Missoula County election results: all three ballot measures pass, DeSmet track bond falls short

Unofficial results as of 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, from the Montana Secretary of State. Missoula County's results become official after the county canvass on Nov. 17.

Missoula County reported results from all 65 precincts Wednesday afternoon, in results the county elections office posts through the Montana Secretary of State. The county counted 60,871 ballots, 64.8% of its 93,866 registered voters, and will count accepted provisional ballots Nov. 9.

All three statewide ballot measures passed. Voters in the DeSmet School District turned down a track and field bond, and voters near Frenchtown approved the new Sorrel Springs Water District.

Statewide ballot measures

The Associated Press called all three measures as passing just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Missoula County supported each by a wider margin than the state as a whole. Statewide totals below are as of 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, when Gallatin and Yellowstone counties had not finished reporting.

• CI-132, keeping judicial elections nonpartisan in the state constitution: 80.0% yes in Missoula County (47,632 to 11,900); 68.0% yes statewide (316,881 to 148,817).
• CI-133, constitutional rules and deadlines for citizen initiatives and referendums: 77.3% yes in Missoula County (45,543 to 13,352); 65.2% yes statewide (297,705 to 159,064).
• I-194, limiting the powers of corporations, nonprofits and other entities so they cannot spend on candidates, parties or ballot issues in Montana: 78.3% yes in Missoula County (45,717 to 12,650); 65.4% yes statewide (296,391 to 157,108).

Our voter guide explains what each measure does.

Local questions

DeSmet School District bond: failed, 366 against to 313 for (53.9% against), a 53-vote margin. The district had asked to borrow up to $2.4 million over no more than 20 years to build a track and field on city-owned land east of DeSmet School.

Sorrel Springs Water District: approved, 141 to 14. The vote creates a new water district near Frenchtown.

County offices and local courts

Every county office on the ballot had one candidate, and each was elected:

• County Commissioner, District 1: Juanita Vero (D), 43,604 votes
• Clerk and Recorder/Treasurer: Tyler Gernant (D), 44,038
• Sheriff/Coroner: Jeremiah D. Petersen (D), 44,159
• County Attorney: Matt Jennings (D), 43,442
• Superintendent of Schools: Erin Lipkind (D), 43,334
• Auditor: Lester Bracey (D), 43,007

Justice of the Peace, Department 2: Landee N. Holloway won with 60.8% of the vote, 30,452 to 19,630 for Kelli S. Sather.

Justice of the Peace Alex Beal (Department 1) was retained with 86.9% yes, 44,655 to 6,738.

District Judge Shane A. Vannatta (4th Judicial District, Department 5) was retained with 82.5% yes across Missoula and Mineral counties, 44,727 to 9,456.

Legislature

Every county in the districts below has reported all of its precincts. Most of these districts sit entirely within Missoula County. For House Districts 76, 90 and 91, which reach into neighboring counties, the totals are districtwide.

Unopposed:

• Senate District 48: Andrea Olsen (D), 8,465 votes
• Senate District 50: Shane A. Morigeau (D), 8,174
• House District 90: Jeff Stanek (R), 4,247 districtwide
• House District 92: Monica Tranel (D), 4,021
• House District 95: Zooey Zephyr (D), 4,761
• House District 96: Bob Carter (D), 3,644

Statewide and federal races

These races are decided by voters well beyond Missoula County. Totals below are from the Montana Secretary of State as of 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, when Gallatin and Yellowstone counties had not finished reporting. These results become official at the state canvass.

U.S. Senate: Republican Kurt Alme won. The Associated Press called the race shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Independent Seth Bodnar conceded in a statement shortly before midnight Tuesday. Statewide, Alme had 230,010 votes (48.6%), Bodnar 177,713 (37.5%), Democrat Alani Bankhead 57,060 (12.1%) and Libertarian Kyle Austin 8,678 (1.8%). In Missoula County, Bodnar had 59.1%, Alme 27.1% and Bankhead 12.7%.

U.S. House, Western District: Democrat Sam Forstag led Republican Aaron Flint 127,263 (50.0%) to 120,108 (47.2%), a margin of 7,155 votes, with Libertarian Nick Sheedy at 7,289 (2.9%). Flint said Wednesday that he had called Forstag Tuesday night to concede. The Associated Press had not called the race as of late Wednesday afternoon. In Missoula County, Forstag had 68.2% and Flint 29.6%.

Montana Supreme Court, Seat 4: Amy Eddy defeated Dan Wilson. The Associated Press called the race late Tuesday night. Eddy had 59.2% statewide (266,009 to 183,365) and 76.8% in Missoula County.

Public Service Commission, District 5: With every county in the district fully reported, Republican Annie Bukacek led Democrat Kevin Hamm 50,748 (52.8%) to 45,408 (47.2%). The district covers part of Missoula County, where Hamm had 63.6% and Bukacek 36.4%. The Associated Press had not called the race as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

What's next

The Missoula County Elections Office invites the public to watch each step at the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St., according to its schedule:

• Monday, Nov. 9, 2:45 p.m.: provisional ballot count
• Thursday, Nov. 12, 8:45 a.m.: post-election audit, a check that the counting equipment worked correctly
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, 11 a.m.: canvass, when commissioners and elections staff verify the county's results

Questions about your ballot go to the Elections Office at 406-258-4751. If something here is wrong, email missoulacommons@gmail.com and we will fix it. How we report.