2024 is expected to be a really big election year.
It’s predicted that the entire nation will be closely watching Montana’s US Senate race in which Sen. Jon Tester (D) will vie for re-election, with the outcome of that race possibly making the difference in the balance of the US Senate.
On opening day for candidate filing, January 11, numerous candidates filed for the US Senate and for the US House for eastern Montana, with the big question looming about what incumbent US Rep. Matt Rosendale (R) will do. Rep. Rosendale is considering not running for re-election in the House but to challenge Sen. Tester, which would leave the field wide open for Montana’s eastern House district.
Rep. Rosendale has until the closing of candidate filing on March 11 to make his decision. Several Republican candidates who have filed for the eastern district have said that they will withdraw if Rep. Rosendale decides to run for re-election to the US House of Representatives.
The office of Governor is open for election, as are hundreds of state legislature positions and judicial seats, for which many candidates have filed and more are likely to do so. On Tuesday, Governor Gianforte announced that he has filed for re-election.
On the more local front – the county — there have not been many filings, but then not a lot of offices are open for election this year – just a county commissioner position and a handful of judicial races, and of course school board elections.
Only Mike Waters filed on opening day as a Republican candidate for Yellowstone County Commissioner. He is running to fill the seat of Don Jones, which expires at the end of 2024. Jones has announced that he will not run for re-election.
Following is a list of some of the candidates, most especially those of significance to voters in the broader area of Yellowstone County. The list includes those who have filed and some who have only announced that they intend to file. There will surely be more to come, since they have until March 11 to file – and some may withdraw.
US SENATOR
Jon Tester, Big Sandy, Dem. US Senate Incumbent
Brad Johnson, Helena; Rep.
Tim Sheehy, Bozeman, Rep.
Sid Daoud, Kalispell, Libertarian
(Maybe US Representative Rosendale)
MONTANA’S 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Ryan Zinke, Whitefish, Rep. US House of Representatives Incumbent
Monica Tranel, Dem.
Cory Moran, Great Falls, Rep.
MONTANA’S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(?)Matt Rosendale, Glendive, Rep. US House Rep. Incumbent
Ming Cabrera, Billings, Dem.
Kevin Hamm, Helena, Dem.
Elsie Arntzen, Helena, Rep.
Troy Downing, Bozeman, Rep.
Ric Holden, Glendive, Rep.
Joel Krautter, Billings, Rep.
Edward Walker, Billings, Rep.
Stacy Zinn, Billings, Rep.
Kenneth Bogner, Miles City, Rep.
MONTANA GOVERNOR
Greg Gianforte, Rep. Incumbent
Tanner Smith, Lakeside, Rep.
Ryan Busse, Kalispell, Dem.
SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION
Sharyl Allen, Conrad, Rep.
Susie Hedalen, Townsend, Rep.
Shannon O’Brien, Missoula, Dem.
Kevin Leatherbarrow, Great Falls, Libertarian
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Austin Knudsen, Culbertson, Rep., Attorney General Incumbent
Ben Alke, Helena, Dem.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Christi Jacobsen, Helena, Rep.
Jesse Mullen, Deer Lodge, Dem.
PUBLIC SERBICE COMMISSIONER DIST. 2
Kirk Bushman, Billings, Rep.,
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER DIST. 4
Jennifer Fielder, Thompson Falls, Rep.
CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT
Bowen Greenwood, Rep., Helena
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Jerry Lynch, Butte,
Cory Swanson, Townsend
Dan Wilson, Kalispell
MONTANA SENATE
Sue Vinton, Billings, Dist. 20, Rep.
Patricia Rae Peppers, Lame Deer, Dist. 21, Dem;
Mark H. Nicholson, Billings, Dist. 24 Dem.
Mike Yakawich, Billings, Dist. 24, Rep.
Tom McGillvray, Billings, Dist. 26, Rep.
Chris Friedel, Billings, Dist. 27, Rep.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Gary W. Parry, Colstrip, Dist. 35, Rep.
Greg Oblander, Shepherd, Dist. 38, Rep.
Mike Vinton, Billings, Dist. 40, Rep.
Larry Brewster, Billings, Dist. 43, Rep.
Denise Baum, Billings, Dist. 45, Dem.
Emma Kerr Carpenter, Billings, Dist. 46, Dem
James Reavis, Billings, Dist. 47, Dem.
Curtis Schomer, Billings, Dist. 48, Rep.
Rudolf Haden, Billings, Dist. 48, Dem
Anthony Nicastro, Billings, Dist. 50, Rep.
Bill Mercer, Billings, Dist. 52, Rep.
Lee Deming, Laurel, Dist. 54, Rep.
Joshua Visocan, Huntley, Dist. 56, Rep.
