Hutton defeats Bergren

In a hotly contested legislative race, Havre minister Rowlie Hutton defeated outgoing Speaker of the State House Rep. Bob Bergren, D-Havre, in the race for Senate District 17.

Hutton won with 60.2 percent of the vote in the district, which includes parts of Hill and Blaine counties. The final count was 3,502-2315.

Bergren could not run for re-election to the House due to term limits. He faced Hutton in the district represented by Sen. Ken "Kim" Hansen, D-Harlem, who also could not run for re-election due to term limits.

During his victory speech at the Republican headquarters on 1st Street in...