Bruce Gillespie

Bruce Gillespie, also known as Butch, is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 9 since January 7, 2019, who is not seeking re-election to the Senate and is instead the Republican candidate for the Montana House of Representatives, District 18, in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]

Bruce Gillespie first won the Senate District 9 seat in the November 6, 2018 general election, defeating Kurt Dyer, and was re-elected on November 8, 2022 with 6,780 votes in a race with no other candidate listed.[2] His current Senate term ends on January 4, 2027.[2] In the 2025-2026 session, Gillespie chaired the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee and served on the Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee.[2] He was vice chair of the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee in 2023-2024.[2]

Gillespie advanced from the June 2, 2026 Republican primary for House District 18 with 2,769 votes, unopposed on the ballot.[2] Ballotpedia lists him as the only candidate in the House District 18 general election, and reports that the Democratic primary scheduled for June 2, 2026 was canceled.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.