Debo Powers, Paula Koch Win Flathead Valley Legislative Races

Democratic candidates Debo Powers and Paula Koch secured comfortable victories in the North Valley on Election Day, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the traditionally Republican Flathead Valley. For the first time since the state’s legislative maps were redrawn in 2024, both House District 3 and House District 4 will send Democratic representatives to the state capitol in Helena. The results, according to complete, unofficial tallies reported by the Flathead Beacon, suggest a widening margin of support for the Democratic ticket compared to the razor‑thin contests seen in the previous election cycle.

The districts cover parts of Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Olney, West Glacier and other communities in the north Flathead Valley.

Debo Powers retains District 3 seat with increased margin

In House District 3, incumbent Debo Powers successfully defended her seat, capturing 55% of the vote. Powers, who secured 3,304 ballots, defeated Republican challenger Derek Peachey, a Whitefish‑based technology entrepreneur and small‑business investor. The victory provides a more comfortable buffer for Powers than her previous win; two years ago, she secured her seat by fewer than 240 votes. This time, her margin of victory stood at 553 votes.

Debo Powers, Paula Koch Win Flathead Valley Legislative Races

Powers, a former educator and administrator with deep ties to the local outdoor and public lands community, centered her campaign on several core regional issues. Her platform focused heavily on public education funding, environmental protection, and the complexities of local economics, specifically regarding property taxes and new regulations for data centers. Having previously served as the District 3 representative from late 2019 through January 2021 following a vacancy, Powers is returning to the legislative fray with a focus on bipartisan utility.

“I’m feeling very excited about getting back to Helena and working with other legislators to get things done for people in HD 3,” Powers told the Flathead Beacon on Wednesday. “We have a lot of things to work on like fixing the glitches in property taxes, new regulations for data centers, and fully funding our public schools.”

Paula Koch flips District 4 in competitive race

The most notable movement occurred in House District 4, where Paula Koch achieved a seat flip for the Democratic Party. Koch, a longtime Whitefish resident and educator with over 30 years of experience in Columbia Falls, won the seat with 55% of the vote, totaling 2,748 votes. She defeated Republican Shaun Pandina, a local entrepreneur. Pandina’s loss follows a June Republican primary in which he unseated the incumbent, State Rep. Lyn Bennett.

Koch’s campaign was characterized by significant local investment. By mid‑October, she had secured a fundraising total of more than $53,000, which was more than triple the amount raised by her opponent. Her platform mirrored many of the concerns currently facing the growing North Valley, including healthcare access, mental health services, affordable housing, and the preservation of clean air and water.

Comparing the election cycle margins

The shift in voter preference is evident when comparing the narrow margins of the election two years ago to the larger margins of this Tuesday.

District	2024 Margin (Votes)	2026 Margin (Votes)
House District 3	< 240 (Powers)	553 (Powers)
House District 4	< 250 (Bennett)	460 (Koch)

As the political dust settles, the focus shifts to the legislative session. The 70th Montana Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 4, 2027. For the residents of Districts 3 and 4, the immediate impact will be felt in how Helena addresses issues such as public lands and school funding.