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GOP up in Red Lodge, rural Montana
Republicans romped in rural Montana, upsetting six Democratic incumbents in early returns and easily holding onto seats vacated by term-limited incumbents.
Red Lodge Republican Jason Priest was on his way to easy victory in a state Senate race that pitted two city councilmen against each other.
Priest was leading Democrat Aaron Kampfe, 5,401 votes to 2,919.
To win, Priest had to survive a Facebook blunder in which he posted denigrating sexual remarks about Pres. Barack Obama and economist John Maynard Keynes. Democrats launched a whisper campaign regarding the remarks against Priest that he later apologized for publicly.
“I think people see through that stuff. I think everybody is entitled to an inarticulate moment,” Priest said. “And to Aaron’s credit, you’re talking about two people who are friends and we ran on the issues.”
Most of the pressure against Priest came from Democratic-leaning Red Lodge and Carbon County. Stillwater County, which has strongly supported Republican candidates in Senate District 30 for several elections turned out for Priest. That support meant he only had to do moderately well in Carbon County.
It was a race both Republican and Democratic parties circled early, based on the previously tough election runs faced by term-limited incumbent Republican Bob Story, of Park City. Story, president of the 2009 Senate, struggled in the Carbon County side of the district.
Kampfe did well in his home county, but Stillwater County remained elusive.
In Carbon County results, Republican challenger Joanne Blyton of Joliet upset one-term incumbent Rep. Paul Beck, D-Red Lodge, 2,409 to 1,969. Blyton, active in Carbon County Republican politics for several years, was making her first try at House District 59. Beck, who owns Mountain Home Inspection, was first elected in 2008 when he upset then incumbent Republican Scott Boggio.
In Park and Sweet Grass counties, Republican Ron Arthun of Wilsall easily defeated Democrat Julia Page of Gardiner 4,914 to 2,566 in Senate District 31. Page and Arthun were both newcomers vying to replace John Esp, who was term limited from office. Esp defeated incumbent Joel Boniek in House District 61 in the Republican primary and didn’t have a November opponent.
In Livingston, Democratic incumbent Bob Ebinger closely trailed Republican challenger Dan Skattum, 1,744 votes to 1,729 in House District 62.
Meanwhile, big upsets were brewing in the eastern part of the state where Republican newcomer Austin Knudsen was pulling away from two-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Julie French of Scobey in House District 36. Republicans earlier said they liked the Culbertson attorney’s charges against French. The vote count was 2,166 to 1,726.
And in Glendive, Democratic incumbent Dennis Getz was down early to Republican challenger Matthew Rosendale in House District 38. Getz, who was seen as vulnerable by GOP strategists in a year when Republicans nationally have momentum. A Glendive real estate developer, Rosendale survived a three-way primary race in House District 38 to advance to the general election. The count had Rosendale ahead 1,924 to 1,735.
In House District 29, Republican Ryan Osumndson, of Buffalo easily defeated Democrat Kurt Myllymaki of Standford, 1,449 to 887.
Democratic incumbent Bill McChesney of Miles City defeated Republican challenger Brian Schoof 1,755 to 1,150.
In House District 41, incumbent Democrat David Roundstone of Busby lost to Republican Sterling Small, also of Busby, 859 votes to 555.
In House District 42, Incumbent Democrat Carolyn Pease Lopez, of Billings lost to Republican Bill Joseph of Hardin 1,012 to 922.
In Colstrip, incumbent Republican Duane Ankney easily defeated Democratic challenger Jesse Coate, 2,692 votes to 902.
In Senate District 15, Republican incumbent Jim Peterson defeated Democrat Dan Teigen, 5,580 votes to 1,761.
GOP up in Red Lodge, rural Montana
Republicans romped in rural Montana, upsetting six Democratic incumbents in early returns and easily holding onto seats vacated by term-limited incumbents.
Red Lodge Republican Jason Priest was on his way to easy victory in a state Senate race that pitted two city councilmen against each other.
Priest was leading Democrat Aaron Kampfe, 5,401 votes to 2,919.
To win, Priest had to survive a Facebook blunder in which he posted denigrating sexual remarks about Pres. Barack Obama and economist John Maynard Keynes. Democrats launched a whisper campaign regarding the remarks against Priest that he later apologized for publicly.
“I think people see through that stuff. I think everybody is entitled to an inarticulate moment,” Priest said. “And to Aaron’s credit, you’re talking about two people who are friends and we ran on the issues.”
Most of the pressure against Priest came from Democratic-leaning Red Lodge and Carbon County. Stillwater County, which has strongly supported Republican candidates in Senate District 30 for several elections turned out for Priest. That support meant he only had to do moderately well in Carbon County.
It was a race both Republican and Democratic parties circled early, based on the previously tough election runs faced by term-limited incumbent Republican Bob Story, of Park City. Story, president of the 2009 Senate, struggled in the Carbon County side of the district.
Kampfe did well in his home county, but Stillwater County remained elusive.
In Carbon County results, Republican challenger Joanne Blyton of Joliet upset one-term incumbent Rep. Paul Beck, D-Red Lodge, 2,409 to 1,969. Blyton, active in Carbon County Republican politics for several years, was making her first try at House District 59. Beck, who owns Mountain Home Inspection, was first elected in 2008 when he upset then incumbent Republican Scott Boggio.
In Park and Sweet Grass counties, Republican Ron Arthun of Wilsall easily defeated Democrat Julia Page of Gardiner 4,914 to 2,566 in Senate District 31. Page and Arthun were both newcomers vying to replace John Esp, who was term limited from office. Esp defeated incumbent Joel Boniek in House District 61 in the Republican primary and didn’t have a November opponent.
In Livingston, Democratic incumbent Bob Ebinger closely trailed Republican challenger Dan Skattum, 1,744 votes to 1,729 in House District 62.
Meanwhile, big upsets were brewing in the eastern part of the state where Republican newcomer Austin Knudsen was pulling away from two-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Julie French of Scobey in House District 36. Republicans earlier said they liked the Culbertson attorney’s charges against French. The vote count was 2,166 to 1,726.
And in Glendive, Democratic incumbent Dennis Getz was down early to Republican challenger Matthew Rosendale in House District 38. Getz, who was seen as vulnerable by GOP strategists in a year when Republicans nationally have momentum. A Glendive real estate developer, Rosendale survived a three-way primary race in House District 38 to advance to the general election. The count had Rosendale ahead 1,924 to 1,735.
In House District 29, Republican Ryan Osumndson, of Buffalo easily defeated Democrat Kurt Myllymaki of Standford, 1,449 to 887.
Democratic incumbent Bill McChesney of Miles City defeated Republican challenger Brian Schoof 1,755 to 1,150.
In House District 41, incumbent Democrat David Roundstone of Busby lost to Republican Sterling Small, also of Busby, 859 votes to 555.
In House District 42, Incumbent Democrat Carolyn Pease Lopez, of Billings lost to Republican Bill Joseph of Hardin 1,012 to 922.
In Colstrip, incumbent Republican Duane Ankney easily defeated Democratic challenger Jesse Coate, 2,692 votes to 902.
In Senate District 15, Republican incumbent Jim Peterson defeated Democrat Dan Teigen, 5,580 votes to 1,761.