by John Dowd
The Montana 2024 primary election unofficial results are in. In Ravalli County, a total of 15,951 votes were cast, out of 35,130 registered voters. Only 45.40 % of voters showed up to the polls. Statewide, similar figures were seen, with only 40.90% of voters casting their votes. In total statewide, the turnout was 308,226 out of 753,698 registered voters.
In the closely watched race for Senate District 44, incumbent Theresa Manzella won the Republican primary with 3013 votes (49%). Wayne Rusk garnered 2606 votes (43%), with Brad Davis bringing up the rear with 489 votes (8%). Manzella will face Democrat Cade Scatolini in the general election in November. Scatolini was unopposed in the primary and received 1327 votes.
In House District 85, Republican Kathy Love earned 1588 votes (53%), to beat out incumbent Michelle Binkley, who received 1429 votes (47%). Love will go up against Democrat Laura Mae Jackson in the general election.
In House District 86, Republican incumbent David Bedey won handily with 1870 votes (76%) compared to his Republican opponent Robert Wallace who got 599 votes. For the Democrats, Jeff Kempka ran unopposed, capturing 869 votes. He will face off against Bedey in November.
In House District 87, incumbent Ron Marshall for the Republicans and Tammie Milligan for the Democrats ran unopposed in the primary, with Marshall pulling in 2450 votes and Milligan drawing 621.
In House District 88, Republican Greg Overstreet got 1554 votes, defeating Kim Dailey, who got 1314. Overstreet will face Democrat Evan Schroedel in the general election. Schroedel brought in 773 votes in the primary.
Incumbent Paige Allen Trautwein, Republican, ran unopposed for Ravalli County Clerk of Court. She received 9490 votes.
Incumbent County Commissioner for District 2, Republican Dan Huls, also ran unopposed. He received 9726 votes.
When deciding on holding a local government review, a choice that comes up every 10 years, neither Ravalli County nor any of the incorporated towns voted to do so. The county-wide vote was 10,334 against (71%) and 4175 in favor, for a total of 14,509 votes. Voters in the City of Hamilton voted 708 against and 440 in favor. Voters in the Town of Stevensville voted a close 51% against with 278 no votes and 267 yes votes. Voters in the Town of Darby voted 88 against (51%) and 85 in favor with 173 total votes. Voters in the Town of Pinesdale voted 86 yes and 43 no votes.
Statewide, for the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Jason Ellsworth of Hamilton (the current president of the Montana Senate) lost to Bowen Greenwood, with Ellsworth earning 47% of the vote to Greenwood’s 53%.