Aaron Flint won the Republican primary for Montana’s western congressional district on Tuesday, capturing a majority of the vote in a three-way race that included two well-known Montana officeholders. The Associated Press called the race in Flint’s favor on June 3, the day after the primary was held.
A Crowded but Decisive Contest
With roughly 37 percent of ballots counted by Tuesday evening, Flint held more than half the vote — approximately 52.6 percent. Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, currently serving her second term, finished second with about 21.9 percent, while former state lawmaker Al Olszewski trailed with 19.3 percent.
The margin was striking given the competitive field. Jacobsen had previously earned more votes than any candidate on Montana’s 2020 and 2024 ballots, including President Trump. Olszewski, who chairs the Flathead County Republican Central Committee, had come within a few thousand votes of unseating Rep. Ryan Zinke in the 2022 Republican primary.
Swift Endorsements After Zinke’s Exit
The race took shape quickly after Zinke announced in early March that he would not seek a third term. Flint assembled a sweeping endorsement coalition within roughly 24 hours of that announcement, securing backing from Montana’s federal delegation, the governor, and most statewide elected officials.
President Trump added his endorsement the evening before Election Day — the Monday before the June 2 primary. Zinke, who served two terms representing the western district and previously led the Interior Department during Trump’s first administration, also endorsed Flint after stepping aside.
Flint on the Campaign’s Central Theme
Flint framed his campaign around economic opportunity and regional identity in Western Montana. “This is where my family homesteaded,” he said in remarks following the results. “We have got to unite in fight to save Western Montana.”
He struck a similar note on affordability and the future of the region. “I want my kids to have the same opportunities here in Western Montana,” Flint said. “We’re going to fight to make the Montana Dream affordable again.”
What Comes Next
Flint will now face the winner of a four-way Democratic primary for the seat. Helena attorney Brian Miller won the Democratic nomination for Montana’s eastern congressional seat Tuesday in a separate contest, reflecting the broader reshaping of Montana’s congressional map since the state gained a second U.S. House district following the 2020 census.
Montana’s western district — the seat Zinke held — has been one of the more competitive in the state’s recent political history, though Republicans have carried it in each cycle since redistricting. Democrats will be looking to make it competitive again in November, with the general election set for November 3.
Broader Election Context
Tuesday’s primaries shaped multiple major statewide races simultaneously. Former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and University of Montana President Seth Bodnar advanced to November in the contest for Montana’s open U.S. Senate seat, adding to a fall ballot that now includes both chambers of Congress at the top of the ticket.
With Zinke’s departure creating an open seat and a well-resourced Republican nominee now in place, the western Montana district figures to draw national attention and spending in the months ahead. Flint enters the general election with strong institutional support and a unified party behind him — advantages he will need as Democrats work to build a credible challenge in a district that stretches across some of the most politically contested terrain in the state.
