Upswing Research
50%40%30%20%10%0%
43%
Democrat
Matt Rains
MT-01 Democratic nominee?
$102.1K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleRancher
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
GenderMale
LocationMontana
Show moreShow less
BackgroundRancher
EducationSimms High School (graduate)
Notable personal detailsMatt Rains is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Montana’s 1st Congressional District (western district) in the 2026 cycle. He is a fourth-generation Montana rancher and U.S. Army veteran who served as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and officer, including service in Iraq and South Korea. He previously worked as chief of staff to Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer and has also worked as a photojournalist and engineer.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govmattrainsformontana.commtpr.orgmontanarightnow.comprojects.montanafreepress.orgkalshi.comnationaltoday.commontanafreepress.orgpolymarket.comkpax.comen.wikipedia.orgbloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.commadisoncountymt.govcourts.mt.govdocquery.fec.govsosmt.govrevenue.mt.govmountainstatespolicy.orgballotready.orgbigskybusinessjournal.commontanademocrats.orgnewsfromthestates.comkulr8.comdailyinterlake.comkxlf.comaol.comdailymontanan.comflatheadbeacon.comktvh.commissoulacurrent.comhuffpost.comnytimes.combluevoterguide.orgfacebook.comx.comdurbin.senate.govenergy.senate.govzinke.house.govdaines.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering costs for Montanans including bringing down food, housing, and property taxes while opposing tariffs that raise prices; also emphasizes protecting Medicaid and support for family farms and ranchers. Positions combine targeted tax relief with support for public programs, producing a mixed pattern on economy and taxes.
Healthcare
Supports protecting access to health care and rural hospitals and opposes cuts to Medicaid that would threaten rural clinics; calls for restoring Medicaid funding to keep clinics open and make health care affordable for Montanans.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Matt Rains is among the Democratic candidates in Montana drawing attention ahead of an upcoming debate, as the field starts to separate itself. His coverage comes as Montana politics shifts after Steve Daines announced his Senate retirement, which could reshape the 2026 race. Broader reporting says Democrats are facing a difficult path in Republican-leaning Senate contests and may need to moderate their message or back independents in some states.
fec.gov+38
Articles
TNThe New York Times4 months ago
What Democrats Should Relearn From Obama
Neutral
MMMissoula Missoulian4 months ago
Montana officials react to Daines' Senate retirement
Neutral
BGBillings Gazette4 months ago
March 10 recap: Billings news you may have missed today
Neutral
REReading Eagle5 months ago
Chester County is in a state of 'transition'
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising