Bachmeier wins in HD 28

A little less than a year after he announced his candidacy, Jacob Bachmeier, an 18-year-old 2016 Havre High School graduate, pulled off an upset win in the race for House District 28, unseating first-term Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre.   

"We proved a lot of people wrong, but more importantly we proved a lot of people right," Bachmeier said after learning of his victory shortly after midnight.

When the final votes were counted, Bachmeier had taken eight of nine precincts within the district which consists of Havre and areas slightly west and east of city limits.

He lost precinct 16 to Hess 103-158.

In all, Bachmeier received 2,206 to Hess' 1,917 votes.

"The Democrats thought this was one they could pick up, and I know they spent a lot of money here and Jacob worked hard and the staff that they had worked hard," Hess said. "The Democrats tend to turn out a lot of voters in presidential cycles, and they did that again this year in this district. Good job on Jacob. He worked hard. I'll be praying for him."

Bachmeier said Hess, who was first elected to the seat in 2014, was a worthy opponent and he was glad that she made Havre her home.

"I don't think in any way she is done in politics," he said. "I can see her running for city council, I can see her getting involved in other ways and I hope she does."

Bachmeier said, that since he wa a child, he has been enthralled with politics, especially at the state level. His great-grandfather Rex Manuel had been a Democratic state representative from Fairfield, and as a child, Bachmeier said his great-grandmother used to regale him with stories of Montana politics and legislative sessions.

It was while working part-time at Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods that Bachmeier was first introduced to the local political scene. He recognized former Democratic state Sen. Greg Jergeson as he helped carry groceries to the veteran lawmaker's car.

"I instantly recognized him and told him I was a fan," Bachmeier said. The two began discussing politics, "and he just kind of took me under his wing at that point."

Bachmeier then began attending local Democratic Party meetings and volunteering for local candidates. In the process, he became acquainted with both current party figures as well as longtime figures within the party such as former Democratic state Rep. John Musgrove. In April 2015, Bachmeier was elected vice chair of the Hill County Democratic Party.

Though he said he would have one day entered politics anyway, the guidance of Jergeson and Musgrove accelerated that entry.

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Havre Daily News reporter Paul Dragu contributed to this story.