Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. in most counties around the state.
Montana political watchers say GOP voters have the most at stake with a competitive five-way primary race for the U.S. House nomination topping the ballot along with 38 legislative Republican primaries around the state.
“Of the top races, the one that’s probably still up for grabs is the Republican nomination for the U.S. House,” Carroll College political science professor Jeremy Johnson said.
That race features a bevy of former and current state senators, including former Sen. Corey Stapleton, R-Billings, former Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, and state Sens. Elsie Arntzen, R-Billings and Matt Rosendal, R-Glendive. Helena real estate developer and failed 2012 Secretary of State candidate Drew Turiano is also in the race.
Republican Congressman Steve Daines is the favorite in a three-way primary for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination. That race includes Missoula Rep. Champ Edmunds and political newcomer Sunsan Cundiff.
At the top of the Democratic ticket, incumbent Sen. John Walsh, appointed in February to replace retired longtime Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, is the favorite in the primary race featuring challenges from Wilsall rancher Dirk Adams and former Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger.
Baucus’ former state director, John Lewis, is the heavy favorite to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House. John Driscoll, who in 2008 surprised the state by winning the U.S. House nomination despite raising and spending almost no money for his campaign, is running again for that seat.
Outside of the Republican U.S. House race, the dozens of GOP legislative primary races may provide some of the most intrigue today.
