Montana State House District 71

Current seat holder: Scott DeMarois (D).

Scott DeMarois

Scott DeMarois (Democratic) is the incumbent member of the Montana House of Representatives representing District 71 (Deer Lodge, Silver Bow counties), running for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election. Official legislative biography notes: Born 1972 in Anaconda; graduated from Anaconda High School 1990; studied chemistry, Montana Tech 1990-94; retired after 29 years as a captain on the Anaconda Fire Department; multiple years working on fire fighter issues in Helena with the Montana State Council of Professional Fire Fighters; successfully ran eight terms for the executive board of the MSCOPFF since 2009; served in House since 2025; spouse’s name is Melani; blended family of five kids.

“Quality of Life: Everyone should have decent affordable healthcare including robust mental health access. People should have the ability to go to work and have a dignified wage appropriate to the times we live in, have workplace protections that enable the employee to have a safe and respectful work environment and have the right to a well well-funded retirement. Montanans need to feel safety, safety in schools, in their homes, on their streets and most importantly in their body.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
“The areas of public policy I am particularly passionate about are: taxes, economic growth, labor relations, and healthcare.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)
“I believe transparency, integrity and the willingness to work for our constituents is paramount. It is important that we listen and learn about this great state and how life affects a person's truth and their passions. We can not know everything, but if we start from a place of question and not of judgement, we can learn so much about perspectives and those things that people hold dear. This allows us to create law or policy that enriches lives and not suppresses it.” (Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey)

Suzzann Nordwick

Suzzann Nordwick (Republican) is a candidate for the Montana House of Representatives in District 71 (Deer Lodge, Silver Bow counties) in the November 3, 2026 general election. Montana had 27 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, three were district-level delegates (representing the state's single congressional district), and 21 served as at-large delegates. Montana's district and at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the statewide primary vote received all of the state's district and at-large delegates.

Campaign site

“Let's protect our traditional jobs and promote more good-paying opportunities to live and work in Montana.” (Suzzann Nordwick campaign website)
“Let's work to protect our Montana way of life where our rights are respected and the TRUTH is valued.” (Suzzann Nordwick campaign website)