Republicans maintain hold on both state houses

Republicans kept their majorities in the Montana Legislature this midterm election, with a 29-21 margin in the Senate and 59-41 in the House.

In the Senate, Republicans lost ground only in Helena, where Democrat Jill Cohenour defeated Republican Joe Dooling for an open seat held by a retiring Republican.

Republicans scored an upset in Great Falls, where state Rep. Brian Hoven narrowly defeated Democratic Rep. Carlie Boland to win an open seat that had been held by Democrats.

A recount is possible in a Missoula Senate race, where Democrat Diane Sands defeated Republican Dick Haines by only seven votes out of 7,675 cast. Both are former state representatives.

In state House races, Democrats lost three seats they currently held but defeated four Republican incumbents and picked up an open Republican seat in Great Falls for a net gain of two seats.

The Republican incumbents who lost included Reps. Liz Bangerter of Helena, Steve Gibson of East Helena, Dennis Lenz of Billings and Jerry O’Neil of Columbia Falls. Gibson lost by only 20 votes, but unless the margin shrinks after provisional votes are counted, the race won’t qualify for a recount.

Two Democratic incumbents also lost — Reps. Reilly Neill of Livingston and Clarena Brockie of Harlem. The margin of victory between Democrat Kimberly Dudik and independent Gary Marbut in a Missoula House race was 29 votes out of 3,400 cast.

House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter, D-Helena, said he had expected Democrats to pick up a few seats in the House, but low voter turnout in urban areas and in Indian-majority districts hurt some Democratic legislative candidates.

Voter turnout statewide was 54.6 percent, down from 56 percent in the 2010 midterm election. About 60 percent of the 368,200 ballots case were absentee. In the Flathead, voter turnout was 51 percent.