In 1996, incumbent Democrat U.S. Congressman Pat Williams of Montana's at-large congressional district decided to retire. Jent was one of four Democrat candidates to run for the seat. Former State Senator Bill Yellowtail won the Democratic primary with 56% of the vote while Jent ranked last with just 10% of the vote.[1][2]
Montana legislature
Elections
In 2000, Jent was elected to the Montana House of Representatives to the Bozeman-based 29th House District. He defeated Republican Sandra Lee Smiley 66%-33%. In the 2000 U.S. Senate election, Democrat Brian Schweitzer carried the district with 65% of the vote. In 2002, he was re-elected with 69% against Dustin L. Stewart.[3] After redistricting in 2004, Jent ran in the newly redrawn 64th House District and defeated Republican Page Lutes with 56% of the vote.[4]
In 2006, he decided to retire from his seat to run for the Montana Senate. In the Bozeman-based 32nd Senate District, he defeated Republican Art Wittich 56%-44%.[5] In 2010, he won re-election to a second term defeating Republican Michael B. Comstock 54%-46%.[6]
In April 2011, Jent filed paperwork to run for Governor of Montana, but dropped out in March 2012, months before the primary.[8]
2016 Attorney General election
Jent ran for Attorney General of Montana. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and lost in a landslide in the general election with 32% of the vote, to the incumbent Tim Fox's 68%.