HELENA – Montana candidates seeking offices in the 2012 elections begin filing with election officials Thursday.
Many candidates have already announced they are running for office and have launched their campaigns.
Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch says the candidates can now officially file with her office to appear on ballots for the primary election to be held in June, followed by the general election in November.
The 2012 election cycle is topped by the already-tense — and expensive — battle between U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, who is challenging the incumbent Democrat.
Montanans will also be choosing the statewide elected offices from the governor on down, along with many other offices and ballot questions.