The 2016 election season is officially underway, and candidates are emerging in several contested races throughout the Flathead Valley.
With a March 14 deadline for candidates to file their declarations for the June 7 primary election, there’s still time for the political landscape to shift, but a handful of interesting races are taking shape.
The first day Montanans could register as candidates was Jan. 16, and hopefuls turned out in droves to file for dozens of top state posts, ranging from governor and chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court to legislators and district judges.
High-tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte is expected to announce his decision to run for the GOP nomination to unseat Democrat incumbent Steve Bullock, which promises to be a colorful contest, but statewide senate and house races are promising some fireworks of their own.
In total, 124 people formally filed as candidates on what’s considered the unofficial holiday for state politics, according to Secretary of State Linda McCulloch.
Here’s a look at who’s filed so far.
House District 3
Political newcomer Taylor Rose of Columbia Falls is the lone candidate to file for the Republican primary, while incumbent Rep. Zac Perry, D-Columbia Falls, has filed for re-election.
House District 4
A contested Republican primary is taking shape in this district as Matt Regier filed for the seat being vacated by termed-out Keith Regier, who’s running for Senate. Former Rep. Jerry O’Neil filed a C-1 declaration late last year, which allows candidates to begin raising campaign cash. O’Neil has not formalized his candidacy.
House District 5
Veteran Whitefish school board member David Fern has filed for the Democratic primary. Incumbent Rep. Ed Lieser is not running for re-election to HD-5, which covers Whitefish and leans Democratic.
House District 6
Rep. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, filed for re-election in this distinctly Republican district.
House District 7
Incumbent Republican Rep. Frank Garner, of Kalispell, filed for re-election following a high-profile first term. The former Kalispell Police Chief will be looking to beat Lynn Stanley, who filed for the Democratic primary.
House District 9
Incumbent Republican Randy Brodehl filed for re-election.
House District 10
Rep. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork, filed for re-election.
House District 11
Former House District 4 representative Derek Skees, a conservative Republican who unsuccessfully ran for State Auditor in 2012 and the Public Service Commission in 2014, is the only candidate who has filed for HD-11, a deep red district being vacated by Rep. Al Olszewski, who is running for Senate.
Senate District 2
Incumbent Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, filed for re-election.
Senate District 3
Rep. Keith Regier has filed for the Republican nomination in this prominent district. SD-3 is currently represented by termed-out Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, a moderate Republican who has not ruled out a run for the House. He could seek the GOP nomination in House District 4, where term limits prevent Regier from running again. He could also run in House District 11, which Olszewski is vacating to run for Senate.
Senate District 6
Rep. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, filed for the seat being vacated by Janna Taylor. He will face former Sen. Carmine Mowbray in the Republican primary. Mowbray filed her C-1 last year but has not officially declared her candidacy.