Few contested elections with three days left to file

Correction: An earlier edition of this story said that Republican Mike Lang of Malta was unopposed. He is being challenged by Democrat Floyd Russell Hopstad of Glasgow.

An earlier version said that Democrat John Bohlinger had not filed for the U.S. Senate seat. He filed Friday afternoon.

With three days left to file as a candidate, many county and legislative races in this part of Montana are uncontested.

However, challenges have come up in county races in Blaine and Liberty counties and heavy competition is in the works in the congressional contests.

In Blaine County, Carletta Benson has filed as a Democrat in the race for county commissioner and will face incumbent Dolores Plumage in the primary, June 3.

In Liberty County, Republican Tim Snyder and Democrat Maureen “Morb” Wicks have filed as candidates for the county commission seat now held by Democrat Rlynn Rockman.

Rockman has not filed for re-election.

Deadline to file as a party candidate is 5 p.m. Monday. And April 25 is the deadline to file as a write-in. May 27 is the deadline for independent and minor party candidates to submit a signed petition for candidacy.

In local legislative races, some races are uncontested. In the House, incumbents Democrat Clarena Brockie of Harlem and Roy Hollandsworth of Brady are unopposed.

Floyd Russell Hopstad, a Democrat from Glasgow, is challenging Republican incumbent Mike Lang of Malta.

In the new House District 28 that combines Havre into one district, Democratic City Council member Janet Trethewey faces Republican Stephanie Hess in Hess’ first run for public office.

In Senate District 14 that includes Havre and Hollandsworth’s district and stretches from the Canadian border in Liberty and western Hill counties to just outside of Great Falls, Sen. Greg Jergeson, D-Havre, faces Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre.

The congressional races have plenty of competition.

In the race for former Sen. Max Baucus’ seat — Baucus has taken office as U.S. ambassador to China after almost 40 years in Congress — first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Daines and Democrat Dirk Adams of Wilsall in Park County have filed as candidates.

Former Montana lieutenant governor U.S. Sen. John Walsh, appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock last month to take Baucus’ place, has announced as a candidate but had not filed as of this morning. John Bohlinger, who served as a Republican lieutenant governor for Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, filed for the U.S. Senate seat Friday afternoon.

State Rep. Champ Edmunds, R-Missoula, also has announced his candidacy but had not filed as of this morning.

In the race for Daines’ seat in the House, Democrats John Lewis and Don Driscoll, both of Helena had filed by this morning.

On the Republican side, state Sens. Elsie Arntzen of Billings and Matt Rosendale of Glendive and former state Sens. Corey Stapleton of Billings and Ryan Zinke of Whitefish all had filed.

In the Hill County races, all open seats had one candidate as of this morning, all incumbents but one.

Deputy Hill County Clerk and Recorder Susan Armstrong had filed as a Democrat in the race for Clerk and Recorder. Incumbent Democrat Darla Dahl had not filed for re-election.

Audrey Barger filed for re-election as Hill County Justice of the Peace in that nonpartisan election, while Democrat Mike Wendland is running again for commissioner, Gina Dahl is running as Democrat for re-election as county attorney, Democrat Kathie Vigliotti is running for re-election as clerk of court, Sandy Brown is running as a Democrat for re-election as treasurer and assessor, Democrat Don Brostrom is running for re-election as Hill County sheriff and coroner, Kathy Olson is running for re-election as county auditor as a Democrat, Diane McLean is running as a Republican for re-election as county superintendent of schools, and Republican Barb Salerno is running for re-election as public administrator.

In the uncontested county races in Blaine County, Sandra L. Boardman is running as a Democrat for re-election as clerk and recorder and assessor, Tori A. MacLean is running as a Democrat for treasurer — incumbent Democrat Wenda Oehmcke is not running — Deputy Blaine County Attorney Kelsie Whitford Harwood is running as a Democrat for county attorney — incumbent Democrat Don Ranstrom also has not filed for re-election — Perry Miller is running for re-election in the nonpartisan justice of the peace race, and Democrat Terry Brockie is running for re-election as county superintendent of schools.

In Liberty County, Republican Angel Colbry has filed as a candidate for Clerk and Recorder. Incumbent Democraty Rhonda Pimley has not filed for re-election. Republican Doug Riggin has filed as a candidate for sheriff, coroner and public administrator, with incumbent Republican Richard Burrows not filing for re-election. Incumbent Republican Gayle Dahlen has filed for re-election as treasurer and assessor, incumbent Republican Rachel Ghekiere has filed for re-election as county superintendent of schools, independent Hugh Brown has filed for re-election as county attorney, and Holly Frederickson has filed for re-election in the nonpartisan race for justice of the peace.

In Chouteau County, Susan Spencer is running for re-election in the nonpartisan race for justice of the peace, while the rest of the candidates who have filed are Republicans.

Daren Schuster is running for re-election as county commissioner, Stephen Gannon for re-election as county attorney, Lana Claassen for re-election as clerk and recorder, Vern Burdick for re-election as sheriff and coroner, and Sherry Rowland for re-election as treasurer and assessor.