Rio Roland

Senior Resource Analyst – Wind Energy in Bozeman, MT

Rio Roland is a candidate for State Representative District 61 in Montana State House District 61, Montana — 2026 Primary Election.

Also running: Chris Gray, Eric Jacobs.

Rio Roland is a 46-year-old Democratic candidate campaigning for election to the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 61 in the 2026 primary. A resident of Bozeman, Montana, Roland was born in Bottineau County, North Dakota. He earned a high school diploma from Bottineau High School, a bachelor's degree in Bioresource Research from Oregon State University in 1999, and a graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota in 2003. Professionally, Roland works as an engineer, serving as a Senior Resource Analyst – Wind Energy for Innergex Renewable Energy, where he focuses on designing and optimizing utility-scale wind farms. He believes his diverse background and interests, which include skiing, politics, and fly-fishing, equip him with the skills to be an effective legislator. Roland's policy stances include a commitment to education by proposing the elimination of the 3% cap on inflationary spending and advocating for healthier, free school lunches sourced locally. For the environment and energy, he supports investing in renewable energy alternatives, fully funding agencies like Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Department of Environmental Quality, and incentivizing sustainable development to protect open spaces. In healthcare, he aims to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to support rural hospitals, work to fund lost Obamacare subsidies, and expand access to community-based mental health services. On housing, Roland champions increasing the supply of affordable housing, implementing higher taxes for out-of-state second-home owners, and repealing the ban on inclusionary zoning. He also advocates for a taxation system that relies more on income taxes for state general fund revenue.