Candidate filing light on opening day

A number of candidates across the state have filed in state and county elections this morning, although a number of races for the upcoming election still have had no one file as of print deadline this morning. 

In Hill County, a number of offices are open for election in 2020, including Hill County clerk of court, for which incumbent Kathie Vigliotti has filed for re-election.

As of print deadline this morning, no one had filed for Hill County commissioner district 1, including incumbent Mike Wendland; superintendent of schools including incumbent Marie Deegan; and county public administrator including incumbent Maggie Big Leggins.

For local state office, District 12 judge, Senate districts 16 and 17 and House districts 27, 28, 32 and 33 are all up for election this year.

Incumbents District Judge Kaydee Snipes-Ruiz, who was appointed in November of 2018, and Rep. Joshua Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, in House District 27, who was elected in 2018, have filed as cadidates.

Republican candidate Joyce Stone of Glasgow has filed for House District 33, currently held by Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta. Knudsen had not filed as of print deadline this morning.

Bridget Smith of Wolf Point filed as a Democrat for the seat in Senate District 16, now held by Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, who can’t run for re-election due to term limits.

Montana also has a number of state offices up for election in 2020, including governor, secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and seats five and six for the Montana Supreme Court.

None of the many people who have declared they will run for governor had filed as of printing deadline this morning.

Two Republican candidates, Troy Downing of Bozeman and Nelly Nicol of Helena, filed for the office of state auditor by this morning.

Incumbent Republican Matt Rosendale has declared his intent to run for Montana’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, as has Republican Secretary of State Corey Stapleton.

Republican candidate Christi Jacobsen of Helena is the only candidate who had filed as of this morning for the secretary of state’s office.

Two Democratic candidates, Kimberly Dudik of Frenchtown and Raph Graybill of Great Falls, filed for the office of the attorney general.

Incumbent Tim Fox cannot run for re-election to that office due to term limits.

Democrat Melissa Romano of Helena filed for the office of superintendent of public instruction. Incumbent Republican Elsie Arntzen had not filed as of printing deadling.

In the nonpartisan supreme court races, Mike Black of Helena and Mars Scott of Missoula has filed to run against incumbent Laurie McKinnon of Helena for supreme court justice seat five. McKinnon filed this morning.

Incumbent Jim Shea is the only candidate who has filed for Supreme Court Justice seat six as of print deadline.

Republicans John Evankovich of Butte and former chair of the Montana Republican Party and a former member of the Montana those of Representatives Debra Lamm of Livingston, as well as former state Rep. Kathleen Williams, D-Bozeman, have all filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

On the federal level, Democrat John Mues of Loma was the only candidate who filed by printing deadline this morning.

Mues filed as a Democrat in the race for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Steve Daines.

Candidates have until March 9 of this year to file for the election. The primary election will be held June 2 followed by the general election Nov. 3.