Heated Montana election contests start today

Few candidates had trickled in to file as of deadline this morning, but a series of hot races in north-central Montana opened up for people to officially declare their candidacy today.

Perhaps the hottest race, gathering national, as well as state attention, is for the U. S. Senate.

Five-term incumbent Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, announced early last year he would not run for re-election, instead taking on first-term Democrat Jon Tester.

The Republican and Democratic parties on a national level have been watching that race and weighing in, with the contest considered one of the races tha...