The previous nominee, incumbent Rep. Mike Kadas, had just been appointed Mayor of Missoula following the resignation of Daniel Kemmis.
In 2006, when Tom Facey was termed out after eight years in the House, Sands ran to succeed him in the renumbered 95th district.
In the 2014 general election, she prevailed over the Republican candidate, former state representative Dick Haines, by just 33 votes (50.2% to 49.8%).
[7] Her partner, Ann Mary Dussault, is a former Missoula County commissioner and Montana legislator.
Having first assumed legislative office in 1975, she served four terms and was the first female majority leader in the nation.