{{short description|American politician from Montana}} {{use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Al Olszewski |state_senate = Montana |district = 6th |term_start = January 2, 2017 |term_end = January 4, 2021 |predecessor = Janna Taylor |successor = Greg Hertz |state_house1 = Montana |district1 = 11th |term_start1 = January 5, 2015 |term_end1 = January 2, 2017 |predecessor1 = Greg Hertz |successor1 = Derek Skees |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|8|26}} |birth_place = Great Falls, Montana, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |spouse = Nancee |children = 6 |education = Carroll College (BA)<br>{{nowrap|University of Washington (MD)}} |allegiance = {{flag|United States}} |branch = {{flag|United States Air Force}} |rank = Major }} '''Albert Olszewski''' (born August 26, 1962) is an American orthopedic surgeon and former state legislator. He served as a Republican member of both the Montana Senate and Montana House of Representatives. He ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate in 2018, governor in 2020, and U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. In addition, he also was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2012 on a ticket with Montana transportation director Jim Lynch. He and Lynch lost in all 4 Republican primaries.<ref name="2019 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book">{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2019 |url=https://archive.org/details/lawmakersofmonta2019unse/mode/2up |website=Montana State Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref><ref name="montanalegislaturebio">{{cite web|title=Name : ALBERT OLSZEWSKI (R)|url=http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/65th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=111&LAWSID=16516|website=The Montana Legislature|accessdate=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801033303/http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/65th/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=111&LAWSID=16516|archive-date=August 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life and education== He graduated from Charles M. Russell High School in 1980. He received a Bachelor of Arts in biology at Carroll College in 1984 and a Doctor of Medicine from University of Washington School of Medicine in 1988. He served for 13 years in the United States Air Force, becoming a surgeon and rising to the rank of major.<ref name="2019 Lawmakers of Montana Copper Book" /><ref name=VoteVets>Drake, Phil. [https://www.newspapers.com/image/425848693/ "VoteVets pays for ad backing tester"], ''Great Falls Tribune'', Great Falls, Montana, May 4, 2018, page 3M</ref> While a surgeon in the Air Force, he treated soldiers during the Gulf War.<ref name=VoteVets/>
==Campaigns== ===2018 United States Senate election=== {{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Montana}} In 2018, Olszewski sought election to the United States Senate, but he was defeated in the primary election.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Almukhtar|first=Sarah|last2=Bloch|first2=Matthew|last3=Lee|first3=Jasmine C.|date=2018-06-05|title=Montana Primary Election Results|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/05/us/elections/results-montana-primary-elections.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/05/us/elections/results-montana-primary-elections.html|access-date=2019-03-28|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
===2020 Montana gubernatorial election=== {{Main|2020 Montana gubernatorial election}} In 2020, Olszewski selected Kenneth Bogner to be his running mate in his bid to become governor of Montana. The two were defeated in the primary election by Greg Gianforte and Kristen Juras.<ref>{{cite web|author=Phil Drake, Great Falls Tribune|date=|title=Montana gubernatorial candidate picks running mate|url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/10/03/montana-gubernatorial-candidate-picks-running-mate/3858972002/|publisher=Greatfallstribune.com|accessdate=May 9, 2020}}</ref>
===2022 congressional election=== {{Main|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana}} On July 1, 2021, Olszewski announced his candidacy for Montana's 2nd congressional district, a new seat created after the 2020 United States census, even though the district's boundaries have yet to be drawn.<ref name="Congress press release">{{cite web |title=Dr. Al Olszewski Announces Run Against Zinke for New Congressional District |url=https://montanadailygazette.com/2021/07/01/breaking-dr-al-olszewski-announces-run-against-zinke-for-new-congressional-district/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711180426/https://montanadailygazette.com/2021/07/01/breaking-dr-al-olszewski-announces-run-against-zinke-for-new-congressional-district/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |publisher=Montana Daily Gazette |access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/08/politics/house-candidates-redistricting/index.html|title=House candidates declare campaigns for districts that don't exist yet amid redistricting delays|publisher=CNN|last=Merica|first=Dan|date=July 8, 2021|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}</ref>
==Electoral history==
===Montana House of Representatives=== {{Election box begin no change | title=2014 Montana State House 11th District Republican Primary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/2014-Primary-Official-Legislative-Canvass.pdf?dt=1480457264103&dt=1480523087997&dt=1483636395345&dt=1484090685147&dt=1484090818653&dt=1484091059850&dt=1484092785123&dt=1484668556665&dt=1484676687552&dt=1485286813335&dt=1485286979901&dt=1491412807839&dt=1494348815885&dt=1494348873534&dt=1497553987845&dt=1497555053569&dt=1497555121034&dt=1497555299184&dt=1497892315130&dt=1519325848767|title=2014 Legislative Primary Election Canvass|website=sosmt.gov|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|last=McCulloch|first=Linda|page=2|accessdate=20 May 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate=Al Olszewski | party=Republican Party (United States) | votes=917 | percentage=52.01% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate=Mike Hebert | party=Republican Party (United States) | votes=846 | percentage=47.99% }} {{Election box total no change | votes=1,763 | percentage=100.00% }} {{Election box majority no change | votes=71 | percentage=4.03% }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2014 Montana State House 11th District General Election<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/2014-General-Official-Legislative-Canvass.pdf?dt=1480457264103&dt=1480523087997&dt=1483636395345&dt=1484090685147&dt=1484090818653&dt=1484091059850&dt=1484092785123&dt=1484668556665&dt=1484676687552&dt=1485286813335&dt=1485286979901&dt=1491412807839&dt=1494348815885&dt=1494348873534&dt=1497553987845&dt=1497555053569&dt=1497555121034&dt=1497555299184&dt=1497892315130&dt=1519325848767|title=2014 Legislative General Election Canvass|website=sosmt.gov|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|last=McCulloch|first=Linda|page=2|accessdate=20 May 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate=Al Olszewski | party=Republican Party (United States) | votes=2,755 | percentage=78.07% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate=Kim E. Fleming | party=Democratic Party (United States) | votes=774 | percentage=21.93% }} {{Election box total no change | votes=3,529 | percentage=100.00% }} {{Election box majority no change | votes=1,981 | percentage=56.13% }} {{Election box end}}
===Montana Senate=== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2016 Montana State Senate District 6 Republican primary<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/2016PrimaryLegStCanvass.pdf?dt=1494348815885&dt=1494348873534&dt=1497553987845&dt=1497555053569&dt=1497555121034&dt=1497555299184&dt=1497892315130&dt=1519325848767|title=2016 Legislative Primary Election Canvass|website=sosmt.gov|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|last=McCulloch|first=Linda|page=22|accessdate=20 May 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Al Olszewski | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 3,124 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2016 Montana State Senate 6th District General Election<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/attachments/2016LegStatewideCanvass.pdf?dt=1494348815885&dt=1494348873534&dt=1497553987845&dt=1497555053569&dt=1497555121034&dt=1497555299184&dt=1497892315130&dt=1519325848767|title=2014 Legislative General Election Canvass|website=sosmt.gov|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|last=McCulloch|first=Linda|page=20|accessdate=20 May 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate=Al Olszewski | party=Republican Party (United States) | votes=7,370 | percentage=72.03% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate=Rolf Harmsen | party=Democratic Party (United States) | votes=2,862 | percentage=27.97% }} {{Election box total no change | votes=10,232 | percentage=44.06% }} {{Election box majority no change | votes=4,508 | percentage=56.13% }} {{Election box end}}
===2018 United States Senate election=== thumb|Results by county {{collapsible list | title = Map legend |{{legend|#c83737|Rosendale—60–70%}} |{{legend|#d35f5f|Rosendale—50–60%}} |{{legend|#de8787|Rosendale—40–50%}} |{{legend|#e9afaf|Rosendale—30–40%}} |{{legend|#f4d7d7|Rosendale—<30%}} |{{legend|#cccccc|Rosendale/Fagg tie—30–40%}} |{{legend|#afe9af|Fagg—30–40%}} |{{legend|#87de87|Fagg—40–50%}} |{{legend|#5fd35f|Fagg—50–60%}} |{{legend|#afdde9|Olszewski—30–40%}} |{{legend|#87cdde|Olszewski—40–50%}} }}
{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Matt Rosendale|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=51,859|percentage=33.82%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Russ Fagg|votes=43,465|percentage=28.34%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Troy Downing|votes=29,341|percentage=19.13%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Al Olszewski|votes=28,681|percentage=18.70%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=153,346|percentage=100.00%}}{{Election box end}}
===2020 Montana gubernatorial election=== thumb|Results by county {{collapsible list |title=Gianforte |{{legend|#d40000|Gianforte—70–80%}} |{{legend|#cc2f4a|Gianforte—60–70%}} |{{legend|#e27f90|Gianforte—50–60%}} |{{legend|#f2b3beff|Gianforte—40–50%}} }} {{collapsible list |title=Fox |{{legend|#ffb380|Fox—40–50%}} |{{legend|#ff9955|Fox—50–60%}} }} {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican primary results }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Greg Gianforte | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 119,247 | percentage = 53.44% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tim Fox | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 60,823 | percentage = 27.26% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Albert Olszewski | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 43,080 | percentage = 19.30% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 223,150 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
===2022 United States House of Representatives election=== {{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Republican Primary for U.S. Representative of Montana's 1st Congressional District<ref name=primaryresults>{{cite web |url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?juwpfisadmin=false&action=wpfd&task=file.download&wpfd_category_id=32&wpfd_file_id=57545&token=4da10c4cd65766c3798549896424f7a9&preview=1|title=2022 Statewide Primary Election Canvas|website=mtsos.gov|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|last=Jacobsen|first=Christi|accessdate=May 21, 2026}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ryan Zinke | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 35,601 | percentage = 41.70% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Al Olszewski | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 33,927 | percentage = 39.74% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mary Todd | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 8,915 | percentage = 10.44% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Matt Jette | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 4,973 | percentage = 5.83% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Mitch Heuer | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 1,953 | percentage = 2.29% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 85,369 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olszewski, Albert}} Category:1962 births Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature Category:American orthopedic surgeons Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States Senate elections Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States elections Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Carroll College alumni Category:Charles M. Russell High School alumni Category:Living people Category:Military personnel from Great Falls, Montana Category:Politicians from Great Falls, Montana Category:Politicians from Kalispell, Montana Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Category:Republican Party Montana state senators Category:United States Air Force Medical Corps officers Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War Category:University of Washington School of Medicine alumni