State Representative District 18 in Montana State House District 18, Montana

2026 Primary Election

• Bruce "butch" Gillespie — Incumbent Montana State Senator in MT

  Bruce "Butch" Gillespie, a Republican, is an incumbent Montana State Senator for District 9, first assuming office in 2019. Born in Kevin, Montana, in 1946, he holds a BA from Montana State University and works as a rancher. He is married to Doreen and has two children. During his Senate tenure, he has focused on issues like agriculture, livestock loss, hunting regulations for military members, and natural resources, chairing the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee. Gillespie is now campaigning for the Montana House of Representatives, District 18, in the 2026 Republican primary. He was notably part of a bipartisan "moderate coalition" in the 69th Legislature, leading to his censure.