- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county level. These laws show up in tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property taxes, providing recreational amenities, and maintaining county property.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government, such as personnel management, communications, and appointments for advisory boards.
- County Commissioners in Montana are typically elected to 6-year terms in staggered years. Counties may change the Commissioners' term length if they wish. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district. 

Creates new laws, levies property taxes, and passes the budget for your county.

Missoula

Montana

2024 Montana Primary Elections

Public Transportation

Public Health

Public Services

Environment

Economy

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Healthcare

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

- The Clerk of District Court is the official keeper of all District Court records for the County. These records include adoption, civil, criminal, guardianship, juvenile, paternity, probate, and sanity cases. 
- The Clerk also issues, files, and records marriage license applications and licenses. 
- The Clerk also serves as Jury Commissioner, responsible for accurately listing all selected and potential jurors and pulling jury panels for judges.

Maintains judicial records, issues marriage licenses, and pulls jury panels.

Judicial Administration

Clerk of the District Court

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Montana currently has 2 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills which become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain areas of policy, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. In order to hold this office, candidates must be a legal resident of Montana for at least seven years prior to their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives

Quality of Roads

Taxes

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Voting & Elections

Education

US Representative

- The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC, for short) is a 5-person board that ensures utility services (such as electricity, natural gas, and water) are affordable and reliable. This has direct impact on your cost of living and quality of life.
- The PSC regulates the rates for utilities, balancing the need for utilities to be financially sustainable with protecting consumers from excessive charges. Most times that utility companies want to charge more, the PSC must improve these rate increases.
- The PSC oversees safety standards for railroads and pipelines, playing a key role in preventing accidents, ensuring public safety, and conserving the environment.
- Through its regulatory actions, the PSC influences how much residents pay for essential services and ensures that these services are delivered fairly and efficiently.

Part of a 5-person board that regulates electricity, water, gas, railroads, and pipelines

Utility Costs

Public Service Commissioner

- Montana District Courts are central to the state’s judicial system, handling most major legal proceedings and providing a pathway for appeals from lower courts.
- Montana District Court Judges handle a wide variety of cases, including all serious criminal charges and smaller felonies. These courts also take on major civil disputes and state financial claims.
- In civil matters, these judges deal with wills and estates (probate), disputes over contracts and property ownership, and other non-criminal legal issues.
- These judges also have the authority to review decisions made by smaller local courts within their jurisdiction, as allowed by state law and the Constitution.
Judges in the District Courts are elected by the public in their districts, emphasizing the importance of community representation.

2024 Montana candidates

Missoula County Commissioner, Libertarian Primary

How this impacts you

Missoula Clerk of the District Court, Republican Primary

Montana US Representative, District 1, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana Public Service Commissioner, District 2, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana Public Service Commissioner, District 3, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana Public Service Commissioner, District 4, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana District Court Judge, District 1

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana District Court Judge, District 1

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana District Court Judge, District 3

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Montana District Court Judge, District 4

1 candidate

How this impacts you