Legislative districts modified for state elections

As the dust continues to settle on the last legislative session, boundaries that affect Mineral and Sanders counties have had some modifications.

The House plan divides Montana’s approximately 1 million people into 100 roughly population-equal districts, with around 60 which favor Republicans to varying degrees in an average election year, according to the Montana Free Press. The 50 Senate districts each comprise two adjacent House districts and would yield proportionally similar outcomes in their political environment. And a handful of potentially competitive districts would exist in each chamber.

Currently, the Legislature is divided based on the 2010 census. Republicans hold two-thirds supermajorities in both chambers, with 68 seats in the House and 34 in the Senate.

The new House and Senate districts will be in place starting with the 2024 election.

The new maps could cost Republicans several seats while still leaving them a sizable majority that at least suggests the GOP’s authority in recent elections. Based on projections, the Republicans should have 55 safe house seats and the Democrats 35 safe house seats with 10 seats being “competitive” or able to be won by either party.

The Senate is similar with 27 safe Republican seats and 18 safe Democrat seats with five competitive seats.

One change takes the southwestern portion of Missoula County and adds it to Mineral County, while taking the eastern part of Sanders County and stretching it into the northeastern Rattlesnake area of Missoula. This takes an existing Republican district of Sanders County which voted 67% Republican and could turn it a 55% Democrat area.

The most significant of these was a redraw of a pair of north-reaching Missoula House districts. The intent was to create more separation between rural and urban communities in the region. This change would switch a Democratic district to a Republican-leaning district.

House District 14 has changed into House District 90. The boundary changes have taken a large chunk from Sanders County.

Mineral County remains entirely in the new district and will include Frenchtown, Huson, Petty Creek and over to Lolo Creek. House District 90 will be half of the Senate District 45.

Detailed maps with descriptions will be available later this summer at the Mineral County Clerk and Recorders Office.

— Montana Free Press contributed to this report.