Montana

Contested primaries across Montana's new state legislative districts

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Contested primaries across Montana's new state legislative districts

HELENA — In addition to all the statewide elections Montanans will be voting in this year, they’ll also be choosing 125 state lawmakers.

Half of the Montana Senate and the entire Montana House will be up for election, and we already know there will be some differences in the Legislature when they arrive for their 2025 session.

The most obvious change for many Montana voters will be that the legislative districts they live in may have changed. This will be the first election cycle under the new district lines that the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission finalized last year. All 100 House districts and 50 Senate districts have to be redrawn every ten years, after the release of federal census data, to account for shifting populations.

MTN News

Along with the new lines, there are also going to be more contested legislative primaries this year than in 2022. Out of the 125 races, 44 feature at least two Republican candidates, and 15 have multiple Democrats. That’s compared to 31 contested GOP races and 13 Democratic primaries last election.

Cascade County alone has seven contested Republican primaries, and Flathead County has six. Gallatin, Missoula and Lewis and Clark Counties each have three contested Democratic primaries.

The new lines have many incumbent lawmakers shuffling around and seeking to represent a wholly or partly different district. In addition, in 23 races, an incumbent is facing at least one challenger.

Four districts across the state have two current lawmakers facing off in their primaries – all of them Republicans.

Current Reps. Caleb Hinkle, R-Belgrade, and Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, are running against each other in House District 68, in northwest Gallatin County. Additionally, former House Speaker and Senate President Scott Sales is also in the GOP primary there.

Two House members – Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls, and Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton – are facing off for an open Senate seat in Senate District 13, which covers Chouteau County and much of rural Cascade County.

In Ravalli County, Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, is running for reelection in Senate District 44. She’s being challenged by Rep. Wayne Rusk, R-Corvallis, as well as a third GOP candidate, Brad Davis of Victor.

In Senate District 38, which covers Powell, Granite and Jefferson Counties, Sen. Becky Beard, R-Elliston, is running for a full term after being appointed to the Senate. The other candidates in the primary include Rep. Greg Frazer, R-Deer Lodge, and Jeremy Mygland of East Helena.

Also of note this year, Gov. Greg Gianforte is weighing in on GOP legislative primaries, giving his endorsement to 58 candidates across the state – including 24 in contested races, and 3 challengers to incumbents. Gianforte backed Sales over Hinkle and Carlson, Kyle McMurray over Rep. Jane Gillette and Randyn Gregg over Rep. James Bergstrom.

Montana Legislative Primaries with Multiple Candidates:

Republicans:

House District 2 (Southern Lincoln County and Marion): Thomas Jenkins, Tom Millett
House District 7 (Kalispell): Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, Shaun Pandina
House District 8 (Evergreen): Rep. Tony Brockman, Lukas Schubert
House District 9 (Lakeside and Somers): Lee Huestis, Steven Kelly
House District 11 (Eastern Flathead County): Ed Byrne, Rob Tracy
House District 16 (Glacier County): Rolland Heagy, Elaine Utterback Mitchell
House District 18 (Toole and Pondera Counties and part of Teton County): Rep. Llew Jones, James Coombs
House District 19 (Great Falls): Derren Auger, Hannah Trebas
House District 20 (Great Falls): Rep. Steven Galloway, Elizabeth Nikolakakos
House District 21 (Black Eagle): Rep. Ed Buttrey, James Osterman
House District 22 (Great Falls): Rep. George Nikolakakos, Jim Whitaker
House District 23 (Great Falls): Pete Anderson, Josh Denully, John Proud, Eric Tilleman
House District 26 (Chouteau County and parts of Cascade County): Rep. Russ Miner, Dana Darlington
House District 28 (Hi-Line): Eric Albus, former Rep. Wayne Stahl, Mark Wicks
House District 29 (Northeastern Montana): Miles Knudsen, Valerie Moore
House District 33 (Dawson County and southern Richland County): Rep. Brandon Ler, Kathy Hoiland
House District 38 (Musselshell, Golden Valley and northern Yellowstone Counties): Rep. Greg Oblander, Nancy Kemler
House District 40 (Lockwood): Mike Vinton, Josh Visocan
House District 47 (Billings): Thomas Mahon, Stephanie Moncada
House District 53 (Yellowstone County): Rep. Nelly Nicol, David Austin
House District 55 (Carbon County): Rep. Brad Barker, Lisa Bennett, Mary Horman
House District 63 (Bozeman): Joe Flynn, Mark Lewis
House District 68 (Gallatin County): Rep. Caleb Hinkle, Rep. Jennifer Carlson, former Sen. Scott Sales
House District 70 (Beaverhead County): Mike Klakken, Shannon Maness, Mary Ann Nicholas
House District 76 (Powell and Granite Counties): Rep. John Fitzpatrick, Dave Kesler
House District 77 (Broadwater County, Three Forks and Manhattan): Rep. Jane Gillette, Kyle McMurray
House District 78 (Central Montana): Rep. James Bergstrom, Randyn Gregg
House District 79 (Lewis and Clark County): Demetri Joslin, Jill Sark
House District 83 (Helena and East Helena): Wes Feist, Christopher St. Jean
House District 84 (Helena Valley): Rep. Julie Dooling, Jon Jackson
House District 85 (Southern Ravalli County): Rep. Michele Binkley, Kathy Love
House District 86 (Hamilton): Rep. David Bedey, Robert Wallace
House District 88 (Northern Ravalli County): Kim Dailey, Greg Overstreet
House District 90 (Mineral County and parts of Missoula and Sanders Counties): Curtis Cochran, Steven Delisle, Jeff Stanek
Senate District 5 (Southern Flathead County): Marquis Laude, Rep. Matt Regier
Senate District 13 (Chouteau County and parts of Cascade County): Rep. Josh Kassmier, Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway
Senate District 15 (Northeastern Montana): Gregg Hunter, Rep. Rhonda Knudsen
Senate District 17 (Southeast Montana): Mike Newton, Rep. Bob Phalen
Senate District 27 (Laurel): Sen. Chris Friedel, former Rep. Vince Ricci
Senate District 35 (Madison and Beaverhead Counties): Mark McGinley, former Rep. Ray Shaw, Tony Tezak
Senate District 38 (Powell, Granite and Jefferson Counties): Sen. Becky Beard, Rep. Greg Frazer, Jeremy Mygland
Senate District 44 (Northern Ravalli County): Sen. Theresa Manzella, Brad Davis, Rep. Wayne Rusk
Senate District 45 (Mineral County and parts of Missoula and Sanders Counties): Rep. Denley Loge, AnnaMarie White
Senate District 47 (Missoula): Abigail Maki, Erica Siate

Democrats

House District 3 (Whitefish and West Glacier): Former Rep. Debo Powers, Guthrie Quist
House District 31 (Fort Peck and Fort Belknap): Rep. Frank Smith, Lance FourStar
House District 58 (Livingston): Jamie Isaly, Dean Williamson
House District 62 (Bozeman): Rio Roland, Josh Seckinger
House District 63 (Bozeman): John Hansen, Peter Strand
House District 65 (Bozeman): Brian Close, Anja Wookey-Huffman
House District 79 (Lewis and Clark County): Emily Harris, Luke Muszkiewicz, Anne Woodland
House District 82 (Helena): Pete Elverum, SK Rossi
House District 84 (Helena Valley): Michele Crepeau, David Williams
House District 97 (Missoula): Melody Cunningham, Lisa Verlanic Fowler
House District 100 (Missoula): Rep. SJ Howell, Tim Garrison
Senate District 16 (Fort Peck, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s): Former Rep. Bridget Smith, Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy
Senate District 21 (Crow and Northern Cheyenne): Former Rep. Rae Peppers, Rep. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
Senate District 36 (Butte and Anaconda): Former Rep. Sara Novak, former Sen. Jessica Wicks
Senate District 46 (Parts of Missoula, Lake and Sanders Counties): Jacinda Morigeau, CB Pearson

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Montana

Deadly Crans-Montana fire sends chills through Swiss tourism with safety in spotlight

Published

7 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Deadly Crans-Montana fire sends chills through Swiss tourism with safety in spotlight

VERBIER, Switzerland, Jan 29 (Reuters) – A New Year fire that killed 40 people at a Swiss ski resort bar has shaken a lucrative tourism industry that long had an impeccable reputation and has piled pressure on the country to tighten safety standards.

News that “Le Constellation” bar, in the town of Crans-Montana in Canton Valais, had gone six years without a safety check quickly prompted officials to ban some practices, including the use of sparkling candles blamed for the tragedy.

The stain on Switzerland’s otherwise exemplary safety record was quickly felt as local hoteliers reported cancelled bookings in a canton where the cost of real estate in resorts such as nearby Verbier can fetch prices on a par with Hong Kong.

“There were cancellations, there were reservation postponements to later dates in hotels,” said Bruno Huggler, director of the Crans-Montana tourism office, after the blaze that killed mostly teenagers and injured more than 100 people.

Le Constellation owners Jacques Moretti and his wife are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes.

The disaster has ignited a fractious political debate over safety, including calls for harmonised national standards in a country that prizes local autonomy.

It has also sparked alarm in Verbier’s hospitality sector.

BUSINESS FEARS

“We realize this could very well happen right here,” said Lionel Dubois, head of Verbier’s Association of Hoteliers, Cafe Owners and Restaurateurs. “That, I think, is a bit frightening.”

Tourism in Switzerland was worth about $22.17 billion, or 3% of national output in 2021, official data showed.

While bookings at Crans-Montana’s roughly 1,300 hotel rooms have suffered, the overall picture is stable, as chalet and apartment rentals cover most stays, tourism boss Huggler said.

Young people have been shaken, though, and while some restaurants are returning to life, bars remain quieter, said Cedric Berger, head of the Association of Apartment and Chalet Owners of the Crans-Montana Upper Plateau.

Some local accommodation providers have seen cancellations in short-term vacation rentals.

“January is a month to forget, a lost month for everyone,” said Berger.

Survivors of the fire, which also killed French and Italian citizens, are still hospitalised around Europe.

Crans-Montana apartment owners from Italy and France are angry, said Berger, who is also a lawyer.

“People go to Valais not because it’s the ‘best party’, but because it’s Switzerland, and you think it’s safe. If that quality disappears, then Switzerland’s ‘fortress’ is a bit shaken,” he added.

Anxiety about the fallout is palpable in Verbier, where Reuters contacted 37 hospitality venues.

Most declined to speak or did not reply, though the 12 who did said checks were conducted properly. But all agreed that rules must be reinforced to guarantee regular inspections, limit numbers at venues and provide fire-safety training to staff.

In four of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, including Valais, building insurance is not mandatory – potentially increasing risks for owners hit by fire, as well as weakening controls.

The Swiss Insurance Association said over 90% of buildings in Switzerland are insured according to market estimates, adding it does not keep precise figures on how many are not. Reuters could not establish if Le Constellation had building insurance.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

The fire delivered the biggest hit to Switzerland’s reputation since the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse bank, said Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland, the foreign ministry unit that promotes the country’s image abroad.

As media reports about Switzerland jumped to 25 times more than average in early January, a crisis room was established to support people abroad following the fire, said Edelmann.

Lawmaker Jacqueline de Quattro, head of the lower house of parliament security committee, said the fire had exposed potential shortcomings in Switzerland’s federal system, which allows cantons to set their own rules.

“We believed we had strict rules and that Switzerland was well‑prepared,” said de Quattro. “But then we were brutally confronted with reality.”

Proposing a national review to harmonise standards backed by an events industry group, she voiced concerns over event professionals’ reports of sloppy work stemming from inadequate training, cost pressures and irregular inspections.

But the head of Verbier’s Val de Bagnes municipality, Fabien Sauthier, said inspections need resources and that, while regular checks occur, it was tough to inspect some 400 public buildings annually with just four full-time safety officials.

And any push towards greater federal oversight could face resistance.

“I’m a Swiss person, so I think the canton should decide what it wants to do,” said Willy Schranz, head of the municipal council in Adelboden in Canton Bern. “If you take responsibility, then it’s a very good system.”

($1 = 0.7667 Swiss francs)

Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin
Editing by Dave Graham and Gareth Jones

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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Montana

FWP publishes 2026 hunting regulations

Published

19 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

The 2026 “deer, elk, antelope” and “moose, sheep, goat, bison” hunting regulations are available from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. As with every year, there are changes hunters should know.

Highlights include some boundary changes to several hunting districts, adjustments to tags offered, an application process for unlimited bighorn sheep licenses, and changes to the limit on the number of licenses non-resident deer hunters can purchase.

FWP reminds hunters to brush up on those regulations and make sure you know what steps you need to take ahead of licenses and applications opening.

“Familiarize yourself,” said FWP communication and education program manager Vivaca Crowser. “You may see no changes in your hunting district that you had to, or you may see some, so it’s a good time to remember that those changes happen. They happen more in depth every other year; this is one of those years.”

More information about the changes and how to find the new regulations can be found here.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 27, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Jan. 27, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

04-20-38-56-66, Mega Ball: 05

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

01-10-32-37-48, Lucky Ball: 09

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 27 drawing

09-21-27-28, Bonus: 06

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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