-1283

School Trustee, Terms variable
Candidate Filing period: TBA (2025 filing was Dec. 12, 2024 – March 27, 2025)
Election: May 5, 2026
Please call School District Clerk for more information:
Dixon 2 (possibly 3) Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
District Clerk Breezy Stipe 406-246-3566
Hot Springs 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms
District Clerk Barkley Flynn 406-741-2962
Plains 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms, 1 2 yr unexpired term
District Clerk Karen Pickering 406-826-8600
Thompson Falls 2 Trustee open positions 3 yr terms
District Clerk Stacy Milner 406-8/27-3323 x 6
Trout Creek 1 Trustee position open 3 yr term, 1 2 yr unexpired term
District Clerk Robert Johnson 406-827-3629
Noxon 2 Trustee positions open 3 yr terms; 1 Trustee position 1 yr unexpired term
Noxon @ Trout Creek 1 Trustee position open 3 yr (currently vacant)
District Clerk Tami Mercer 406-847-2442 x 204
. 
2026 Statewide Offices:
Montana State Representative, 2-year term
Candidate Filing period: Feb 17 – March 4, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
Incumbent: Paul Fielder, HD 14, Curtis Cochran HD 90, and Shelly Fyant, HD 91

2026 Federal Offices:
United States Representative District #1, 2-year term
Candidate Filing period: Feb 17 – March 4, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
Incumbent: Ryan Zinke

United States Senate, 6-year term
Candidate Filing period: Feb 17 – March 4, 2026
Primary Election: June 2, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
Incumbent: Steve Daines

How to File:
There are different deadlines depending on what position you run for. Very local positions like school board and fire district usually have earlier deadlines than County Commissioner and the State Legislature. Read more on Sanders County "Candidate Filing Information."  For Statewide office visit: https://sosmt.gov/elections/filing/​

How is the Party Involved?
If you have been involved with the party, you have a head start. But if you have not, and you want to run, contact us and we will help. We don’t tell you how to campaign. In a local race, that is entirely up to you. You are in control. Your campaign is yours to run.

The Primary Election
For County Commissioner and the State Legislature, the Primary Election is where members of the party weigh in on whether they want you to represent them.
The Sanders County Democratic Central Committee is not involved in influencing the outcome and cannot endorse or preferentially help one primary candidate over another.

The General Election
Once you win the Primary, you are the candidate for the Party and are expected to represent the values of the party (described here).
We can help with fund-raising and volunteers. We can help raise the army of door knockers and sign makers to get your name out there. However, how you spend your time and money is up to you!

Managing Money
You are required to follow the laws concerning campaign finance, and the Office of the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices is very helpful. There are two chapters to your record keeping, one for the primary and one for the general. You are held accountable to the rules from the day you file until you close your campaign after the elections.What is a Campaign?That depends on you, but traditionally, it involves numerous ways to get people to know who you are and what you stand for and are where party volunteers come in handy:
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Yard signs, billboards, advertising
  • Websites and social media
  • Meets and Greets and Fundraising
  • Parades and Events
  • Debates and Radio Interviews
  • Attend local government hearings or make speeches and appearances at local organization meetings
  • Endorsements

Most Importantly
No matter how you decide to campaign, the most important things to have clear in your mind are:
  • Why do you want the job?
  • Why should other people invest in you?
Democracy is hard work and only works if everyone participates. WE NEED YOU! Interested?
See full job descriptions below for County, State and Federal positions:
clerk_and_recorder.docx
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conservation_district_supervisor.docx
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coroner.docx
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county_commissioner.docx
File Size: 16 kb
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justice_of_the_peace.docx
File Size: 14 kb
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sanders_county_atty.docx
File Size: 15 kb
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sanders_county_special_districts.docx
File Size: 16 kb
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school_trustees.docx
File Size: 17 kb
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sheriff.docx
File Size: 15 kb
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state_representative.docx
File Size: 16 kb
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us_representative.docx
File Size: 16 kb
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us_senator.docx
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: docx
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