Incumbent Democrat Edith “Edie” McClaffery narrowly held onto her seat with 54 votes over Republican challenger Jim Buterbaugh — a race that has been flagged for a possible recount by the state.
McClafferty issued a statement about her victory on Tuesday afternoon.
“I am honored that the voters of Senate District 38 have elected me to represent them for another term in the Montana State Senate,” said McClafferty.
“Our communities face serious challenges, and I can’t wait to hit the ground running to fight for good jobs, access to quality affordable health care, and a strong public education system for all Montanans,” she said.
Buterbaugh, who describes himself as a Constitutionalist, plans to petition for a recount in Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, as both are served in Senate District 38.
McClafferty earned 6,640 votes to Buterbaugh’s 6,586. Percentage-wise, the race is tied, with each candidate receiving 50% of the vote.
For more on how a recount works in Montana, see page 11.
McClafferty’s lead comes from Butte-Silver Bow County where she got 65% of the vote. That lead flipped in Jefferson County, where Buterbaugh received the most votes, at 63%.
Buterbaugh’s strongest support came in the Whitehall precinct, where he earned 75% of the vote.
McClafferty will serve a second term in the Senate, while this is Buterbaugh’s first stab at state-level politics.
Republican Marta Bertoglio easily won her race with 68% of the vote over Democrat Bryher Herak for the District 75 Montana House of Representatives seat. Bertoglio won 4,729 votes to Herak’s 2,187. Bertoglio took every precinct in the county with a fairly consistent spread.
Bertoglio’s win mirrors the other races in Montana, where Republicans prevailed.
“I thought it was a nice positive race and I wish Bryher well. I am extremely humbled and excited to represent the people of House District 75,” said Bertoglio.
Bertoglio said she plans to concentrate on the economy and education, particularly vocational training so young Montanans can find jobs here after school and not have to leave the state.
She’s also eager to get started.
“I really want to dive in and take a break on the business side so I can dedicate my time and research to representing the district.”
Herak thinks Bertoglio will do well at the statehouse next year.
“Marta is going to be a good legislator and will represent Jefferson County and I wish her the best. I think she will do a good job. She has her work cut out for her. She’s a moderate Republican and is going into a situation where it won’t be easy for her, but I trust she will do a good job,” said Herak.
In county races, all but one was uncontested. Sarah Eyer defeated Deborah Jacobsen for the job of Jefferson County Superintendent of Schools. District 2 Commissioner Cory Kirsch, Justice of the Peace Steve Andersen and District Court Clerk Dorianne Woods all maintained their seats.
While Jefferson County opted for a mail ballot election, some did come in to vote in person.
On Nov. 3, the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s office served more than 300 people who were there to reactivate their registration or request a replacement ballot, said Election Administrator Bonnie Ramey, who relied on reports from poll watchers.
The office also processed 138 late registrations from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, and of those, 31 registered and voted on Election Day, she said.
Of the 8,723 ballots mailed out, 8,107 were returned by Election Day — a 93% return, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s office.
Generally, about 78-80 percent of Jefferson County voters turnout for presidential elections, said Ramey earlier this year.
“I think some of the turnout percentages can be attributed to the mail ballot as mail ballot elections typically generate a greater return than at the polls. However, there were many offices and ballot issues that many people expressed interest in voting on which may be part of the reason we had a great turnout,” said Ramey.
Ramey’s office was also one of the first Montana counties to report results on election night.
“We stopped counting ballots at 8 p.m. and did our first upload to the state ESers reporting system. We also printed result reports for anyone who requested them. We then proceeded with counting ballots as they were received,” she said.
Republicans this year swept the state red in state and federal races.
Republican Greg Gianforte defeated Democrat Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney for the Governor’s seat in the state and in the county.
Gianforte led the race with 54% of the vote statewide, and in Jefferson County, his lead was even more significant, with 62%, or 5,097 votes to Cooney’s 2,791.
In the Senate race, Republican Steve Daines edged out Democrat and Governor Steve Bullock, earning 310,022 votes statewide to win with a 55% margin. In Jefferson County, he also won, with 63% of the vote.
Matt Rosendale, a Republican running for U.S. Representative, easily defeated Democrat Kathleen Williams for the state’s lone seat in the House with 56% of the vote. That win was repeated in Jefferson County where Rosendale earned 5,288 votes to Williams’ 2,835 for a 64% margin.
In Montana, President Donald Trump defeated Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden with 57% statewide, and with a 65% margin in Jefferson County. Biden has since been declared the winner.
In other state races, Republicans also prevailed.
Elsie Arntzen defeated Democrat Melissa Romano for another term as state superintendent of public instruction. In Jefferson County, voters favored Arntzen with 59% of the vote.
Republican Austin Knudsen won the attorney general position over Democrat Raph Graybill with a 16 point lead on the state level at 58%. In Jefferson County, Knudsen had a bigger lead, with 65% of the vote and all precincts reporting.
Republican Christi Jacobsen won the race for Secretary of State and Troy Downing won the race for state auditor,
The two constitutional initiatives to set a legal age for marijuana and make it legal to possess was favored at the state level.
Initiative 118, which would establish a legal age for marijuana was approved by voters with 58% of the vote, while its companion initiative, 190, which makes possession legal, also passed with 57% statewide.
Initiative 118 was passed in Jefferson County with 54%, but was nearly split with Initiative 190 at 50% for and 49% against.
The legislative referendum which would remove a local government’s power to regulate firearms passed by a slim two point margin, with 51% for and 49% against at the state level. In Jefferson County, voters gave a more definitive answer to the question with 55% voting in favor and 45% against.
