Initial results released for Missoula area Legislature races (2024)

Voters selected their final candidates in several competitive state House and Senate races in the Missoula area Tuesday night, with a handful of races still tight as tabulators continue to count ballots.

Missoula County held elections for four state Senate races and 13 House races. Senate Districts 48, 49 and 50 do not have an election. Roughly 30% of registered voters cast their ballot in the primary as of 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday.

Most of the candidates are running in different districts after the state redistricted all 100 House seats and all 50 Senate seats in 2023. There were no competitive local primaries for the county commissioner, clerk of district court, nor the three Missoula district court judges.

Senate Districts

District 38 -This district covers Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, Boulder and Georgetown Lake.

Republican Becky Beard was in the lead with 38% of the vote over challengers Jeremy Mygland and Gregory Frazier, who had 25% and 24%, respectively. So far 312 votes had been counted in initial results. Democrat Jeffery Benson ran unopposed and advances to the general election.

District 45 -This district contains most of Mineral County, some south sections of Sanders County and western Missoula County, including Frenchtown.

District 15 incumbent and Republican Denley Loge had 63% of the early vote over challenger Annamarie White. Roughly 2,000 votes had been counted so far. Democrat Devin Jackson ran unopposed and will advance to the general election.

District 46 -This district contains the eastern half of Missoula County, including Condon and Greenough, but not Seeley Lake. The district also includes the southern end of the Mission Valley, including Ronan, and the eastern portion of the Rattlesnake neighborhood.

C.B. Pearson and Jacinda Morigeauare in a tight race for the Democrat nomination, splitting the early vote 47% to 43% respectively. Roughly 2,200 votes had been counted so far. Republican Charles Headley ran unopposed and advances to the general election.

District 47 -This district wraps around south Missoula to include theSouth Hills, south University District, the community of Clinton andCarlton in the Bitterroot.

Republican Abigail Maki appears to have defeated fellow candidate Erica Siate with 51% of the 2,297 initial votes counted. Democrat Elli Hill Boldman ran unopposed and will advance to the general election.

House races

Just four of the 13 Missoula-area House seats had competitive primary elections.

Seat 76 - This district includes Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Deer Lodge and Georgetown Lake.

Republican John Fitzpatrick had a solid lead over Dave Kesler III, with 58% of the vote compared to Kesler's 30%. Roughly 312 votes had been counted in the initial drop. No Democrat ran in this district.

Seat 90 -This district contains much of Mineral County along the I-90 corridor and also includes a portion of Frenchtown.

A tight three-way race for the Republican nomination had Curtis Cochran leading slightly with 29% of the initial votes. Nearby, candidate Steve Delisle had 27% of the vote — about 13 votes behind the leader —and Jeff Stanek had 24%. Roughly 790 votes had been counted in the race so far. There were no Democrat candidates in this race.

Seat 97 -This district encompasses the Orchard Homes neighborhood and residences south of West Mullan Road.

Democrat Melody Cunningham had a strong lead with 76% over candidate Lisa Verlanic Fowler. Republican Nick Knowles ran unopposed and advances to the general election. Libertarian Richard Armerding received three votes in the initial count, but ran unopposed and will advance to the general election.

Seat 100 -This district includes downtown Missoula, the Riverfront neighborhood and some parts of the Northside. Incumbent SJ Howell had secured 59% of votes counted so far. Challenger Tim Garrison had 25% of the vote.

This story will be updated with final results.