2023 Montana Legislative Scorecard

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Montana State Legislature in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Share this Legislative Scorecard in your district to inform people about the constitutionality of their elected officials' votes.

Senate Votes
House Votes

House Votes

1. Right to Carry in Montana’s Constitution

Would propose to amend Montana's Constitution by declaring that it is the "right of any person to keep and bear arms" and removing the restrictive clause regarding the carrying of concealed weapons.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes
HB551 Roll Call 1317319

2. Resolution on Marbury v. Madison

Resolves that "the belief that the court has exclusive authority to interpret the constitution and that its decisions are binding on the other two branches is a myth based on a faulty understanding" of the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Marbury v. Madison.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes
SJ15 Roll Call 1298810

3. “Sheriffs First” Bill

Would require federal employees to obtain the county sheriff's written permission prior to making an "arrest, search, or seizure" in the state.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes
HB604 Roll Call 1267222

4. Prohibiting Ranked-Choice Voting

Prohibits a ranked-choice voting method from being used to determine the election or nomination of a candidate to a local, state, or federal office.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes
HB598 Roll Call 1267599

5. Defend the Guard Act

Would have prevented any member of the Montana National Guard from being deployed for active duty combat without Congress passing an "official declaration of war."
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes
HB527 Roll Call 1267053

6. Article V Convention: Balanced Budget Amendment

Would apply to Congress for a "convention of the states" under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for the "sole purpose" of proposing a federal balanced budget amendment (BBA).
Read More Constitutional Vote: No
HJ13 Roll Call 1266166

How did they vote?

Grid View
Legend: Constitutional Unconstitutional Did not vote
Name Party Score 1 2 3 4 5 6
Kim Abbott D 17%
Fred Anderson R 50%
Brad Barker R 17%
Denise Baum D 17%
David Bedey R 17%
James H. Bergstrom R 67%
Marta Bertoglio R 33%
Michele Binkley R 50%
Laurie Bishop D 17%
Larry Brewster R 67%
Tony Brockman R 50%
Alice Buckley D 17%
Edward B. Butcher R 100%
Edward Buttrey R 50%
Mary Caferro D 33%
Jennifer Carlson R 83%
Robert Carter D 17%
Jill Cohenour D 17%
Lee Deming R 100%
Julie Dooling R 50%
Neil Duram R 83%
Sherry Essmann R 50%
Jodee Etchart R 60%
Terry Falk R 83%
Dave Fern D 17%
Paul Fielder R 100%
Ross Fitzgerald R 17%
John Fitzpatrick R 33%
Tom France D 17%
Gregory Frazer R 33%
Steven Galloway R 100%
Jane Gillette R 83%
Steve Gist R 83%
Paul Green R 50%
Steve Gunderson R 100%
Jim Hamilton D 17%
Derek Harvey D 17%
Naarah Hastings R 83%
Donavon Hawk D 17%
Lyn Hellegaard R 83%
Caleb Hinkle R 100%
Jedediah Hinkle R 100%
Mike Hopkins R 83%
SJ Howell D 17%
Llew Jones R 33%
Jonathan Karlen D 33%
Josh Kassmier R 67%
Bob Keenan R 83%
Connie Keogh D 17%
Scot Kerns R 83%
Emma Kerr-Carpenter D 17%
Greg Kmetz R 100%
Casey Knudsen R 50%
Rhonda Knudsen R 67%
Kelly Kortum D 17%
Brandon Ler R 83%
Denley Loge R 33%
Jennifer Lynch D 17%
Marty Malone R 50%
Marilyn Marler D 17%
Ron Marshall R 67%
Eric Matthews D 17%
Bill Mercer R 50%
Russel Miner R 83%
Braxton Mitchell R 100%
Terry Moore R 50%
Fiona Nave R 80%
Nelly Nicol R 100%
George Nikolakakos R 33%
Greg Oblander R 50%
Gary Parry R 50%
Sharon Stewart Peregoy D 17%
Bob Phalen R 100%
Joe Read R 83%
Amy Regier R 83%
Matt Regier R 67%
Linda Reksten R 50%
Melissa Romano D 17%
Wayne Rusk R 33%
Jerry Schillinger R 100%
Kerri Seekins-Crowe R 83%
Lola Sheldon-Galloway R 100%
Frank Smith D 17%
Laura Smith D 17%
Tanner J. Smith R 83%
Courtenay Sprunger R 50%
Ed Stafman D 17%
Katie Sullivan D 17%
Mark Thane D 17%
Paul Tuss D 17%
Sue Vinton — 67%
Kenneth Walsh R 33%
Marvin Weatherwax D 0%
Tom Welch R 17%
Jonathan Windy Boy D 17%
Zachary E. Wirth R 83%
Tyson Running Wolf D 20%
Michael Yakawich R 67%
Zooey Zephyr D 17%
Katie Zolnikov R 83%

Average Freedom Score by Party

PartyScore
Democrat17.6%
Republican66.9%
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