HELENA – The Montana secretary of state says that unofficial results show there will be no recount in the close Republican primary for the public service commission.
Political newcomer Bill Gallagher says he won the GOP primary over former Secretary of State Brad Johnson with hard work.
It also didn’t hurt that Johnson got a drunk-driving charge prior to the election and suspended his campaign.
Johnson checked into rehab shortly after the election before results were finalized.
The state’s election office says Tuesday that results tallied from last week’s primary show Gallagher getting topping Johnson with a large enough margin that no recount is needed. It notified both candidates there will be no recount.
Johnson was Montana’s secretary of state from 2005 to 2008 before losing his 2008 re-election bid.