John Looney Sr.

John Looney Sr. is the Republican candidate for the Montana House of Representatives, District 81, in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Democrat Janet Ellis in a race with no incumbent. A U.S. Army veteran and bail bonds business owner, he lost the 2024 general election in District 82.[1][2]

John Looney Sr. served in the U.S. Army starting in 1993 and works as a business owner and president, according to Ballotpedia.[1] In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, he described himself as a military veteran, lifelong Montanan and homeschool father, and said he owns Bad Boy Bail Bonds and Montana Pretrial Services, LLC, is president of the Montana Bail Agents Association, is executive vice president of the National Association of Bail Agents, and sits on the Lewis and Clark County Citizens Advisory Council.[2]

Looney won the June 4, 2024 Republican primary for House District 82 unopposed and lost the November 5, 2024 general election to Democrat Pete Elverum, 54.9 percent to 45.1 percent.[1] In 2026 he advanced unopposed from the Republican primary in District 81.[1]

In his 2026 survey, Looney listed his key messages as being a citizen candidate rather than a career politician, giving Montanans greater benefit from natural resources, and judicial reform including greater transparency in judicial selection.[2] He also named criminal justice reform, including strengthening the bail and pretrial system, education freedom and fiscal responsibility as policy interests, and listed Montanans for Limited Government as an endorser.[2]

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