Kristen Juras
Kristen Juras (Republican Party) is the Lieutenant Governor of Montana. She assumed office on January 4, 2021. Her current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Juras (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Lieutenant Governor of Montana. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Juras filed for lieutenant governor on a joint ticket with governor candidate Greg Gianforte (R).
In 2016, Juras ran for the seat on the Montana Supreme Court held by retiring Justice Patricia O'Brien Cotter. She faced opponents Dirk M. Sandefur and Eric Mills in the June 7 primary.[1][2] Juras and Sandefur were the top two finishers and faced each other in the November 8 general election. Juras was defeated.
Biography
Kristen Juras was born in Conrad, Montana.[3] Juras earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in 1977 and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1982.[4] Her career experience includes working as a lawyer and teaching at the University of Montana.[3]
Elections
2024
See also: Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Incumbent Kristen Juras defeated Raph Graybill and Matt Campbell in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kristen Juras (R) | 58.9 | 354,569 |
 | Raph Graybill (D) | 38.6 | 232,644 | |
 | Matt Campbell (L) | 2.5 | 15,191 | |
| Total votes: 602,404 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Raph Graybill defeated Jerry Driscoll in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Raph Graybill | 71.0 | 70,857 |
| Jerry Driscoll | 29.0 | 29,004 | |
| Total votes: 99,861 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Incumbent Kristen Juras defeated Randy Pinocci in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristen Juras | 75.2 | 144,827 |
 | Randy Pinocci | 24.8 | 47,713 | |
| Total votes: 192,540 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Matt Campbell advanced from the Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Juras in this election.
2020
See also: Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020
Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)
Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 2 Republican primary)
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Kristen Juras defeated Casey Schreiner, John Nesper, and Darren Hall in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristen Juras (R) | 54.4 | 328,548 |
 | Casey Schreiner (D) | 41.6 | 250,860 | |
| John Nesper (L) | 4.0 | 24,179 | |
| Darren Hall (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 21 | |
| Total votes: 603,608 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joshua Thomas (G)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Casey Schreiner defeated Buzz Mattelin in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Casey Schreiner | 54.9 | 81,527 |
| Buzz Mattelin | 45.1 | 67,066 | |
| Total votes: 148,593 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Kristen Juras defeated Jon Knokey and Kenneth Bogner in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristen Juras | 53.4 | 119,247 |
 | Jon Knokey | 27.3 | 60,823 | |
 | Kenneth Bogner | 19.3 | 43,080 | |
| Total votes: 223,150 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Green primary election
Green primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Joshua Thomas advanced from the Green primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joshua Thomas | 100.0 | 713 |
| Total votes: 713 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. John Nesper advanced from the Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of Montana.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Roger Roots (L)
2016
Juras ran in 2016 for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court held by retiring Justice Patricia O'Brien Cotter. She faced opponents Dirk M. Sandefur and Eric Mills in the June 7 primary.[1] Juras and Sandefur were the top two finishers and faced each other in the November 8 general election.
Election results
November 8 general election
| Montana Supreme Court, Seat 3, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Dirk M. Sandefur |
56.13% | 254,811 |
| Kristen Juras | 43.87% | 199,148 |
| Total Votes (686 of 686 precincts reporting: 100%) | 453,959 | |
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||
June 7 primary
| Montana Supreme Court Primary, Seat 3, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Kristen Juras |
44.10% | 100,846 |
| Dirk M. Sandefur |
34.48% | 78,855 |
| Eric Mills | 21.41% | 48,965 |
| Total Votes (686 of 686 precincts reporting: 100%) | 228,666 | |
| Source: Montana Secretary of State Official Results | ||
Campaign finance
In her campaign finance report of May 19, Juras reported raising $53,119 for the primary, with expenditures of $27,308.09.[5]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kristen Juras did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Kristen Juras did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Karen Bash did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Approach to the law
"My philosophy is one of judicial restraint. A justice is bound to respect Article III, Sec. 1 of the Montana Constitution, which grants the Legislature sole authority to create new laws. The court’s responsibility is to impartially and objectively apply the laws adopted by the Legislature — regardless of the justices’ personal preferences or political beliefs. If you believe a law should be changed, elect and lobby your legislator, not your justice." [6]
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
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Candidate Lieutenant Governor of Montana |
Officeholder Lieutenant Governor of Montana |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 KPAX.com, "Money piles up in 2016 Montana Supreme Court race," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 candidate filing list: Non-Legislative," accessed March 15, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 KTVQ, "Gianforte picks Great Falls lawyer Kristen Juras as running mate for Montana governor race," March 2, 2020
- ↑ Juras for Justice, "About Me," accessed June 2, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Campaign Electronic Finance Reporting System," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ Great Falls Tribune, "Supreme Court: Juras, Sandefur, Mills," May 10 2016
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Mike Cooney (D) |
Lieutenant Governor of Montana 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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State of Montana Helena (capital) |
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