We have made it halfway through the week, Beacon readers, and thank goodness for that. Happy Wednesday from yours truly, Mariah Thomas … who’s here to take you through the Daily Roundup, amid what’s turned into a very busy day for your local reporter tasked with covering state politics.
It’s officially an election year, which you can tell from all the candidates who’ve been jumping into high-profile races these past few weeks. (Or those who are rumored to be jumping into high-profile races… Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for more on that.) And candidate filing for primaries isn’t even over yet!
There’s a lot to keep track of between local elections, primaries, the state legislature, ballot initiatives and statewide races. But one method I’ve always found effective for working through so much noise is taking it step-by-step. And the first step in this election-riddled year is the 2026 special purpose and school district elections, which will happen May 5.
As I write this newsletter, candidate filing for both special district positions AND school board positions that will appear on the ballot this spring are open! Special district candidate filing will close at 5 p.m. on Feb. 4. School district candidate filing will close at 5 p.m. on Feb. 9.
Eighteen of Flathead County’s 19 elementary school districts have at least one trustee position up for election this spring, along with two of the county’s four high school districts. Per the Flathead County Elections Department, any person qualified to vote in a school district is eligible to run for the office of trustee, though current employees of the school district aren’t eligible to run in their own district.
If you’re interested in running, your declaration must be filed directly with the school district. To access the proper form, click this link. And for more information and filing instructions, a list of school district clerks can be found here.
Special district filing, which opened just yesterday, also has a slew of open positions across rural fire districts, water and sewer districts, and more for the taking.
To be eligible to run for one of those offices, candidates must be registered to vote, 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the district or owner of property in the district. Candidates must submit their completed declaration for nomination and oath of candidacy form to the Flathead County Election Office by 5 p.m. Feb. 4.
I don’t know about you, but personally, I’m of the utmost belief that it takes a lot of courage to run for a public office. And it comes at a personal cost — you dedicate time and energy to serving your community when you do it. So, for any of you who choose to file, you get a personal round of applause from this reporter for throwing your name in the ring.
Now, onto the rest of your Daily Roundup, which has me questioning whether a certain someone (cough, cough, the University of Montana’s president) will be tossing his name in the mix for a certain office this fall. Remains TBD. Read on for more.
University of Montana President Stepping Down Amid Speculation About U.S. Senate Bid
Seth Bodnar said that he would be considering "a new way to serve our state and nation." The leadership transition for the university will begin immediately.
Kalispell’s Newest Leaders Outline Vision of Housing and Business Growth as Building Permits Break Records
Building permits in 2025 accounted for $250 million as commercial development across the municipality continues; City Manager Jarod Nygren and Mayor Ryan Hunter say affordable housing remains a challenge
Cayuse Prairie School’s Top Administrator Set to Retire in June
The district will be on the hunt for a new superintendent and is asking for public feedback on a survey to help determine the qualities the next candidate should have
A once powerful force in state politics, Montana's Democrats have faced mounting electoral losses in recent decades. As the state's most popular Democrat faces an uphill battle to reelection in the U.S. Senate, questions about the viability of the party in a post-November landscape loom.
Whether you’ve been here for decades, or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
