Republican candidates win big in Mineral County
Election results came in during the early morning hours Nov. 9 as polls closed across the nation. Republican candidate Donald Trump was named the next president of the United States, defying late polls showing Democrate Hillary Clinton as having the edge.
Trump’s campaign has been described as “a powerful rejection of the establishment forces that had assembled against him.”
Mineral County, which has predominately Republican registered voters, held true to their party lines in this year’s election. Roughly 67 percent of the county’s 3,101 registered voters turned out to vote and cast 2,096 votes. This is compared to about 41 percent who voted in the 2012 primary election, with 1,195 votes cast and 2,918 registered voters.
In Montana, 474,325 voters turned out to cast their ballots, out of 693,224 registered voters. This is with 79 percent of the precincts reporting.
Mineral County supported Trump with 64 percent of the vote compared to 57 percent of Montanans who supported him. Montana’s three electoral votes went to the Trump camp.
In Mineral County, Rep. Ryan Zinke had 62 percent of the vote and won the election in the race against Democrat Denise Juneau for U.S. House. Mineral County voters also supported Republican Greg Gianforte with 49 percent but overall Democrat Steve Bullock, retained his seat as Montana Governor with 49 percent of the Montana vote.
Closer to home, Rep. Roman Zylawy kept his seat as county commissioner, with 69 percent of the vote. He won over Independent Mike Curtin who had 30 percent.
Rep. Denley Loge won with 81 percent over Dem. Bryan Foster, for State Representative in District 14. Clerk of District Court, Republican Kathleen Brown, retained her seat with 98 percent of the vote. State Senator for District 7, Republican Jennifer Fielder retained her seat with 65 percent of the vote. She ran against Democrat Mark Sheets.
Republican Bob Lake won 69 percent of Mineral County votes and 55 percent of Montana votes to retain his seat as the Public Service Commissioner for District 4. He ran against Democrat Gail Gutsche. Chief Justice Mike McGrath, Justice Jim Shea both won re-election for Montana Supreme Court. Dirk Sandefur won over Kristen Juras for Supreme Court Justice Number 3.
Judges Karen Townsend and Leslie Halligan retained their offices, both ran unopposed.
Initiative 116, to ensure crime victims’ rights and interests are respected and protected by law, won approval with both Mineral County and Montana voters. Initiative 182, to expand access to medical marijuana, also won with county and Montana voters.
Initiatives 181, to promote research into developing therapies and cures for brain diseases and injuries, and initiative 177, to prohibit the use of traps and snares on public lands, both lost with Mineral County and Montana voters.
Below is a more comprehensive look at how Mineral County residents cast their votes and how they compared to Montana’s overall voter results.
President and Vice President
Donald Trump and Michael Pence, Republican, 64% (1,322 votes) Winner with 57% of Montana vote
Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, Democrat, 25% (515 votes) Loser with 35% of Montana vote
Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, Libertarian, 4% (102 votes) Loser with 5% of Montana vote
“Rocky” Roque De La Fuente and Michael Steinberg, American Delta, 0% (11 votes) N/A Montana vote
Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka, Green, 1% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,985
U.S. Representative
Ryan Zinke, Republican, 62% (1,274 votes) Winner with 56% of Montana vote
Denise Juneau, Democrat, 32% (663 votes) Loser with 39% of Montana vote
Rick Breckenridge, Libertarian, 4% (100 votes) Loser with 3% of Montana vote
Governor
Steve Bullock and Mike Cooney, Democrat, 40% (869 votes) Winner with 49% Montana vote
Ted Dunlap and Ron Vandevender, Liberatarian, 10% (218 votes) Loser with 3% Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 2,150
Secretary of State
Corey Stapleton, Republican, 64% (1,291 votes) Winner with 56% of Montana vote
Monica Lindeen, Democrat, 30% (602 votes)
Loser with 40% of Montana vote
Roger Roots, Libertarian, 4% (94 votes)
Loser with 3% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,987
Attorney General
Tim Fox, Republican, 76% (1,503 votes) Winner with 67% of Montana vote
Larry Jent, Democrat, 23% (457 votes)
Loser with 32% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,960
State Auditor
Matt Rosendale, Republican, 59% (1,215 votes) Winner with 54% of Montana vote
Jesse Laslovich, Democrat, 40% (814 votes)
Loser with 45% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 2,029
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Elsie Arntzen, Republican, 60% (1,173 votes) Winner with 52% of Montana vote
Melissa Romano, Democrat, 39% (775 votes)
Loser with 47% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,948
Public Service Commissioner District 4
Bob Lake, Republican, 69% (1,332 votes) Winner with 55% of Montana vote
Gail Gutsche, Democrat, 30% (579 votes)
Loser with 44% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,911
Chief Justice Mike McGrath of the Montana Supreme Court retain his office?
Yes, 77% (1,428 votes) No, 22% (420 votes) Winner with 81% of Montana vote
Supreme Court Justice #3 Full Term (non-partisan)
Dirk Sandefur, 53% (977 votes) Winner with 56% of Montana vote
Kristen Juras, 45% (823 votes)
Loser with 43% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,800
Justice Jim Shea of Montana Supreme Court retain office?
Yes 77% (1,421 votes) No 22% (405 votes) Winner with 81% of Montana vote
Judge Karen Townsend District 4, retain office?
Yes 78% (1,431 votes) No 21% (394 votes) Winner with 81% of Montana vote
Judge Leslie Halligan of District 4, retain office?
Yes 77% (1,355 votes) No 22% (386 votes) Winner with 83% of Montana vote
State Senator District 7
Jennifer Fielder, Republican, 65% (1,277 votes) Winner with 67% of Montana vote
Mark Sheets, Democrat, 34% (666 votes)
Loser with 32% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,943
State Representative District 14
Denley Loge, Republican, 81% (1,619 votes) Winner with 77% of Montana vote
Bryan Foster, Democrat, 17% (355 votes)
Loser with 22% of Montana vote
Total Mineral County votes: 1,973
Clerk of District Court, Mineral County
Kathleen Brown, Republican, 98% (1,750) Winner
County Commissioner, East End District, Mineral County
Roman Zylawy, Republican, 69% (1,348 votes) Winner
Michael Curtin, Independent, 30% (594 votes)
Total Mineral County votes: 1,942
Initiative 116, ensure crime victims’ rights and interests respected and protected by law
Yes 62% (1,250 votes) No 37% (738 votes) Passed with 65% of Montana vote “Yes”
Initiative 177, prohibit the use of traps and snares on public lands
No 72% (1,478 votes) Yes 27% (554 votes) Lost with 63% of Montana vote “No”
Initiative 181, promote research into developing therapies and cures for brain diseases and injuries
No 63% (1,322 votes) Yes 35% (765 votes) Lost with 58% Montana vote “No”
Initiative 182, expand access to medical marijuana
Yes 57% (1,168 votes) No 42% (878 votes) Passed with 56% of Montana vote “Yes”