News you can use
MATT GOURAS
Associated Press
HELENA— Republicans were looking ahead to taking full control of the Legislature in 2011 as the bulk of the returns still trickling in early Wednesday favored their candidates.
The GOP was competitive in races in traditional Democratic strongholds, and appeared to be holding their own seats with relative ease.
"Right now we are ahead in 21 of our 25 targeted races in the House and three of four targeted races in the Senate," Republican state Sen. Jeff Essmann of Billings said late Tuesday.
The Republican said the GOP was on track to take 58 or more seats in the House.
Going into the election, Democrats held organizational control of a 50-50 House and Republicans had a 27-23 advantage in the Senate.
But many races were too close to call early Wednesday.
The most intense battleground featuring Democrat Rep. Kendall Van Dyk challenging Sen. Roy Brown in Senate District 25 was separated by just one vote on Tuesday night and headed toward near certain recount. Both sides had dumped more than $200,000 combined into the Billings district.
The Legislature, in particular the House, in recent years has been marked by razor-thin margins that have led to cantankerous debates, historic stalemates and split leadership, giving Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer a distinct advantage in dealing with lawmakers.
Republicans weary of playing second fiddle to the popular governor were hoping a tea party-fueled resurgence gives them enough seats to challenge Schweitzer's policies.
Democrats were guardedly optimistic heading into the elections that voters would reward their effectiveness in running the state government at a time when most other states have struggled with large deficits, big cuts to core services and even tax increases.
But Republicans believe the Democratic brand has been tarnished by the policies of national Democrats in Washington. The Republicans have been promising on the campaign trail to use the state Legislature to stymie Montana's implementation of the federal health care overhaul and other programs they believe are unpopular.
Control of the Legislature was expected to come down to key battleground races around the state.
• House District 63: Republican Tom Burnett was locked in a tight battle with incumbent Democratic Rep. JP Pomnichowski in suburban Bozeman.
• Senate District 17: House Speaker Bob Bergren, a Havre Democrat, was losing in early returns to Republican minister Rowlie Hutton for an open Senate seat.
• House District 36: Rep. Julie French, D-Scobey, lost her seat to Republican Austin Knudsen, a Culbertson attorney.
• House District 24: Republican state Rep. Brian Hoven beat teacher Gary Lucero, a Democrat.
• Senate District 39: Republican Sen. Terry Murphy of Cardwell easily fought off a challenge from East Helena state Rep. Jill Cohenour.
• House District 20: Republican Steve Fitzpatrick was beating Democrat Donna Zook.
• House District 78: Cohenour's husband, highway patrolman Joe Cohenour, was losing in his bid to win his wife's open East Helena seat against Republican Steve Gibson.
• House District 77: Democrat Sheila Hogan of Clancy was losing in her bid against bar owner Alan Hale of Basin.
MATT GOURAS, Associated Press
HELENA— Republicans were looking ahead to taking full control of the Legislature in 2011 as the bulk of the returns still trickling in early Wednesday favored their candidates.
The GOP was competitive in races in traditional Democratic strongholds, and appeared to be holding their own seats with relative ease.
"Right now we are ahead in 21 of our 25 targeted races in the House and three of four targeted races in the Senate," Republican state Sen. Jeff Essmann of Billings said late Tuesday.
The Republican said the GOP was on track to take 58 or more seats in the House.
Going into the election, Democrats held organizational control of a 50-50 House and Republicans had a 27-23 advantage in the Senate.
But many races were too close to call early Wednesday.
The most intense battleground featuring Democrat Rep. Kendall Van Dyk challenging Sen. Roy Brown in Senate District 25 was separated by just one vote on Tuesday night and headed toward near certain recount. Both sides had dumped more than $200,000 combined into the Billings district.
The Legislature, in particular the House, in recent years has been marked by razor-thin margins that have led to cantankerous debates, historic stalemates and split leadership, giving Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer a distinct advantage in dealing with lawmakers.
Republicans weary of playing second fiddle to the popular governor were hoping a tea party-fueled resurgence gives them enough seats to challenge Schweitzer's policies.
Democrats were guardedly optimistic heading into the elections that voters would reward their effectiveness in running the state government at a time when most other states have struggled with large deficits, big cuts to core services and even tax increases.
But Republicans believe the Democratic brand has been tarnished by the policies of national Democrats in Washington. The Republicans have been promising on the campaign trail to use the state Legislature to stymie Montana's implementation of the federal health care overhaul and other programs they believe are unpopular.
Control of the Legislature was expected to come down to key battleground races around the state.
Reader Comments(0)