Peterson, Alley win Hill County races

12:02 a.m .: With the unofficial total tallied in Hill County’s primary election, two contested races have been decided and the Republican candidates in two legislative races have advanced to the general election.

In Democratic primaries, incumbent Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson defeated challenger Dana Kjersem 1,028 to 849 and Deputy Hill County Attorney defeated private Havre attorney Randy Randolph 1,115 to 776. Neither race has a challenger from another party.

In the race for state Senate District 14, Havre businessman Brad Lotton defeated incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, in the Hill County election, 742-491, but the Montana Secretary of State’s website reports Tempel made up the difference in Liberty, Chouteau and Cascade counties to win 1,693 to 1,543 and advance to face Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss, a Havre Democrat, in the general election. Tuss, who was unopposed in the primary, received 1,982 votes.

In the race for House District 27, the portion of SD14 that excludes Havre, Darrold Hutchinson of Hingham thumped Joshua Kassmier of Fort Benton 270-91, but Kassmier also made up the difference outside of Hill County. The Secretary of State website reports Kassmier won 1,281 to 1,080 and advances to face Democrat Dan Nelson, also of Fort Benton, in the November election. Nelson, who was unopposed in the primary, received 707 votes.

In the race for Public Service Commission District 1, Hill County voters picked Mark Wicks of Inverness with 551 votes, giving Randy Pinocci of Sun River 350, Rob Cook of Shelby 314 and Cory McKinney of Great Falls 158.

Pinocci took the entire district, however, which stretches from Toole down to Cascade counties and east to the North Dakota border. Pinocci won with 8,130 votes to Rob Cook’s 7,260. Wicks received 4,665 votes and McKinney 3,430.

Pinocci advances to face Democrat Doug Kaercher of Havre in the general election. Kaercher, who was unopposed in the primary, received 14,435 votes.

10:23 p.m : With about a third of the precincts counted in Hill County, incumbent Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson has a strong lead in the Democratic Primary. After seven precincts were counted and 10 more to go, Peterson leads challenger Dana Kjersem 435-326. The race does not have a challenger of any party for the general election.

In the Democratic Primary for Hill County Attorney, Deputy County Attorney Karen Alley leads private attorney Randy Randolph 445-325. That race also does not have any general election opponents.

In the Republican Primary for Senate District 14, Brad Lotton has 358 votes and state Sen. Russ Tempel has 161. Democrat Paul Tuss, who does not have a primary challenger, received 657 votes.

In the Republican Primary in House District 27, Darrold Hutchinson has 46 votes and Joshua Kassmier has 17.

In the Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate, Matt Rosendale has 213, Troy Downing 154, Russ Fagg 149 and state Sen Albert Olszewski 121. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who is unopposed in the Democratic Primary, received 727 votes.

In the Democratic Primary for the U.S. House, John Heenan received 382 votes, Kathleen Williams 198, Grant Kier 59, John Meyer 35, Lynda Moss 31 and Jared Pettinato 16. Incumbent Rep. Greg Gianforte, who has no opponent in the Republican Primary, received 565 votes.

9:09 p.m. The first precinct has been counted in Hill County for the primary election.

In Precinct 15, incumbent Mark Peterson has the lead in the Democratic Primary for Hill County Commissioner, while challenger Dana Kjersem received 20 votes.

In the Hill County Attorney Democratic Primary, Hill County Deputy Attorney Karen Alley received 36 votes and private attorney Randy Randolph received 26.

In the Republican Primary for State Senate District 14, Brad Lotton of Havre received 57 votes and incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel of Chester received 16.

Paul Tuss, who is unopposed in the Democratic Primary for SD14, received 52 votes.

In the Republican Primary for House District 27, Darrold Hutchinson of Hingham received 46 votes and Joshua Kassmier of Fort Benton received 17. Democrat Dan Nelson of Fort Benton, who is unopposed, received 48 votes.

In the Republican Primary for Public Service Commission District 1, Randy Pinocci of Sun River received 24 votes, Mark Wicks of Inverness 21, Rob Cook of Shelby 15 and Cory McKinney of Great Falls 7. Doug Kaercher of Havre, who is unopposed in the Democratic Primary, received 52.

In the Democratic Primary for the U.S. House, in Hill County's Precinct 15 Kathleen Williams led the way with 26 votes, followed by john Heenan with 20. Grant Kier had 6, while Jared Pettinato and John Meyer each had one.

Rep. Greg Gianforte, who is unopposed in the Republican Primary for the House race, received 61.

In the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate, Russ Fagg received 22 votes, state Auditor Matt Rosendale 20, state Sen. Albert Olszewski 16 and Troy Downing 14.

8:37 p.m. The Hill County election administrators declared the polls on the primary election closed at 8 p.m. and the first ballots have arrived to be counted. Watch here for local and statewide results as the ballots are counted.