Incumbents stand strong in Hill County

Editor's note: This version corrects the returns from Public Service Commission District 1 and notes that all precincts are not counted. It also adds the results from house districts 27 and 32 and from Blaine County.

8:50 a.m. - With all the precincts counted in Hill County, the unofficial tally shows several incumbents maintaining their seats, the tally throughout the state showing likely victors in some open seats and some races still too close to call.

With 100 provisional ballots yet to be counted, Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson, a Democrat, fended off a strong challenge from independent Mark Hansonl, 3,399 to 2,566.

Democratic Hill County Treasurer/Assessor Sandy Brown easily held off a challenge from Republican Penny Hadford 3,956 to 2,122, and in the nonpartisan race for Hill County justice of the peace, incumbent Judge Audrey Barger handily defeated her challenger, Bruce Grant, 4,495 to 1,240.

In the race for the seat in House District 28, incumbent Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, also easily held off his challengers. Bachmeier tallied 2,238 votes while Libertarian Conor Burns gathered 395 and former legislator Bob Sivertsen, running as an independent, took 1,168 votes.

In the race for House District 32 that stretches from the northeast corner of Chouteau County into western Phillips County, including the Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, unofficial results from all 10 precincts show incumbent Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, fended off a challenge from former Rep. G. Bruce Meyers, R-Box Elder, 2,234 to 1,351.

The votes on approving a mill levy to add funds to the Great Northern Fairgrounds budget passed, with 3,425 votes in favor and 2,748 against.

Other races in open seats appear to be decided, while others are too close to call.

In the race for Senate District 14, incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, has a slight lead in the tally on the Montana secretary of state's website, 4,372 to the 4,293 garnered by Havre Democrat Paul Tuss. That was with 25 of 26 precincts fully reported.

In the race for House District 27, which along with House District 28 comprises Senate District 14, Fort Benton Republican Joshua Kassmier handily defeated Democrat Dan Nelson, also of Fort Benton, 3,287 to 1,371, with 26 of 27 precincts counted.

In the race for the seat in Public Service Commission District 1, Sun River Republican Randi Pinocci soundly defeated Havre Democrat Doug Kaercher, 38,032 to 25,774 with 119 of 142 precincts reported.

In contested Blaine County races, Republican Miles Hutton defeated Democrat Ken “Kim” Hansen 470-413 while Democrat Sheriff’s Lt. John Colby, a Democrat, defeated Republican Undersheriff Frank Billmayer 1.514 tp 1,368 in the race for Blaine Count sheriff.

In the race for state district judge for Judicial District 17 in Blaine, Phillips and Valley counties, with all 13 precincts reported, incumbent Judge Yvonne Laird defeated challenger Peter Helland 4,531 to 3772.

12:03 a.m. With all nine Havre precincts counted, the unofficial tally shows Rep. Jacob Bachmeier has retained his seat representing House District 28 with 2,238 votes. Independent Bob Sivertsen garnered 1,168 with Libertarian Conor Burns taking 395.

10:18 p.m. With four Hill County precincts counted, the mill levy proposed for the Hill County Fairgrounds is off to an early lead with 1,1784 yes votes and 853 no votes.

In the race for Senate District 14, Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, has garnered 737 votes to Havre Democratic challenger Paul Tuss' 1,304

Incumbent Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, continues his lead in the race for House District 28 with 1,230 votes to Libertarian Conor Burns' 204 and independent candidate Bob Sivertsen's 573.

Incumbent Democratic Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown maintained her lead with 1,237 votes t Republican Penny Hadford's 738.

Incumbent Audrey Barger leads challenger Bruce Grant in the nonpartisan race for Hill County justice of the peace 1,539-329, and incumbent Democratic Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson has 1,066 to independent challenger Dale Hansonl's 870.

In the race for the District 1 Public Service Commission seat, Democrat Doug Kaercher of Havre leads Sun River Republican Randy Pinocci 1,313 to 708.

9:48 p.m. With the first precinct fully reported in Hill County, Democrats are showing an early lead in contested races.

The results from Precinct 2 show Democrat Paul Tuss of Havre with 216 votes to incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, garnering 108 in the race for Senate District 14.

Incumbent Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, has 196 votes in the race for House District 28 to independent Bob Sivertsen's 78 and Libertarian Conor Burns' 45.

In the race for Hill County Commissioner, incumbent Democrat Mark Peterson has 172 votes to independent candidate Dale Hansonl's 138.

Democrat Doug Kaercher of Havre has 201 votes in the race for Public Service Commission District 1, ahead of Republican Randy Pinocci of Sun River, who has 120.

In the nonpartisan race for Hill County justice of the peace, incumbent Judge Audrey Barger has 243 votes to challenger Bruce Grant's 67.

Incumbent Democrat Sandy Brown leads Republican challenger Penny Hadford 201 to 111 in the Hill County treasurer/assessor race.

Watch here on the the Havre Daily News website for more updates on these and other races.

8:41 p.m. -- The polls in Hill County have closed and absentee ballots are being counted while the results from the first precinct have come in. Watch here at the Havre Daily News website for updates as results are released and for full coverage in Wednesday's edition.