Flathead Judges Clash in Partisan Montana Supreme Court Race

Two Flathead County judges vie for Montana Supreme Court seat amid rising partisanship.

Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson, both Flathead County District Court judges, are competing for the Montana Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Beth Baker. This race highlights a structural shift in Montana’s judicial elections, which have traditionally been nonpartisan but are now marked by increasing party involvement.

The November general election pits Eddy, who won the June primary by nearly three points and emphasizes judicial independence, against Wilson, who has accepted support and donations from the Montana Republican Party. Wilson’s campaign has taken a more openly partisan tone than in his previous 2024 Supreme Court run, which he lost by more than eight points. Meanwhile, Eddy maintains endorsements from current and retired justices and some left-leaning groups. The race coincides with constitutional initiative CI-132 on the ballot, which seeks to preserve nonpartisan judicial elections despite a new state law permitting political party financial support.

Voters will decide both the Supreme Court seat and the future of judicial election partisanship in November.

Montana’s legal culture, steeped in traditions of judicial independence, may face shifts as party influence grows. For Montana residents, the outcome could affect perceptions of the judiciary’s stability and impartiality, which are important for legal predictability.

Meet the Flathead Valley judges squaring off for a state Supreme Court seat
By Justin Franz, Montana Free Press