Montana Voters Lead to Keep Nonpartisan Courts

Early returns show Constitutional Initiative 132 ahead as voters weigh enshrining nonpartisan judicial races in the state constitution.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Montana Voters Lead to Keep Nonpartisan Courts

Live Poll

Should judicial races stay nonpartisan, with no party labels on the ballot?

Montana voters led in early returns to preserve nonpartisan judicial races by enshrining them in the state constitution. At 9:45 p.m. Montana time, the Secretary of State's office showed 171,000 votes for Constitutional Initiative 132, with preserving the nonpartisan judiciary leading 69%-31%.

Why it matters

The measure bears on whether judges in Montana continue to run without party tags, a system that has been part of the state's judicial branch for nearly 100 years. Supporters say keeping politics out of the judiciary is essential for balancing one-party majority rule in the state.

As of 9:45 p.m. Montana time on November 3, 2026, the Secretary of State's office showed 171,000 votes for Constitutional Initiative 132, with preserving the nonpartisan judiciary leading 69%-31% in early results. The final outcome and certified totals were not yet reported in the early returns.

The players

Montana Secretary of State's office

The state office that reported the early vote counts for Constitutional Initiative 132 and oversees elections in Montana.

Montana Republican Party

The state's Republican Party, which has sought to allow judges to run with partisan tags in judicial races.

The details

Voters cast ballots on Constitutional Initiative 132 in Montana's general election, which would place nonpartisan judicial races in the state constitution. Montana's Republican Party has sought to change the system to allow judges to run with partisan tags, arguing it would help educate voters.

November 3, 2026: Montana polls closed for the general election.
November 3, 2026, 9:45 p.m.: Early returns showed a 69%-31% lead for nonpartisan courts.

Legal Context

Montana's judicial races have been nonpartisan for nearly 100 years, and the state's Republican Party has sought to change that system to allow partisan tags. Constitutional Initiative 132 would place the nonpartisan judiciary in the state constitution, a stronger legal footing than current statute.

If approved, the measure would keep Montana judges running without party labels on the ballot, affecting how voters see judicial candidates. The outcome will determine whether partisan tags remain off the ballot in future judicial races.

The takeaway

Voters weighing judicial races can check whether a candidate's party affiliation is shown on the ballot before deciding. The measure's final result will shape how judicial races appear on Montana ballots for years to come.