Tempel keeps Senate win after provisional vote count

Editor’s note: This version corrects misreporting that Tempel defeated Darrold Hutchinson in the primary for Senate District 14. Hutchinson ran for House District 27.

Although his opponent picked up a few voters in the count of some provisional ballots, incumbent Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, still is the victor in the unofficial count of ballots in the race for the seat in Montana Senate District 14.

After 73 of the 140-some provisional ballots cast in the Nov. 6 election were certified and counted, Tempel had 4,562 votes to Havre Democrat Paul Tuss’ 4,394. That shrunk Tempel’s lead from 139 ballots to 132, but still left him the victor.

Under state law, if Tuss had come within about 43 votes he could have put up a bond to cover costs and requested a recount.

If the margin had been about 21 or fewer votes, the state would have held a recount automatically.

Tuss, during an interview with Tempel Sunday, congratulated him on his victory and the two said they would work together during the session.

Tempel, a three-term Liberty County commissioner was appointed to the seat in 2016 to take the place of Sen. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, who resigned to take a position in the Montana Auditor’s Office.

He defeated Havre’s Brad Lotton in the Republican primary this year to move on to face Tuss, the executive director of Bear Paw Development, in the general election.

The district includes house districts 27 and 28 and stretches from the Canadian border through Liberty and western Hill counties, including Havre, through Chouteau County and into the northeast corner of Cascade County.