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Politics & State Government

Montana Governor’s Race Debates: Where to Watch and What’s on the Ballot

Montana elects its governor every four years. Here is how debates are organized, where to find recordings, and the dates that matter.

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20210805 77 Montana State Capitol, Helena, Montana
Photo: David Wilson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Montana elects its governor and lieutenant governor together on a single ticket every four years, in the same years as presidential elections. The next governor’s race is in 2028.

Term limits

The Montana Constitution limits governors to eight years in any sixteen-year period. Governor Greg Gianforte, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, cannot seek another term in 2028, so that race will have an open seat.

How debates are organized

Montana has no state agency that runs candidate debates. They are usually hosted by news organizations, public broadcasters and civic groups, often in partnership. Recordings are typically posted by the hosts, including Montana PBS and statewide TV and radio outlets. We will link to official recordings as debates are scheduled.

Before any election

  • Check your registration on the Montana Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page.”
  • Late registration: after regular registration closes, you can still register in person at your county election office or designated location and vote there. A 2025 law (SB 490) would have cut off Election Day registration at noon. In May 2026, a district court blocked it with a preliminary injunction, so for now registration remains open until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. The case is ongoing, so check sosmt.gov or your county election office for current rules.
  • Absentee ballots: you can ask your county election administrator for one, or join the permanent absentee list.
  • 2026: Montana’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with federal, legislative and other races on the ballot.

For more background, see our explainers on how ballot initiatives work in Montana, how the Montana Legislature works, and the Montana Public Service Commission. Find more stories in our Politics & State Government section.

Records and reports used here: Montana Secretary of State, Elections; My Voter Page; Montana Constitution, Article VI (Executive); MCA 13-2-304 (late registration); Montana Free Press, “Judge blocks Election Day voter registration changes,” May 11, 2026.