A look at what to watch for in today’s midterm elections in Montana:  

TOP OF THE TICKET

Republican Steve Daines has his eye on the U.S. Senate before he’s completed his first term as Montana’s only congressman.

He’ll have to get past Amanda Curtis, a legislator from Butte and a math teacher who became the Democratic nominee after U.S. Sen. John Walsh dropped out of the race in August amid a plagiarism scandal.

Daines, Curtis and Libertarian Roger Roots are competing for the Senate seat that Democrats have held for more than 100 years, more than a third of that by Max Baucus. Baucus resigned in February to become ambassador to China, and Gov. Steve Bullock appointed Walsh to complete the rest of Baucus’ term.

OPEN HOUSE SEAT

Daines’ Senate run leaves Montana’s U.S. House seat open for the second consecutive election.

Former Whitefish state Sen. Ryan Zinke is the Republican nominee. He is a former Navy SEAL who has run on his military background and on the need for domestic energy development to improve the nation’s economy.

The Democrats’ choice is John Lewis of Helena, a longtime aide to Baucus who is making his first run for office. He has pledged to support both traditional and renewable energy development, and to work across the aisle to end Congress’ stalemate.

The third candidate is Libertarian Mike Fellows.

SUPREME COURT RACES

Outside groups have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads and mailers in one of the two Montana Supreme Court elections this year. 

Incumbent Mike Wheat is facing a challenge from former state solicitor general Lawrence VanDyke in a nonpartisan race that has taken on partisan overtones. VanDyke and the groups supporting him, including the Republican State Leadership Committee, have tried to paint Wheat as a left-leaning activist judge.

VanDyke, meanwhile, has gotten most of his support from conservative individuals and groups. 

The spending has led to Wheat saying the state’s court system is under attack from outside groups that are seeking rulings in favor of their political leanings.

The second race has not generated nearly as much attention. In that race, Billings attorney W. David Herbert is attempting to unseat Justice Jim Rice, who has been on the bench since 2001.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER

Public Service Commission chairman Bill Gallagher is stepping down after being diagnosed with cancer, leaving his western Montana seat open on the five-member commission.

Former Democratic state Rep. Galen Hollenbaugh of Helena is attempting to win the seat on what is now an entirely Republican panel. Hollenbaugh cannot run for his House seat again because of term limits.

The Republican candidate is Brad Johnson, a former Montana secretary of state who lost to Gallagher in the PSC primary election four years ago.

The PSC regulates utility companies in the state, most recently approving NorthWestern Energy’s $900 million purchase of 11 hydroelectric dams previously owned by PPL Montana.

LEGISLATURE

This election will determine whether redistricting and a large Democratic field of candidates will upend Republican control of one or both chambers in the state Legislature.

Up for election are 25 Senate seats and 100 House seats. Republicans now hold a 29-21 majority in the Senate and a 61-39 majority in the House.

Democrats are hopeful to chip away at those numbers in the first election since the district boundaries were redrawn according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The party also fielded candidates in every race before the primaries.

BALLOT ISSUES

No citizen initiatives made it on the ballot this year, but there are two referendums the 2013 state Legislature placed on the ballot.

The first would bar people from registering to vote on Election Day, instead making the deadline for late voter registration the Friday before. Opponents say the Republican-backed measure would deny some people the right to vote, while proponents say it would ease congestion at polling places on Election Day. 

The second is for a constitutional amendment changing the name of the state auditor to the commissioner of securities and insurance.