Republican sweep: Holmquist, Skees win

It was a bad night for local Democrats as the Republicans swept the Flathead County, taking all six county offices and all 14 legislative seats, according to preliminary general election results.

Republican Pam Holmquist, of Evergreen, defeated incumbent county commissioner Joe Brenneman, of Creston, by nearly two to one, 20,195 to 10,458. The other five county office races were uncontested and decided in the Republican primary.

In the hotly contested House District 4 race, for urban Whitefish, Republican Derek Skees, of Kalispell, narrowly defeated Democrat Will Hammerquist, of Whitefish, by 1,936 to 1,849.

Republican Bill Beck, of Whitefish, defeated Democrat Steve Wheeler, of Kalispell, in House District 6 race, for rural Whitefish, by more than two to one, 3,178 to 1,538.

Statewide, incumbent Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg easily defeated Democrat challenger Dennis McDonald by 211,903 to 117,763. Libertarian candidate Mike Fellows had 19,865 votes.

The Republicans also took two seats in the Montana Public Service Commission. In the District 5 race, which includes the Flathead, incumbent Democrat Ken Toole lost to Republican Bill Gallagher by 41,743 to 29,996. In the District 1 race, Republican Travis Kavulla defeated Democrat Don Ryan by 40,769 to 22,992.

In the local nonpartisan races, Justice of the Peace David Ortley defeated Kalispell Municipal Judge Heidi Ulbricht for the new District Court Judge Dept. 1 seat by 15,918 to 12,878.

Daniel Wilson defeated Glen Neier for the Justice of the Peace Dept. 1 seat by 14,961 to 8,347, and incumbent Justice of the Peace Mark Sullivan defeated challenger Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Bruyer for the Justice of the Peace Dept. 2 seat by 15,724 to 10,019.