On Sept. 9, Andy Shirtliff and Emily Dean advanced from the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Helena, Montana. Shirtliff received 48.33% of the vote and Dean received 36.53%. The general election is on Nov. 4, 2025.
Sonda Gaub, Braxton Hudson, and Chris Riccardo also ran in the nonpartisan primary. This election was the first since 2001 in Helena to require a primary for mayor. According to KTVH, state law “requires local governments to hold primaries if at least five candidates are running for any single position.”
Incumbent Wilmot Collins did not run for re-election. Although the position of mayor was officially nonpartisan, Collins was a Democrat.
The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the Helena Area co-hosted a “Speed Date Your Candidates” event on August 7, 2025. Dean, Hudson, Riccardo, and Shirtliff attended the event. Each spoke at a podium for three minutes before sitting at separate tables where voters asked each candidate questions in speed dating format. Three attendees told KTVH that voters questioned the candidates about parking, homelessness, water issues, affordable housing, transportation, innovation, and strategies to retain Helena’s residents.
KTVH asked every candidate whether they supported Helena Public Schools’ proposed $283 million bonds, which appeared on the same ballot as the mayoral race and were approved by voters. The bonds support the renovation and rebuilding of select schools in Helena. Dean, Hudson, Riccardo, and Shirtliff supported the bond, while Gaub did not.
Shirtliff is the executive director of the Montana Building Industry Association. He was appointed to the Helena City Commission in 2022. Shirtliff says as commissioner he “has led collaborative efforts with downtown business owners, tenants and workers to find parking solutions; joined businesses and event planners in working toward a streamlined city permitting process; and worked with city officials to keep events on the Walking Mall.” He says as mayor “he will focus on improving city services and communication, champion housing solutions and encourage entrepreneurship.”
Dean is the director of engagement for the Montana School Boards Association. She was elected to the Helena City Commission in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. She served as mayor pro tem as of August 2025. Dean says, “As Mayor, my focus will be on modernizing our infrastructure, supporting responsible policies to increase affordable housing, and ensuring quality city services that meet the needs of all residents.” Collins and Helena City Commissioner Sean Logan endorsed Dean.
Helena has a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council, which includes the mayor and serves as the city’s primary legislative body, appoints a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the city council’s policy and legislative initiatives.