Given the polls and chronic predictions, the outcome of elections in Montana were probably not much of a surprise for most people. Voter turnout was probably lower than anticipated given all the hype prior to Election Day. Statewide the voter turnout was 55 percent – 425,637 voters.
Republican Matt Rosendale won re-election in the 2nd District for the US House of Representatives in Eastern Montana, with ease, garnering 57 percent of the vote (114,330), defeating Democratic challenger Penny Ronning, with 20 percent of the vote, Independent candidate Gary Buchanan with 22 percent, and Libertarian Sam Rankin with 1 percent.
In Western Montana, 1st District for the House of Representatives – a newly created district for Montana – Republican Ryan Zinke defeated Democratic Monica Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb with 49.88 percent (109,705) of the vote with 87 percent of the precincts reporting as of Wednesday morning. Tranel won 46.27 percent of the vote and Lamb, 3.84 percent.
Public Service Commissioner District 5 elected Republican candidate Ann Bukacek with 55 percent of the vote over Democratic John Repke.
Republican Randy Pinocci was unchallenged in Public Service Commissioner District 1.
Supreme Court Justice #1 Jim Rice was re-elected with 78 percent of the vote (281,024) over Bill D’Alton (79,951).
Supreme Court Justice #2 Ingrid Gustafson won with 54 percent of the vote (218,415), over challenger James Brown.
One of the two ballot measures passed hugely, while another seemed to be going down to defeat. Legislative Referendum 131, the Born-Alive Infant Care initiative, as of press time was being defeated 52.38 percent to 47.62 percent with 69.16 percent of the vote counted. Some perceived the measure as preventing infanticide in cases of failed abortions or live births, while much of the medical community opposed it as interfering with doctors in their efforts to treat patients.
The other, Constitution Amendment 48, which would require law enforcement to obtain a search warrant prior to accessing a citizen’s private electronic data, was passing by 82.07 percent to 17.93 percent with 72.16 percent of the vote counted.
In Yellowstone County’s District Court 13, both Judge Brett D. Linneweber and Judge Mary Jane McCalla were approved by voters to retain their positions.
Unchallenged general election Senate races in Yellowstone County were Republican Barry Usher, SD20; and Republican Dennis Lenz, SD27. Unchallenged House races were: Republican Gary Parry, HD40; Republican Greg Oblander, HD 42; Republican Kerri Seekins-Crowe, HD 44; Republican Katie Zolnikov, HD45; Republican Terry Moore HD54; Republican Lee Deming HD55; Republican Sue Vinton, HD56.
In Senator District 22, Republican Daniel Zolnikov won over Democratic Terry Dennis 4,225 to 2,337.
Democratic Kathy Kelker defeated Republican Elijah Tidswell, 3,804 to 3,003, in Senator District 24.
Republican Virginia McDonald defeated Democratic Sharon Stewart Peregoy, 229 to 61, in House District 42.
In House District 44, Republican Larry Brewster defeated Democratic Melissa Smith, 2,116 to 1,222.
Republican Bill Mercer defeated Democratic Tim Warburton, 3,133 to 1,782 in House District 46.
Democratic Denise Baum defeated Republican Thomas Madigan, 1,817 to 1,295, in House District 47.
Republican Jodee Etchart squeezed out Democratic Jennifer Merecki, 1,849 to 1,816 in House District 48.
Democratic Emma Kerr-Carpenter defeated Republican Jeff Wylie 1,333 to 950 in House District 49.
Republican Mallerie Stromswold defeated Democratic James Reavis 1,373 to 1,300 in House District 50.
Republican Mike Yakawich defeated Democratic Carole Boerner 1,773 to 1,382 in House District 51.
Republican Sherry Essman defeated Democratic Jenna Martin, 1,652 to 1,138 in House District 52.
In Yellowstone County, County Commission contender Republican Mark Morse retained his Primary Election win over incumbent Denis Pitman, who continued the challenge in the General Election as a write-in candidate. Morse had 89.4 percent of the vote (41,077) with 10.6 percent (4,871) of the votes being write-ins.
All of Yellowstone County’s elected officials were unchallenged Republican incumbents, which means that all retain their offices. That includes Clerk & Recorder Jeff Martin (also serves as Auditor and Surveyor for the county); Sheriff Mike Linder; County Attorney Scott Twito; Treasurer Sherry Long (who also serves as Superintendent of Schools and Assessor).
Voters approved retaining Justices of the Peace David Carter and Jeanne Walker for Yellowstone County.
