2024 Election Results and Recap For Phillips County

The lights were on into the wee hours of the morning at the Phillips County Clerk and Recorders office on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning, as they were in June during the primary election. The general election kept the workers until about 1 a.m., because as like across the nation...voters were curious as to how the election results were adding up.

This appears to be one of the years when voters wanted to make sure they voted...whether their selection for candidates for the various contested positions or not in the local election; the strongest incentive to vote was to cast their choice for the highest office in the nation, that of President and Vice-President. Nationwide, Donald Trump and JD Vance carried 58% of votes to become the new President.

Local candidate for the position of District Clerk of Court said, "I appreciate the support of the voters to be re-elected for another four years." She said her office does paperwork "for criminal cases, neglect cases, marriages, passports, civil matters, probates, juvenile cases and mental health cases," as well as others. Christofferson is in her third session of service the people of Phillips County. If anyone has questions, they can call the office to discuss matters.

County voters cast their votes with 80.7% turnout of registered voters. Locally presidential candidates Donald Trump-Vance received 1,752 votes, while Harris-Walz received 384.

For US Senator, Tim Sheehy compiled 1,676 votes, compared to Jon Tester's 489. Sheehy carried the state with 53% to win the election.

Shelbi Dantin, campaign manager for Sen. Jon Tester, released a press statement, "Jon Tester ran a strong campaign that defied many national trends amid possible headwinds. While the pull of Montana's political gravity was ultimately too difficult to overcome, there are bright spots and signs of strength from Jon Tester's final campaign worth talking about: Jon Tester outperformed Kamala Harris by a larger margin that any other Democratic candidate running in the country. Tester had a better campaign margin than Kamala Harris by 13 points. Tester's 13-point over-performance of Harris is the most significant margin of any Democrat running, in a Senate of House race, this election cycle."

She added, "In Montana's majority-Native counties, Tester swept all four-even while Donald Trump won three of them." She stated that "Tester outperformed Harris between 13-15 points in Montana's four majority-Native counties: Big Horn, Glacier, Roosevelt, and Blaine."

In the race for US Representative, Troy Downing accumulated 1,794 votes, while John Driscoll received 364.

In the race for Governor and LT. Governor, 1,794 voted for Greg Gianforte-Kristen Juras; while Ryan Busse and Ralph Graybill received 367. Gianforte won with 59% of the Montana vote.

The US Representative 1st Congressional race had Ryan Zinke edging Monica Tranell in Phillips County carrying 3,904 votes compared to 1,613. Statewide, Zinke won with 162,941 votes to 138,287 for Tranell.

The Secretary of State office resulted with Christi Jacobson receiving 1,802 votes, and Jesse James Mullen received 43 votes. There were 322 write-in ballots cast in this election. Statewide she was elected with 61% of the votes cast in the state. Jacobson's office released for voters, "This election was historic for Montanans, from the smallest precincts in rural Montana to our largest. Hundreds of thousands of our family, friends, and neighbors marked their ballots and completed their civic duty." She added Thank you to every last one of our Montana voters for ensuring your voice was included in shaping the future of our great state and nation."

Voters cast 1,804 votes locally for Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and Ben Alke tallied 362 votes. Knudsen won 60% of the vote statewide.

James Brown, running for State Auditor, had 1,786; John Repke ended with 349 votes in the county. Brown would win with 61% of the state vote.

The State Superintendent of Schools race had Susie Hedalen receiving 1,703 votes, compared to Shannon O'Brien's 428. With 339,460 she carried the state, as well.

Bowen Greenwood received the majority of the vote for Clerk of Supreme Court Chief Justice with 1,676, while Erin Farris-Olsen carried 369 votes. There was no change in support, as Greenwood carried the state.

The position of Supreme Court Justice resulted in Cory Swanson taking 1,453 votes, while Jeremiah Lynch held 560. Statewide, voters threw their support behind Lynch with 54% of the votes to win.

In the contest for Supreme Court Justice #3 locally Dan Wilson had 1,273 votes and Katherine Bidegaray had 755. Bidegaray won the election statewide with 54% of the vote.

Uncontested, the vote to retain Judge Yvonne Laird passed with 1,517 yes votes, while 417 cast votes for no.

District 16 US Senate results were cast with 540 for Perri Jacobs, and Jonathan Windy Boy for 112. On the statewide vote Windy Boy held 60% of the vote to win.

Eric Albus's 1,242 votes for State Representative, put him ahead of Blake Borst's 269 votes. Albus won the office with 77% of the vote.

In the contest for State Representative District 32 between Jason Ulrich and Mike Fox, had the vote at 428 for Ulrich and Fox with 66. Accumulated votes ended with Fox winning

The US State Representative contest placed Kevin Taylor with 113 votes compared to Frank Smith with 40. Smith would. However, carry the state vote for election.

Tami Christofferson was unopposed in her quest to the Clerk of District Court position with 2,021 votes.

Running unopposed, Bruce Christofferson received 1,810 votes, while there were 58 write in votes.

The ballot issues, including three Constitutional Initiative No. 126 had 751 yes votes, and 1,398 votes of no. Statewide, the CI failed 49% to 51%.

CI No. 127 had local voters voting 1,541 No; and 571 voting yes. With 61% of voters casting a "no" vote, the CI failed on the state level.

On CI 128, votes again case 1,207 votes for no, while 946 voted yes. On the state level the vote was yes, and the measure passed.

Staff at the Clerk and Recorder's office bounced back well considering it was a short night, and were at their desks greeting visitors on Wednesday.

We have not heard of anyone who was missing the constant phone calls, text messages, commercials about candidates and flyers under windshield wipers.

According to the Associated Rules of Montana (Department of Transportation) 18.6.246 political signs must be removed within 30 days of the election. ARM 18.6.231(4) states signs are to be removed within 14 days.

Let's hope the signs along the highways are removed quickly and we can enjoy the view of the big blue Montana skies soon.