aligned
Missoula County, MT ballot

Kevin Hamm

Democrat

Public Service Commissioner, District 5 · Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Also on the ballot: Annie Bukacek (Republican)

Kevin Hamm is an East Helena tech and communications business owner making his second run for Public Service Commission District 5; he does not hold the seat. He criticizes decades of utility deregulation, says he would vote against the NorthWestern Energy–Black Hills merger, favors solar power, and says data centers as now planned should be stopped. His 2026 fundraising totals could not be read.

What this office decides

The Montana Public Service Commission sets the rates and service rules for investor-owned utilities, including NorthWestern Energy's electricity and natural gas, and regulates some water and transportation services. Its five commissioners, elected by district to four-year terms in partisan races, decide how much customers pay for new power plants and transmission lines. Only part of Missoula County is in District 5.

How this race lines up with you

Loading your answers…

Dossier

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

Donald Trump: nothing found. No Trump endorsement or criticism of Hamm, and no Trump endorsement in this race, was found.

Who they are

Kevin Hamm of East Helena is a small-business owner who has worked in tech and communications for more than 25 years (Choteau Acantha); 2023 coverage named him chief executive of Treasure State Internet and Telegraph (Daily Montanan). He ran for this seat in 2022 and in 2023 launched a bid for the eastern U.S. House seat (Lake County Leader; Daily Montanan). He does not hold this seat; Republican Annie Bukacek is the incumbent (KTVH).

Positions

  • Energy & environment: Says solar power is cheaper than any other form of energy and can go on parking lots and rooftops (Choteau Acantha).
  • Business & regulation: "We've had nearly 40 years of deregulation - anyone else sick of it?"; pledges "strong oversight" (campaign). Would vote against the NorthWestern–Black Hills merger, saying it adds a layer between people and utilities (Choteau Acantha).
  • Utility rates: Rates should return to "at or below what was charged when deregulation was put through" (MTFP guide).
  • Data centers: As planned, they "are so egregiously destructive to the area they are in that they need to be stopped" (MTFP guide).
  • Rail: "The state's railroads are outdated and absurd" (MTFP guide).

Record

No public office found. Lead organizer of Montana Pride celebrations since 2014; six years on the Montana Democratic Party board (KTVH).

Money

No 2026 totals could be read from the state system (COPP; MTFP guide). In 2022 he raised about $14,000 (MTPR).

Recent news

  • 2026-03-12: Launched a second PSC bid (Lake County Leader).
  • 2026-06-02: Won the Democratic primary unopposed with 22,014 votes (MTFP guide).

What we couldn't find

  • 2026 fundraising totals.
  • Endorsements; his site lists none.
  • Positions on Colstrip, coal or natural gas.
Sources (11)