2026 Candidates - State Legislature, Ravalli County, Montana
Learn about the Democratic candidates for the State Legislature representing Ravalli County, Montana, their positions and priorities, how to contact them, and how to support them.
Information for candidates running to represent Ravalli County will be posted here after the candidates have officially declared and the campaigns have provided information for publication. We do not edit their statements.
We endeavor to provide equal treatment and visibility to all declared Democratic candidates. We encourage voters to look into their resumes, statements, and positions so voters can make educated decisions when they vote.
Important Dates:
- Statewide Primary Elections will be held on June 2, 2026.
- General Election will be held on November 3, 2026.
For information about registering to vote and checking your voter registration status, please visit Register to Vote.
Ravalli County Election Districts
Ravalli County has 2 State Senate Districts and 4 State House Districts, numbered from south to north.
State Senate Districts:
- Senate District 43 - From the southern county border to Pinesdale and Corvallis in the north
- Senate District 44 - From Pinesdale and Corvallis in the south to the northern county border
State House Districts:
- House District 85 - From the southern county border to Pinesdale and Corvallis in the north. City of Hamilton excluded.
- House District 86 - Hamilton, Montana
- House District 87 - From Pinesdale and Corvallis in the south to Stevensville in the north
- House District 88 - From Stevensville in the south to the northern county border
If you are unsure which district you live in, please visit the Montana Secretary of State Voter Information page. If you are registered to vote, enter your name and birth date and select the Federal Election option.
State Senate Candidates
Steve Leuchtman, Candidate for Montana State, Senate District 43
From the campaign:
"Stephen Leuchtman is the owner of Five Valleys Insurance in Hamilton. A graduate of Corvallis High School, Steve is a fourth generation Montanan, dedicated to the Bitterroot Valley, including coaching youth sports. Steve lives in Hamilton with his three children, Elise, 19, a 2025 graduate of Hamilton High School, Ben, 16, a sophomore at Hamilton High School, and Tim, 14, an eighth grader at Hamilton Middle School.
"Steve is passionate about protecting rural health care. His two sons benefitted from the rehab unit at Marcus Daly Hospital, having had developmental delays. He also wants to make it so that kids that grow up in the Bitterroot can stay and thrive in Montana by expanding access to vocational education and expanding rural economic development. He will protect access to hunting and fishing and all the great recreational activities that Bitterrooters have traditionally enjoyed."
State House Candidates
Laura Jackson, Candidate for Montana State House, District 85
From the campaign:
"Laura has lived in the Darby School District since 1976 when she bought the land and that continues to be her home, about 5 miles from where her great grandparents homesteaded.
"Her working years from that time on were mainly spent with the US Forest Service, including 12 years as fire dispatcher and lookout in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. She has been a practicing artist throughout her life."
Connect with Laura's campaign via email: lauraforHD85@gmail.org
Archie Thomas, Candidate for Montana State House, District 86
From the campaign:
"I’m Archie Thomas, and I’m running for Hamilton HD86 as an independent‑minded RINO‑CRAT because thoughtful Republicans and Democrats in the Bitterroot have far more in common than what separates us. I’ve lived and prospered in the Bitterroot since 1965, and I’m committed to making our elections meaningful—and yes, even fun—again. Montana law doesn’t allow me to file as an independent, so I’m filed as a Democrat, but I’ll continue campaigning as a RINO‑CRAT focused on local, practical solutions. I am fiscally conservative and socially responsible.
"I refuse to standby and allow our Bitter Root election be put on the auction block by billionaire dark money. Billionaires make positive contributions to our society but are not taxed fairly. Adding insult to injury they then use their tax savings as dark money to elect extremist candidates. These extremist candidates write legislation that contribute to high housing costs, deprive us of affordable child care and reduce our local hospital's ability to provide affordable healthcare. Bitter Root voters can help by not supporting candidates bank-rolled by dark money such as Americans for Prosperity.
"Stay tuned as I keep you posted as RINO-CRAT and my background at substack/electricplumber417415, Facebook: Archie Thomas Ravalli House District 86, archiehd86@gmail.com, (website in progress), public events, and face to face discussions. I’ll strive to be ARCHIE FOR ALL focused on local, practical solutions. Register and vote in June 2,2026 primary election."
Bill Jones, Candidate for Montana State House, District 87
From the campaign:
"Bill was raised in Rockland County, N.Y., a graduate of Nyack High School in 1965. His employment at the Lamont Geological Observatory was interrupted by Selective Service in 1966 and served in an air defense missile unit until his Honorable separation as a Specialist 4 in 1968. He returned to his previous job but was soon employed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography near San Diego and alternated 2 month cycles of laboratory and shipboard assignments with the Deep Sea Drilling Project. During this period he met and married Diane in 1972. He became father of two sons and even found time to get some college courses in.
"In late 1975 the family became managers of a 320 acre ranch in the mountains near Lake Arrowhead, California. Bill took courses at the local college, served on the local school board and became a U.S. Forest Service firefighter as an engine operator and helitack crewman from 1978 to 1985. Bill then joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and spent over two decades in the line construction trade. For nearly the entirety of that period he was an elected officer of the union and often the union steward on the job sites.
"Upon retirement, Bill and Diane sold their off-grid home on 40 mountain acres and moved near to their sons and grandchildren. As a Life member of Trout Unlimited, Bill finds plenty of volunteer work involving restoration projects et c., plus fly fishing the vast Northwest."
Evan Schroedel, Candidate for Montana State House, District 88
From the campaign:
"My name is Evan Schroedel and I am a lifelong Montanan running for House District 88, which covers most of Stevensville and all of Florence. I want to represent the District, Ravalli County, and Montana. I support better wages and unions. I’ll work to protect public lands and to eliminate the regressive taxes on working Montanans."
Learn more on the official campaign website: Evan Schroedel
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