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Missoula County, MT ballot

Dan Wilson

Supreme Court Justice #4 · Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Also on the ballot: Amy Eddy

Flathead County district judge (Department D), elected in 2016, running for the open Seat 4 after losing a 2024 Supreme Court race. Describes himself as a constitutional conservative opposed to judicial activism; the Montana Republican Party gave his campaign $20,000. Finished second in the June 2 primary with 48.6%.

What this office decides

The Montana Supreme Court is the state's highest court: seven justices elected statewide in nonpartisan races to eight-year terms. It has the final word on the Montana Constitution, including its right of privacy, which the court has read to protect abortion access, its right to a clean and healthful environment, and the powers of the Legislature, governor, and courts. It also hears criminal appeals and supervises every court in the state.

How this race lines up with you

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Dossier

Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web search

Donald Trump: nothing found. No endorsement or criticism of this candidate by Donald Trump found in searches for this race.

  • Montana Republican Party (for) source
  • Art Wittich, Montana Republican Party chair (for) source
  • Montana Chamber of Commerce (for) source
  • Montana Stockgrowers Association (for) source
  • Montana Medical Association (for) source
  • Montana Contractors Association (for) source

Who they are

Dan Wilson is a Flathead County District Court judge (Department D) (Flathead County), elected in 2016 (KTVH). He does not hold Seat 4; Justice Beth Baker is retiring from it (KTVH). His campaign lists past work as a prosecutor, private attorney and Flathead County justice of the peace (campaign).

Positions

  • Party politics in courts: Calls this "a nonpartisan race" and says "you don't pick your supporters, your supporters pick you" (MTPR); said party money is "not going to change how I run the race" (KTVH).
  • Judicial philosophy: Self-described "classic constitutional conservative" opposed to "judicial activism" (MTPR); says a judge should find "the people's will" without regard to "personal views or agenda" (Flathead Beacon).
  • Crime & policing: Faulted a 2024 Supreme Court ruling voiding mandatory DUI penalties for deciding an issue not properly before it (as paraphrased by MTPR).
  • Personal freedom, voting rules, energy & environment: No public position found.

Record

  • 2026-03-12: Enjoined construction of a 159-foot Flathead Lake dock approved by county variance (Flathead Beacon; Daily Montanan).
  • 2026-04-15: In State v. Calftail, imposed a 30-year sentence and wrote that "a declaration of a transgender identity does not mandate one's inclusion within a protected class," as quoted in a pro-Wilson column by Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell (Flathead Beacon).
  • 2024: Lost a Supreme Court race to Katherine Bidegaray (KTVH).

Money

Q1 2026 state filings: raised $95,646.50, over $196,000 on hand, including $20,000 from the Montana Republican Party under 2025's new HB 39 (Daily Montanan, 2026-04-08). Later filings could not be read (MTFP).

Recent news

  • 2026-09-16: Kalispell Chamber forum with Eddy (Flathead Beacon).
  • 2026-06-02: Took 48.6% in the primary and advanced (MTFP).
  • 2026-05-12: Keynoted the Montana GOP's February kickoff (MTPR).

What we couldn't find

  • Views on abortion, voting rules, environment or party labels for judges; Q2-Q3 2026 finance; any Trump endorsement.
Sources (12)