Steve Gist
Steve Gist (Republican) is the incumbent member of the Montana House of Representatives representing District 25 (Cascade County), running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. Official legislative biography notes: Born 1960 in Havre; grew up on a farm/ranch in northcentral Montana; ASN, Excelsior University 2009/College of Great Falls; paramedic 2006; wildland fire engine boss, National Wildfire Coordinating Group 2003; business owner, contracts wildland fire engines; involved in wildland firefighting for 30+ years and worked in emergency healthcare for 30+ years; House Majority Whip 2023, 2025; Natural Resources vice chair 2023, chair 2025; served in House since 2021; spouse’s name is Ginny; three children, four stepchildren, all grown.
Campaign site
“While some tax is necessary to fund the responsibilities of the government of the state of Montana, there are ways to reduce the burden on Montana residents. I will work with other legislators to come up with solutions to bring high rates down, while continuing to provide necessary services which have increasing costs.”
(Steve Gist campaign website) “The needs of Montanans are often different from the needs of more urban areas of our country. Laws made in Washington often do not make sense in our rural setting. We need to be vigilent to protect our rights to make laws that make sense to Montanans and protect our way of life. I am working with other states' legislators to share ideas and information to protect Montana from Federal overreach.”
(Steve Gist campaign website) “We need to continue to work on building small business opportunites through economic development. As a small business owner, myself, for most of my adult life, I know the challenges of running a small business in this time of increasingly challenging environment for small businesses. Small business has been the heart and soul of our economy for so many years and that is changing and forcing small businesses out. Too much bureaucracy forces small businesses out.”
(Steve Gist campaign website)