House speaker vies with ski instructor for Senate District 5 seat

House Speaker Matt Regier, a Kalispell Republican, is looking to move to the state Senate after terming out of the House. His opponent, Democrat Link Neimark, is hoping to give voters another option for Senate District 5.

Regier, 45, who grew up in the Flathead Valley, is a business owner, longtime legislator and a member of a Northwest Montana conservative political dynasty. Regier’s sister and father — Sen. Keith Regier and Rep. Amy Regier — also represented districts in Northwest Montana in Helena during the most recent legislative session, serving as chairs of the judicial committees of their respective chambers.   

As speaker, Regier oversaw the disbursement of a $2.5 billion surplus and gained national attention for moving to bar transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, after she criticized Republicans for a bill that looked to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors.