by Jan Anderson, editor

     As of 8:10 Wednesday morning, Tuesday’s general election results were still far from settled in statewide races. Almost 27 percent of the state’s precincts were not yet fully reported, including all of the precincts in Yellowstone, Lewis & Clark, Flathead and Gallatin counties. Votes in those areas could make a big difference in the final outcome of the U. S. Senate race, where Democrat Jon Tester held a lead, and in other races. Some precincts were also not yet fully reported in Butte/Silver Bow and Missoula, and most of Glacier County’s precincts remained only partially reported.

     All of Jefferson County’s precincts were fully reported.

     In the state House race between Adam Lythgoe and Kirk Wagoner, Wagoner was leading and appeared to be the likely winner. But two Lewis & Clark County precincts within House District 77 were not yet complete.

     In the hotly contested race for Public Service Commissioner between John Vincent and Roger Koopman, Koopman held a lead of about 2000 votes but 40 of the 187 precincts within the district were only partially reported, including precincts in the Bozeman area where both candidates are well known.

     Results on the Montana Secretary of State’s website are thorough and updated about every five minutes. Within those reported results is a page called “voter turnout” which makes it easy to sort out which precincts from which areas are not yet fully reported.

     A more complete and detailed report of the election results, especially in local races, will appear in the next Monitor.

     To view the Secretary of State’s election data, click here..