Mike Montagano

Michael Anthony Montagano was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in Indiana's 3rd congressional district (see map) in the 2008 U.S. Congressional elections.

Montagano grew up in Bristol, Indiana. In 2003, he earned his B.A. degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where he majored in economics and political science. In 2006, he earned his J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law as a Law and State Government Fellow. While at Indiana, he served as Executive Production Editor of the Law Review and also as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Society. He also studied economics at the University of London.

Montagano was a 2005 recipient of the American Bar Association Award of Recognition for Excellence in Local Government and Land Use Law. He co-organized a symposium on legislative ethics, and spent a year drafting and interpreting legislation at the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Prior to practicing law, Montagano worked for Indiana Governor Joe Kernan, U.S. Congressman Tim Roemer and in state and federal courts. He also worked on Congressman Joe Donnelly's 2006 congressional election.

Following the 2008 election, Montagano joined the law firm Baker & Daniels, LLP. Bethany is a research curator for the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame.

Montagano failed to unseat seven-term incumbent Representative Mark Souder and was defeated by a margin of 43,384 votes. The Montagano campaign raised $854,429 in total contributions but was outspent by Rep. Souder who raised $1,076,565.