HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The election filing deadline has come and gone, and the races for seats in the State Legislature are now set.
House District 17 represents a large portion of the rocky mountain front. Candidates in that race include Republican incumbent Ross Fitzgerald of Fairfield, primary challenger Justin Cleveland of Fairfield, and Democrat Barnett G. Sporkin-Morrison of Choteau.
For House District 18, which serves all of Toole County and small portions of Pondera and Glacier Counties, incumbent Republican Llew Jones of Conrad was the only candidate to file.
For House District 27, which represents large portions of Hill, Liberty and Chouteau Counties, as well as a small stretch of Cascade County, Republican incumbent Josh Kassmier was the only candidate to file.
For House District 28, which essentially represents the city of Havre, the two candidates are incumbent Republican Ed Hill and Democrat Paul Tuss.
For House District 29, which represents most of Fergus County and all of Petroleum County, Republican incumbent Doug Flament of Lewistown was the only candidate to file.
For House District 31, which represents a large stretch of the eastern Hi-Line that includes the towns of Wolf Point, Fort Peck, and Poplar, there are three candidates. They are incumbent Democrat Frank Smith of Poplar, primary challenger Kaci Wallette of Wolf Point, and Republican Arlie W. Gordon of Fort Peck.
For House District 32, which represents a large swath of the Hi-Line including all of the Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap Reservations, incumbent Democrat Jonathan Windy Boy was the only candidate to file.
For House District 33, which stretches from northern Hill County to Glasgow, incumbent Republican Casey Knudsen of Malta faces a challenger in Democrat Jordan Ophus of North Havre.
For House District 34, which serves the very northeast corner of the state, incumbent Republican Rhonda Knudsen of Culbertson was the only candidate to file.
For Senate District 9, which represents the area of House Districts 17 and 18, Republican incumbent Bruce “Butch” Gillespie of Ethridge was the only candidate to file.
For Senate District 14, which represents the area of House Districts 27 and 28, there are three candidates. Republican incumbent Russ Tempel of Chester faces a primary opponent in Steve Chvilicek of Havre. The other candidate is Democrat David Brewer of Havre.
For Senate District 15, which represents the area of House Districts 29 and 30, Republican incumbent Dan Bartel of Lewistown is opposed by Democrat Cindy Palmer of Geyser.
The primary election is June 7th, and the general election is November 8th.
The deadline for declared write-ins is 5 PM on April 4th. However, the names of declared write-ins will not be on the ballot, but they can be written in by voters.
A map of legislative districts can be viewed here.
