Eight Republican incumbents lost their seats in Tuesday's primary election, the most incumbent legislators to be denied renomination in a single cycle in recent Montana history — a result that reflects the depth of a factional war inside the state GOP that has consumed millions of dollars and months of organizing.

The losses were spread across both chambers but were concentrated among more moderate Republicans who had drawn the ire of the party's conservative wing. Six of the eight defeats came from that bloc. The outcome means none of the eight will appear on the November ballot, and none will be in Helena come January when the next legislative session opens.

But the more conservative faction couldn't claim a clean sweep. Moderate-aligned candidates also notched wins, leaving both sides of the intraparty divide with enough results to argue the fight isn't over. Rep. David Bedey of Great Falls, for instance, won his Republican primary for a Senate seat, a notable outcome for the faction that backed him.

The fighting has been bitter enough that some Republicans are now calling for the party to step back from the ledge. Rep. George Nikolakakos of Great Falls went so far as to say GOP Chairman Art Wittich should resign, arguing the results signal that the intraparty conflict has cost the party more than it has gained. Whether Wittich moves or stays, the primary results will shape the composition of the Legislature and the internal dynamics of the Montana Republican Party heading into the 2027 session.