House District 13 primarily serves the community of Polson. Sitting Rep. Linda Reksten, R-Polson, was defeated in the primary elections by Republican Finley Warden.

DALTON BRADFORD

Political affiliation: Democrat 

Age: 30 

Town of residence: Polson 

Occupation: Property appraiser 

 Background: Assistant stunt coach for the Polson High School Cheer Squad; Polson High School graduate, class of 2014; former All-American cheerleader; first-generation college graduate from the University of Montana, class of 2018 

Do you support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax? Why or why not? 

No, I support responsible tax relief, but I do not support replacing Montana’s progressive income tax with a 4.7% flat tax. Tax relief should prioritize working- and middle-class Montanans, not disproportionately benefit the highest earners. I support targeted relief that lowers the cost of housing, property taxes, health care and other necessities while protecting funding for schools, public safety and essential services.

The 2025 Montana Legislature implemented a number of property tax reforms. Do you support these efforts? What other steps should the 2027 Legislature take to address property taxes? 

I support efforts to provide meaningful property tax relief, but there’s more work to do. As someone who works in property assessment, reform must be affordable, understandable, and equitable, and avoid simply shifting the burden to someone else. In 2027, we need to evaluate how the new system affects homeowners, renters, agricultural producers and small businesses, improve transparency, close loopholes and provide real relief without undermining essential local services. 

How will you balance your legislative priorities with local jurisdictional independence and control? 

Decisions in Helena should be made as close to the people they affect as reasonably possible. Montana’s communities are diverse, and what works in one may not work in another. I support reasonable statewide standards where necessary, while respecting the ability of local governments, school districts and communities to address their own needs. My job in Helena will be to represent and empower the people back home, not unnecessarily substitute the Legislature’s judgment for theirs. 

FINLEY WARDEN

Political affiliation: Republican 

Age: 21 

Town of residence: Polson 

Occupation: Student, in senior year at college 

Background: Sixth-generation Montanan; worked in state politics in Lake County and across western Montana for four years; citizen advocate for past two legislative sessions, working with lawmakers to lower taxes, expand education freedom and lower the cost of living in Lake County 

Do you support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax? Why or why not? 

Yes, I support a flat state income tax and will support the governor’s initiative. Montanans know how to spend their own money better than Helena does. The state has shown again and again that it can’t be trusted to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, and too much of that money ends up serving the political establishment instead of the people who earned it. A simple 4.7% flat tax lets Montanans keep more of their paychecks. It also forces the government to cut waste, fraud and abuse before it asks for more. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature implemented a number of property tax reforms. Do you support these efforts? What other steps should the 2027 Legislature take to address property taxes? 

No, the 2025 changes hit Lake County harder than any other county, raising our median property taxes 30%. That wasn’t relief. It was a tax shift onto Lake County, driving up our cost of living. The 2027 Legislature should direct the taxes tourists pay on hotels and rental cars back to Montanans as property relief, as opposed to keeping it in the general fund. My opponent is the property appraiser for the county, and he supports raising property taxes even higher. Lake County families can’t afford that, and I’ll fight to bring our taxes down. 

How will you balance your legislative priorities with local jurisdictional independence and control? 

Local control matters, but it can’t be an excuse for problems to go unsolved. When local, county or tribal governments aren’t addressing the issues Lake County residents care about, I’ll use my power as Lake County’s state representative to take those concerns to Helena and get them fixed at the state level, from property taxes to protecting our property and water rights. My first responsibility is to the people of Lake County.