RUSS NELSON WILL

PUT BELGRADE FIRST

Smiling man wearing a blue jacket, blue cap, and glasses standing outdoors near a modern wooden building with large windows on a sunny day.

Meet Russ Nelson

Russ Nelson is Belgrade’s longest-serving Mayor, retiring from 22 years of service at the end of 2025. As Mayor, Russ helped Belgrade navigate two decades of rapid growth, always prioritizing maintaining services and a high quality of life for residents.

He has a track record of always putting Belgrade first:

  • Russ worked to change a Montana liquor license law to keep Belgrade’s liquor licenses from consolidation with Bozeman. Today, Belgrade’s liquor licenses stay right here in the city, strengthening Belgrade’s local economy and supporting the local economy. 

  • As Mayor, Russ worked with our Montana Senators to secure federal money for road construction, obtaining enough money to help build the East Belgrade interchange.

  • Russ oversaw the voter-approved permanent levy to fund the Belgrade Police Department and other investments in the Belgrade Community Library and Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District.

Russ understands how to navigate change and is ready to step up and serve the residents of Belgrade and House District 67, advocating for them in the Montana legislature. Russ and his wife are proud to have raised their two daughters in Belgrade. Russ recently retired from a 40-year career in banking.

Russ is committed to:

  • Protecting property tax relief for Montana homeowners and finding ways to

  • Lowering taxes to make Belgrade more affordable

  • Protecting critical local services and schools

  • Improving access to high-quality vocational training and apprenticeship programs

As Representative, Russ Nelson will always put Belgrade first.

And Russ will stand up to party bosses and out-of-state special interests who are pushing their own agenda at Montana’s expense.

REMINDER: Cast your ballot in the Republican Primary on or before June 2, 2026.

Belgrade needs steady leadership that prioritizes constituents over special interests. Russ Nelson is committed to always putting Belgrade first:

  • Russ Nelson will fight to protect property tax relief for Montana homeowners and find ways to lower taxes to make Belgrade more affordable while still protecting critical local services and schools.

  • Russ Nelson will work to improve access to high-quality vocational training and apprenticeship programs to give more opportunities to kids who aren’t going to college. 

  • As Mayor of Belgrade, Russ Nelson worked to reduce red tape and keep money right here in our community instead of losing opportunities to bigger cities like Bozeman. 

  • Russ Nelson will use his experience as a local government leader to ensure Belgrade continues to work with local, state, and federal partners to keep our community safe and strong. 

  • Russ Nelson will fight to protect and expand important business development incentives so the entire community benefits from Belgrade’s growth. 

  • Russ Nelson will stand up for our first responders by protecting retirement and mental health care benefits for law enforcement and firefighters, helping attract and retain first responders here in our community.

  • Russ Nelson will always prioritize the needs of his community and pledges to be a responsive leader for Belgrade. 

Putting Belgrade First