Flathead County District Court Judge Dan Wilson headlined the Montana Republican Party’s Winter Kickoff event in Great Falls on February 6, making his pitch to GOP activists for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court — a race that, despite being officially nonpartisan, is drawing increasing attention from party leadership.
A Familiar Face in a Nonpartisan Race
Wilson, who sits on the Flathead County District Court, is making his second run for the Montana Supreme Court after falling short in 2024. His opponent in the current race is District Court Judge Amy Eddy. Because Montana Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, the contest will not follow a traditional primary elimination structure — if no third candidate enters the field before the February 17 filing deadline, both Wilson and Eddy advance to the general election regardless of primary vote totals.
Wilson told the crowd he is running to restore straightforward legal interpretation to the court. “If you want to see a Supreme Court that just gives answers and doesn’t backfill its opinions with the personal or political agendas of certain members of the court, then I hope you’ll consider supporting me, a nonpartisan candidate for the Montana Supreme Court,” he said.
Party Engagement in a Nonpartisan Contest
The event underscored a deliberate push by state Republicans to treat the Supreme Court race as a political priority, even though judicial elections in Montana carry no party labels. Montana GOP Chair Art Wittich was direct about the party’s intentions, telling attendees, “The party has to get involved with the Montana Supreme Court races. It just has to.”
Also speaking at the kickoff was Rob Natelson, a former University of Montana law professor, who addressed attendees on the subject of recent Montana Supreme Court rulings. Natelson has been a prominent voice in conservative legal circles and his appearance signaled the event’s dual focus — both campaign organizing and broader debate over the court’s direction.
The Money Race
Through the end of last year, Wilson had raised approximately $267,247, compared to Eddy’s $261,658 — a tight margin that reflects the competitive nature of the contest. However, Wilson spent more aggressively during that period, leaving him with roughly $137,000 in cash on hand heading into the new year. Eddy, by contrast, had approximately $217,000 banked — a substantially stronger cash position as both candidates move toward the general election.
Wilson’s Record on the Bench
Wilson’s tenure on the Flathead County District Court has provided him with talking points that resonate with conservative audiences. In 2020, he declined a Democratic governor’s request for a court order that would have enforced mask mandates against five businesses — a decision that became a defining moment in his public profile and one that has followed him into his Supreme Court campaigns.
Broader Political Context
The kickoff event reflects the continued momentum of Montana Republicans following several years of electoral success. The party secured the governor’s office in 2021 and in 2024 defeated then-U.S. Senator Jon Tester, one of the last red-state Democrats in the Senate. With those wins in hand, GOP leaders appear eager to extend their influence to the judiciary — an arena that has become a flashpoint in Montana politics as the Supreme Court has weighed in on high-profile disputes over state law and executive authority.
The Montana Supreme Court’s role in state governance has drawn scrutiny from conservatives on multiple fronts in recent years, making the 2026 judicial race one of the more closely watched contests on the November ballot. Candidate filing opens February 17, and whether any third candidate enters the race will determine the structure of the election going forward.
With both candidates well-funded and organized party backing now an open factor, the Wilson-Eddy matchup is shaping up as one of the most consequential — and most politically charged — judicial elections Montana has seen in recent memory.
