Monday marked the end of Montana’s candidate filing period, with many Democratic candidates for legislative districts in the state’s Northwest corner signing up during the final week.

Several Republican primary contests have emerged during the two-month filing period, along with Democratic primary contests for the House and Senate seats currently held by Thompson Falls Republicans.

The primary election is June 7.

Whitefish businessman Don “K” Kaltschmidt will face off against current House Majority Leader Keith Regier of Kalispell for the Republican nomination in Senate District 3. Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, is termed out after representing the district during the last four legislative sessions.

Democrats Terry Caldwell of Paradise, Elizabeth Retallick of Hot Springs and Mark Sheets of Thompson Falls are running in a three-way primary in the sprawling Senate District 7, which stretches south and west from Marion to the Idaho border.

Incumbent Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, has filed for re-election and is facing a primary challenge from Republican Glenn Ferren of St. Regis.

Freshman Rep. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, currently represents House District 13, which occupies the northern half of Fielder’s district. He faces no primary challengers in his re-election campaign, but two Democrats, Gerald Cuvillier and Debra J. Achatz of Trout Creek, are vying for their party’s nomination.

Republican primary contests will also take place in open House Districts 1, 5, 10 and 11.

Libby Republicans Steve Gunderson and Bill Clark are seeking the GOP nomination for House District 1. Sitting Rep. Jerry Bennett, R-Libby, is termed out after holding the office for the past four terms.

The House District 5 seat is currently held by Rep. Ed Lieser, D-Whitefish, who is not seeking re-election. Lieser backed fellow Whitefish Democrat Dave Fern, who will square off against the winner of the Republican primary contest between Chet Billi and Jack Kearns, both of Whitefish.

Incumbent Rep. Mark Noland of Bigfork will face Laura Hartland in the House District 10 Republican primary. Both candidates are from Bigfork.

In House District 11, Jean Barragan of Lakeside and Derek Skees of Kalispell are seeking the Republican nomination. Rep. Al Olszewski, R-Kalispell, currently represents the district, but did not file for re-election in order to pursue an open Senate seat.

At 4 p.m. Monday, the list of legislative candidates in Northwest Montana was as follows:

• Senate District 2

Democrat: Cody Casazza, Columbia Falls

Republican: Dee L. Brown, Hungry Horse (incumbent)

• Senate District 3

Democrat: Melissa Hartman, Whitefish

Republican: Keith Regier, Kalispell; Don Kaltschmidt, Whitefish

• Senate District 6

Democrat: Rolf Harmsen, Polson

Republican: Al Olszewski, Kalispell

• Senate District 7

Democrat: Terry L. Caldwell, Paradise; Elizabeth Retallick, Hot Springs; Mark Sheets, Thompson Falls

Republican: Jennifer Fielder, Thompson Falls (incumbent); Glenn Ferren, Saint Regis

• House District 1

Democrat: Steve Haarstick, Troy

Republican: Steve Gunderson, Libby; Bill Clark, Libby

• House District 2

Democrat: David B McGarry, Libby

Republican: Mike Cuffe (incumbent), Eureka

• House District 3

Democrat: Zac Perry (incumbent), Hungry Horse

Republican: Taylor Rose, Columbia Falls

Libertarian: Shawn Guymon, Kalispell

• House District 4

Democrat: Deborah Gentry, Columbia Falls

Republican: Matt Regier, Kalispell

• House District 5

Democrat: Dave Fern, Whitefish

Republican: Chet Billi, Whitefish; Jack Kearns, Whitefish

• House District 6

Democrat: Lisa Morrow, Kalispell

Republican: Carl Glimm (incumbent), Kila

Libertarian: Shannon D. Hanson

• House District 7

Democrat: Lynn Stanley, Kalispell

Republican: Frank Garner (incumbent), Kalispell

• House District 8

Democrat: C. Paige Rappleye, Kalispell

Republican: Steve Lavin (incumbent), Kalispell

• House District 9

Democrat: Brittany MacLean, Whitefish

Republican: Randy Brodehl (incumbent), Kalispell

• House District 10

Democrat: George Dickenson, Bigfork

Republican: Mark Ray Noland (incumbent), Bigfork; Laura Hartland, Bigfork

• House District 11

Democrat: Eileen Bech, Kalispell

Republican: Jean K. Barragan, Lakeside; Derek Skees, Kalispell

• House District 12

Democrat: Susan Evans, Polson

Republican: Greg Hertz (incumbent), Polson

• House District 13

Democrat: Debra J. Achatz, Trout Creek; Gerald Cuvillier, Trout Creek

Republican: Bob Brown (incumbent), Thompson Falls

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.