Linda Reksten is a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 13 . A Lake County native born and raised in Polson, she has served in the legislature since 2020, first elected to District 12 in 2020 and 2022, then to District 13 in 2024 after redistricting, winning 61% of the vote against Democratic educator Shirley Azzopardi. Notable achievements include her appointment as chair of the House Education Committee and support for legislation lowering property and income taxes, funding for law enforcement and rural hospitals, expanding vocational education, and reducing housing regulations.

Education and Political Experience

Reksten worked over 30 years in education, starting as a teacher in California's Burbank Unified School District in 1982. She served as principal of Disney Elementary School from 1986 to 2003, where it became the district's most ethnically diverse school with 44% of students speaking limited English. She also taught as a college professor at Point Loma Nazarene University and published two books with Corwin Press. In politics, she first won election in 2020 by defeating Gerry Browning after term-limited Rep. Greg Hertz vacated the seat, then beat challenger Sterling Laudon in 2022 with 62% of the vote.