Democrats optimistic, then disappointed on election night

The Democrats at the Eagles Club reception room in Havre were gathered Tuesday around a television displaying the incoming results. People were checking computers and phones constantly for updates on local races.

State Sen. Greg Jergeson and House District 28 candidate Janet Trethewey awaited the results of the elections along with their supporters.

They were up against Republican state Senate candidate Rep. Kris Hansen and Stephanie Hess, the Republican House District 28 candidate.

Trethewey said she felt good about the elections and her five-month campaign.

"I'm from here, I know everybody here," she said. "People know me. I think that's the biggest advantage all the way through."

She said that whilst going door to door, people knew her and said they had no idea who her opponent, Stephanie Hess, was.

Jergeson said he was optimistic about the results to come.

"I've always been known to work hard in my campaigns," Jergeson said. "... The response from the public everywhere I've been throughout the district both in small towns and in Havre - I'm pretty positive and cautiously optimistic."

He said the people in the counties in his district outside Hill County are generally Republican, but that there were a lot of good people in them.

Havre City Ward 4 Councilperson Allen "Woody" Woodwick said he was anxious to see how everything turned out.

"I'm confident that the Democratic candidates will do very well," Woodwick said.

Jacob Bachmeier was present at the headquarters and said he has been assisting Jergeson in his campaign.

"I find that Greg is hard-working, reaches across aisles and someone we need for the senate," Bachmeier said.

Bachmeier said in his experiences as he and Jergeson would travel and talk to voters, the reception has been very good.

Reaction to results

The crowd dispersed as it become more apparent that Hansen and Hess were going to take the lead in the race. The room grew quiet.

Trethewey said the results of the election were unexpected.

"Right now, I'm just kind of in shock," Trethewey said. "The response I got at the doors, talking to people – they were very positive. They had no idea of who my opponent even was; they've never heard of her."

She said she felt "dumb-founded" that things were going the way they were when the count was become more solid against her.

She said she may consider running for another position after this election, in a couple years or so.

"I'm not done," she said.

Not long before it was announced Hansen won, Jergeson expressed his disappointment in the result, which was finally announced to be Hansen's 4,046 to Jergeson's 3,182, a rounded 56 percent to 44 percent.

Jergeson won one of the four counties in the district: Hill County by by 52 percent. The rest of the counties – Cascade, Chouteau and Liberty – he lost by over 24 percent each.

"There were some national trend things going on here and around Montana from what I understand happened in other communities around the state," Jergeson said. "I cannot second-guess the effort that I put into it, my field staff, my volunteers, my supporters. The people that were true to my campaign just put everything they had into it, and I really, desperately, appreciate all the work they did."

He added that the outlying counties of Hill County were the reason he lost the election.

"I'm gratified that it appears the people of Havre hung in there with me," Jergeson said. "... Havre has it - always will, in my book."

He said that the turnout in certain precincts were much lower than they were two years ago. He said if people who would have voted for him if they had turned out like they did in presidential elections, his numbers would be different.

In 2012, 71 percent of registered voters turned out to submit their ballots. In 2010, 56 percent turned out. This year, 53.3 percent of voters submitted their ballots and 51 percent of those were absentee ballots.

"I've given my public service my all," Jergeson said. "I've given my campaign my all, but now I'm tired, so I don't know that I have a whole lot more to give back. It probably won't be in running for public office."

He said now that he will not be the state senator, he may work on a collaborative book about the political and legislative history of Montana since the new constitution.

"This will be an interesting chapter to put into that book," Jergeson said.