(1) A person seeking office as an independent candidate may not be associated with a political party for 1 year prior to the submission of the person's nomination petition. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), "associated with a political party" means having run for office in Montana as a partisan candidate or having held a public office in Montana or a precinct committee representative office in Montana with a political party designation.
Independent Candidates -- Association With Political Parties Not Allowed
Mont. Code Ann. § 13-10-507, under Methods of Nomination Other Than by Primary Election.
Mont. Code Ann. § 13-10-507