11 March 2024 — 1049 mdt
This is the last day to file
Flathead Memo: Will the Flathead's Democrats
manage to field a full slate of legislative candidates?
By James Conner
Filing for elective office in Montana closes today at 1700 MDT. There’s plenty of competition for the eastern congressional seat that Matt Rosendale is vacating, but thus far not enough competition for some legislative seats.
In northwest Montana, Democrats have yet to produce candidates for Senate Districts 3 and 7, and House districts 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12. That’s much better than local Democrats did in 2022 when statewide the Montana Democratic Party failed to field candidates in 29 of 100 House districts, and seven of 27 Senate Districts. Download spreadsheet of 2022 general election legislative ballot and results.
Here’s how the northwest Montana legislative filings situation looked as of 0639 MDT this morning.
Even in districts that Democrats have not a snow cone’s chance in a blast furnace of winning, Democrats should have candidates on the ballot as that reminds voters that even in deep red districts there are Democrats next door. These candidates need not campaign. They win simply by being on the ballot and showing the donkey flag.
It will take a week or so for the primary filings to become locked in. Candidates who file with the Montana Secretary of State but not with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices will be kicked off the ballot. (Not filing with MTCOPP is also a way to withdraw after SecST’s filing window has closed.)
Democrats still need candidates in a couple of Public Service Commission seats. Not fielding candidates for those positions would be political malpractice. Disclosure: I favor PSC commissioners who are appointed by the governor for their professional qualifications, and confirmed by the state Senate. Not many state still elect the officials who regulate investor owned utilities.