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Missoula County, MT ballot

Kyle Austin

Libertarian

United States Senator · Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Also on the ballot: Seth Bodnar (Independent), Kurt Alme (Republican), Alani Bankhead (Democrat)

Kyle Austin, the Libertarian nominee, is a Billings pharmacist and pharmacy owner who twice ran for Congress as a Republican before switching parties. He does not hold the seat, which is open. He campaigns on cutting government spending to lower taxes, a "Healthcare 2.0" overhaul with less government involvement, avoiding "endless wars" and unrestricted gun rights; the Montana Libertarian Party backed his primary opponent and has distanced itself from him.

What this office decides

A U.S. Senator writes and votes on federal law, taxes, and spending, and confirms federal judges and executive appointees. For Montana the seat also shapes federal policy on public lands, energy, agriculture, health coverage, and immigration. One of two senators representing all of Montana, for a six-year term.

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: opposed. Trump endorsed Austin's Republican opponent Kurt Alme on March 4, 2026; no Trump statement about Austin himself was found. source

  • Montana Libertarian Party (endorsed primary rival Tom Jandron; distanced itself from Austin) (against) source

Who they are

Kyle Austin, a fourth-generation Montanan from the Hi-Line, is a Billings pharmacist who owns Pharm406 (MTPR). He ran for Congress as a Republican in 2022 and 2024 (Wikipedia); he told NBC Montana he switched because both major parties have become dysfunctional (NBC Montana). Not the incumbent: the seat is open (FEC).

Positions

  • Taxes & spending: "Our taxes are out of control... we need to DOGE the government... to cut government spending so we can lower taxes" (MTPR).
  • Health care: "Anytime the government gets involved, costs go up"; would stop subsidizing insurers and consolidate Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare and VA funding (MTPR).
  • Immigration: No platform found. After saying "the Muslims are enemies," he told KTVQ that Muslims who moved to the U.S. "are colonizing" and want to "push their Sharia law into our government" (KTVQ).
  • Energy & environment: Supports "responsible logging and lumber mills" (MTFP questionnaire).
  • Foreign policy: "I am not a fan of endless wars... Iran is our enemy, but it's not our war" (KTVQ).
  • Personal freedom: No public position found.
  • Guns: Says every American should have "un-restricted access to bear arms" (campaign site).
  • Voting rules: Backs voter ID: "to show an ID is very simple" (MTPR).

Record

No elected-office record found; 18-year pharmacist and small-business owner (MTFP).

Money

FEC, Jan. 1, 2025–June 30, 2026: $250,627 raised, nearly all his own: $215,000 contributed plus a $35,000 loan; $242,426 spent; $8,751 cash; $46,082 debt (FEC).

Recent news

  • 2026-05-02: Pitched "Healthcare 2.0," calling insurers and pharmacy benefit managers "corrupt" (NBC Montana).
  • 2026-06-02: Beat Tom Jandron 53.3%–46.7% for the nomination (MTFP); the state party, which backed Jandron, said he ran as a Libertarian to "take advantage of the MTLP's statewide ballot access" (KTVH).
  • 2026-09-11: Polled at 5% (MTFP).
  • 2026-09-22: Did not attend a Missoula debate (Daily Montanan).

What we couldn't find

  • Abortion, energy and immigration policy; endorsements; KTVQ/KTVH interview dates; post-June FEC totals.
Sources (11)