by Evelyn Pyburn
Mark Morse running for County Commissioner is the only challenged Yellowstone County candidate in the coming election, on November 8. Candidates for all other open elected county offices are Republicans standing unchallenged by any Democrat contenders. And, even Morse is being challenged by another Republican who failed to defeat him in the Primary Election. Incumbent County Commissioner Denis Pitman is running a write-in campaign for the General Election.
Taking center stage, otherwise, in the 2022 General Election are the US Congressional House races in which Montana, for the first time in many years is selecting two representatives.
In the Eastern Montana district Incumbent Republican Matt Rosendale is being challenged by three opponents: former Billings City Councilwoman Democrat Penny Ronning; Billings businessman, Gary Buchanan who is running as an Independent; and Sam Rankin, a Libertarian contender.
In the Western Montana District, a former US House Representative, Republican Ryan Zinke is vying against Democrat Monica Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb.
The Montana state legislature faces a new election with the Democrats currently holding 19 seats in the state senate and Republicans holding 31. The House currently has 33 Democrats holding seats and the Republicans, 67.
Montana Republicans, who added to their legislative majority in the 2020 election’s historic red wave, say supermajority control of the Montana House and Senate may be within their reach this year – especially given the number of uncontested races across the state. A supermajority is a three –fifths majority.
Thirty incumbent state legislators in Montana—24% of those with expiring terms—were ineligible to file for re-election in 2022 because of the state’s term limit laws. Montana’s term limits had the largest effect on the state Senate where they left 12 of the 25 districts holding elections (48%) open. In the House, 18 of the 100 districts up for election (18%) were left open due to term limits.
In addition to the 30 term-limited legislators, 10 other incumbents did not file for re-election, one in the Senate and nine in the House. Overall, term limits accounted for 75% of the open districts in Montana in 2022, the largest percentage since 2014.
In the races for state senate in the Yellowstone County area two Republicans are running unopposed: Barry Usher (SD 20) and Dennis Lenz (SD 27). In Senate District 24, Democrat Kathrin Kelker is challenging Republican Elijah Tidswell, and in Senate District 22, Democrat Terry Dennis is challenging Republican Daniel Zolnikov.
In the House of Representative races quite a number of Republicans are running unchallenged. With no Democrat opponent are the following: Republicans Gary Perry (HD 39), Greg Oblander (HD 40), Incumbent, Kerri Seekins-Crowe (HD 43), Incumbent Katie Zolnikov (HD 45), Nelly Nicol (HD 53), Incumbent, Terry Moore (HD 54), Lee Deming District (HD 55), and Incumbent Sue Vinton (HD 56).
Democrat Incumbent, Rynalea Whiteman Pena is being challenged by Republican Paul Green in HD 41.
Democrat Incumbent Sharon Stewart-Peregoy is being challenged by Republican Virginia McDonald.
In House District 44, Democrat Melissa Smith is challenging Incumbent, Republican Larry Brewster.
In House District 46, Democrat Tim Warburton is challenging Incumbent Republican Bill Mercer.
Democrat Denise Baum and Republican Thomas Madigan are squaring off in House District 47.
Democrat Jennifer Merecki is vying against Republican Jodee Etchart in House District 48.
Democrat Incumbent Emma Kerr-Carpenter is being challenged by Republican Jeff Wylie in HD 49.
In House District 50, Democrat James Reavis is challenging Incumbent Republican Mallerie Stromswold.
In House District 51, Democrat Carole Boerner is challenging Incumbent Republican Mike Yakawich.
And, Democrat Jenna Martin is challenging Incumbent Republican Sherry Essman in HD 52.
