Linda Reksten

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Linda Reksten

| state_house = Montana

| district = 13th

| term_start = January 6, 2025

| predecessor = Paul Fielder

| state_house2 = Montana

| district2 = 12th

| term_start2 = January 4, 2021

| term_end2 = January 6, 2025

| predecessor2 = Greg Hertz

| successor2 = Tracy Sharp

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1951}}

| birth_place = Polson, Montana, U.S.

| residence = Polson, Montana, U.S.

| party = Republican

| education = Eastern Montana College (BS)
Point Loma Nazarene University (MA)
University of California Los Angeles (EdD)

| occupation = School district superintendent

}}

Linda Reksten is an American politician from Montana. She is a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives. In 2024 she was elected to the 13th district which covers the Polson area.{{cite web |title=Rep. Linda Reksten |url=https://projects.montanafreepress.org/capitol-tracker-2025/lawmakers/Linda-Reksten/ |publisher=Montana Free Press |access-date=28 February 2025}} Previously she was elected to the 12th district in 2020 and 2022.{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/session/copper-book/ |website=Montana State Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=June 5, 2021|page=56}}{{cite web |url=https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/6894 |title= Contact info|website=leg.mt.gov|access-date=2021-03-20}}

Reksten first ran for election in 2020, defeating Gerry Browning.{{cite web |title=2020 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=19 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=28 February 2025}} She took the seat of Greg Hertz who had reached his term limit. In 2022 she faced challenger Sterling Laudon, an attorney in Polson.{{cite web |title=Candidate filings: Laudon challenges Reksten for HD12 seat |url=https://leaderadvertiser.com/news/2022/mar/17/candidate-filings-laudon-challenges-reksten-hd12-s/ |publisher=Lake County Leader |access-date=28 February 2025 |date=March 17, 2022}} She won with 62% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2022 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST&eid=22 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=28 February 2025}}

Due to redistricting following the US census Reksten ran for District 13 in the 2024 elections.{{cite web |title=Home page |url=https://mtredistricting.gov/ |publisher=Montana Districting and Appointment Commission |access-date=14 February 2025}} The Democratic candidate, Shirley Azzopardi, also spent her career as an educator.{{cite web |title=Part I: Candidates from both parties converge at forum |url=https://leaderadvertiser.com/news/2024/oct/03/candidates-from-both-parties-converge-at-forum/ |publisher=Lake County Leader |access-date=28 February 2025 |date=October 3, 2024}} Reksten won 61% of the vote, securing her third term in the House of Representatives.{{cite web |title=2024 General Election |url=https://electionresults.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOUSE&map=DIST |publisher=Montana Secretary of State |access-date=28 February 2025}} She was appointed chair to the House Education Committee.

Reksten worked for more than 30 years in education prior to her legislative career.{{cite web |title=About |url=http://reksten4mt.com/about |publisher=Reksten for House District 13 |access-date=28 February 2025}} She was a teacher, principal, and Superintendent of Schools.{{cite web |last1=Dresser |first1=Maggie |title=General Election 2020: House District 12 |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/10/06/general-election-2020-senate-district-12/ |publisher=Flathead Beacon |access-date=28 February 2025 |date=October 6, 2020}} She also was a college professor at Point Loma Nazarene University.{{cite web |title=Linda E. Reksten |url=https://www.corwin.com/author/linda-e-reksten |publisher=Sage Publications |access-date=28 February 2025}} Reksten published two books with Corwin Press.