Helena, Montana – Tia Nelson, a Democratic candidate for House District 84 in the Helena Valley, was the first person to file in person for a seat in the Montana state legislature when candidate filing opened on February 17, 2026. Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen opened the office doors at 8:00 a.m. To a line of approximately eight individuals waiting to register, with roughly 40 candidates filing in person throughout the day, according to officials.
Nelson’s filing marks the formal beginning of her campaign. While candidates have been announcing their intentions and fundraising for some time, registration with the Secretary of State’s office is required to secure a place on the ballot. Approximately 150 candidates registered on the first day of filing, a higher number than the 108 who filed on the first day in 2024.
The opening of candidate filing coincides with the launch of U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ campaign for a third term; he was the first candidate to file online. Montanans will be voting for a number of offices in the 2026 election, including both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats and all seats in the state legislature.
Tia Nelson is the daughter of former U.S. Senator and Governor Gaylord Nelson, who founded Earth Day. She has a background in environmental activism and public service, having held positions at The Nature Conservancy and as Executive Secretary of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. She currently serves as managing director of the Climate program at the Outrider Foundation. Nelson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in wildlife ecology.
Secretary of State Jacobsen’s office reported a busier-than-usual first day of filing, with staff noting it was one of the most active they could recall. The filing period is now underway, and candidates will continue to register in the coming weeks.
