Barry Usher
Barry Usher (Republican Party) is a member of theMontana State Senate, representingDistrict 19. He assumed office on January 6, 2025. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Usher (Republican Party) is running for re-election to theMontana State Senate to representDistrict 19. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled onJune 2, 2026.
Barry Usher (Republican Party) was a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 40 from 2017 to 2022.
Biography
Barry Usher served in the U.S. Coast Guard. His career experience includes working in law enforcement, as a businessowner, as a U.S. customs police explorer, as a college Greek liaison, and on assignment to a federal/statewide drug task force.[1]
Usher has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce
- Red Lodge Area Economic Development Corporation
- Big Sky Young Presidents Organization chapter
- Metra Park Advisory Board
- Metra Park Foundation
- Families for Outdoor Recreation
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Usher was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Usher was assigned to the following committees:
- Highways and Transportation Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee,Vice Chair
- Senate Natural Resources Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
2021-2022
Usher was assigned to the following committees:
- House Judiciary Committee,Chair
- House Legislative Administration Committee
- House Rules Committee
- Transportation Committee
2019-2020
Usher was assigned to the following committees:
- House Judiciary Committee,Vice Chair
- Human Services Committee
- House Legislative Administration Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| •Human Services |
| •Judiciary |
| •Local Government |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according toBillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 19
IncumbentBarry Usher is running in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 19 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Barry Usher | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. | |||
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Endorsements
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2024
- See also:Montana State Senate elections, 2024
Barry Usher did not file to run for re-election.
2022
See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Montana State Senate District 20
Barry Usher won election in the general election for Montana State Senate District 20 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher (R) | 100.0 | 7,739 |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 7,739 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 20
Barry Usher defeatedGeraldine Custer in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 20 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher | 61.1 | 3,417 |
 | Geraldine Custer | 38.9 | 2,178 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,595 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2020
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 40
IncumbentBarry Usher defeatedKris Spanjian in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher (R) | 81.0 | 4,783 |
| Kris Spanjian (D) | 19.0 | 1,120 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,903 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40
Kris Spanjian advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kris Spanjian | 100.0 | 585 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 585 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40
IncumbentBarry Usher advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher | 100.0 | 2,787 |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 2,787 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 40
IncumbentBarry Usher defeatedLisa Barton in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher (R) | 79.4 | 3,826 |
 | Lisa Barton (D) | 20.6 | 992 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 4,818 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40
Lisa Barton advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Barton | 100.0 | 429 |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 429 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40
IncumbentBarry Usher advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 40 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Barry Usher | 100.0 | 2,254 |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 2,254 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia 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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2016
Elections for theMontana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016.IncumbentTom Berry (R) did not seek re-election because of term-limits.
Barry Usher defeatedSue Olson in the Montana House of Representatives District 40 general election.[2][3]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 40 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Barry Usher | 66.40% | 3,269 | |
| Democratic | Sue Olson | 33.60% | 1,654 | |
| Total Votes | 4,923 | |||
| Source:Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Edith Sloan ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 40 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 40 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Edith Sloan (unopposed) | |
Barry Usher defeatedPat Riley andBruce Hoiland in the Montana House of Representatives District 40 Republican primary.[6][7]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 40 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Barry Usher | 38.36% | 883 | |
| Republican | Pat Riley | 33.67% | 775 | |
| Republican | Bruce Hoiland | 27.98% | 644 | |
| Total Votes | 2,302 | |||
| Source:Montana Secretary of State | ||||
2014
- See also:Montana State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for theMontana State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file.Rod Mogen was unopposed in the Democratic primary, but withdrew before the general election.Hod O'Donnell was appointed as Mogen's replacement.Duane Ankney defeatedBarry Usher in the Republican primary. Ankney defeated O'Donnell in the general election. IncumbentFrederick "Eric" Moore (R) ran inDistrict 19.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Duane Ankney | 81.3% | 6,279 | |
| Democratic | Hod O'Donnell | 18.7% | 1,447 | |
| Total Votes | 7,726 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Duane Ankney | 57.8% | 2,239 |
| Barry Usher | 42.2% | 1,636 |
| Total Votes | 3,875 | |
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2022
Barry Usher did not completeBallotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Barry Usher did not completeBallotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Usher's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[10]
Agriculture
- Excerpt: "Agriculture is undeniably a crucial component to the success of our economy here in Montana. Given that it is our government’s sole responsibility to protect our constitutional rights, I believe that the rights of landowners should be fiercely protected at every turn."
Business
- Excerpt: "I wholeheartedly believe in free market principles and support the rights and freedoms of employers and employees alike."
Crime
- Excerpt: "I spent 14 years in law enforcement. Applying this firsthand knowledge has solidified my belief in personal responsibility and accountability and I approach all issues with that frame of mind."
Economy
- Excerpt: "As a business owner, I am committed to eliminating barriers that prohibit economic development and advocating for more freedom and less government."
Education
- Excerpt: "I believe in school choice for parents. I will fight for school choice to innovate and revitalize education."
2014
Usher's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
| “ | Agriculture Agriculture is undeniably a crucial component to the success of our economy here in Montana. Given that it is our government’s sole responsibility to protect our constitutional rights, I believe that the rights of landowners should be fiercely protected at every turn. Additionally, I oppose any and all government interference and/or regulations that go beyond the scope of constitutionally defined powers. Business I wholeheartedly believe in free market principles and support the rights and freedoms of employers and employees alike. As a business owner myself, I have seen firsthand the unnecessary damage that excessive government intervention can cause. Over-regulation does nothing to help small businesses thrive and support our economy, and this issue needs to be addressed.1980-01-01 00.00.58 Crime I spent 14 years in law enforcement. Applying this firsthand knowledge has solidified my belief in personal responsibility and accountability and I approach all issues with that frame of mind. Economy As a business owner, I am committed to eliminating barriers that prohibit economic development and advocating for more freedom and less government. I believe in limiting regulations, lowering workers’ compensation rates, free market development of Montana industry, and reducing or even eliminating taxes that hinder development. Education Though there are many different aspects to the statewide debate going on in regards to Education, I believe we need to focus on reforming the places in which this system is broken. I believe in school choice for parents. I will fight for school choice to innovate and revitalize education. I am strongly opposed to a common core designed in Washington, DC that handcuffs Montana teachers and forces them into a “one size fits all” mold. The bottom line is that our focus needs to be on building a successful future for our children, and not on the demands or regulations from bureaucrats. Healthcare/ Obamacare Our country has come to the consensus that our healthcare system was broken. In response, we were presented with Obamacare and the option of Medicaid expansion; two terrible ideas that is causing millions to lose insurance and healthcare prices to skyrocket. A bad solution is not a solution at all. Worse, it prevents us from coming up with a GOOD solution. The fact of the matter is that we cannot afford Obamacare, and it’s not just about the pricetag. We can’t afford to become entangled in another web of Federal government promises. We can’t afford to throw thousands of people into a system that will likely collapse under it’s own weight. We can’t afford to let Obamacare destroy any more lives. This is not a solution. Natural Resources When I grew up, I was taught ‘You leave it how you found it.’ It didn’t matter if it was the toy my next door neighbor loaned me or the campsite we used for a family cookout. Leave it how you found it. I believe natural resource development can thrive under the same principle. Drilling, mining and logging are great for our economy. Just leave it how you found it when you’re done. With this golden rule, we can PRODUCE and PRESERVE in Montana. Second Amendment I am a long time member of the NRA, and am in full support of an individual’s Second Amendment rights.[11][12] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.
| Year | Office | Status | Contributions | Expenditures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Montana State Senate District 20 | Won general | $44,830 | $0 |
| 2020 | Montana House of Representatives District 40 | Won general | $5,715 | N/A** |
| 2018 | Montana House of Representatives District 40 | Won general | $4,240 | N/A** |
| 2016 | Montana House of Representatives, District 40 | Won | $11,722 | N/A** |
| Grand total | $66,507 | N/A** | ||
| Sources:OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). | ||||
| ** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle | ||||
| Note: Totals above reflect only available data. | ||||
Scorecards
Ascorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions toeditor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, theMontana State Legislature was not in session.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2023, theMontana State Legislature was in session from January 2 to May 2.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2022, theMontana State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2021, theMontana State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 29.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2020, theMontana State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2019, theMontana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2018, theMontana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
In 2017, theMontana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
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See also
2026 Elections
External links
Candidate Montana State Senate District 19 | Officeholder Montana State Senate District 19 | Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1Barry Usher 2022 campaign website, "About Barry," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑Barry Usher for Montana, "Issues," accessed May 16, 2016
- ↑Barry Usher for Montana State Senate, "Barry on the Issues," accessed May 9, 2014
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - | Montana State Senate District 19 2025-Present | Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Duane Ankney (R) | Montana State Senate District 20 2023-2025 | Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - | Montana House of Representatives District 40 2017-2023 | Succeeded by Greg Oblander (R) |
- 2016 general election (winner)
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