The 2026 mid-term elections in Montana are drawing plenty of attention, but Lincoln County voters will have some interesting decisions to make, too.

Some candidates have announced their candidacies in social media posts, but a more detailed accounting can be found on the state of Montana’s Campaign Electronic Reporting System.

While the official candidate filing for the June 2 primary election doesn’t begin until 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, that didn’t stop three law officers from declaring their intent to run for the county sheriff post.

Incumbent Darren Short is joined by Libby Police Chief Cody Ercanbrack and Troy Police officer Ian Smith.

Short won primary elections in 2018 and 2022 to secure the sheriff position. 

Ercanbrack took over as police chief on April 20, 2023, following the departure of former chief Scott Kessel. 

Smith has served on the Libby and Troy police forces.

Also at the county level, District 1 Commissioner Brent Teske is seeking a second term. His opponent in the last election, Stu Crismore, has also declared.

For the county Clerk and Recorder position, Troy resident Crystal Denton and Libby’s Travis Sigea have declared.

For the Justice of the Peace seat, incumbent Jay Sheffield has filed. Roger Craig Riddle is seeking the county Coroner seat.

For local Senate District 1 and House District 1 seats, there are two newcomers and one veteran.

Fortine resident Michelle Bianco is running for the HD 1 seat. For the SD 1 seat, two Libby residents - Steve Gunderson and Vince Backen - have filed to run in the primary.

Gunderson previously held the HD 1 seat. Backen is a current member of the Libby Government Study Commission. They are seeking the seat held by Mike Cuffe.

Again, don’t forget, candidates for county offices have until 5 p.m. March 4 to file for the primary election. That is also the deadline for write-in candidates and the last day for candidates to withdraw from the primary election.

Candidates for school trustees had to make their intentions known by Feb. 9 to be put on the ballot for the May 5 election.

Individuals who are interested in a school board trustee position on a write-in basis must file a declaration of intent by 5 p.m. March 2. 

Here’s a look at the candidate filings for seven school districts in Lincoln County. The following information is from the Lincoln County Election Department’s Upcoming Elections page (https://lincolncountymt.gov/upcoming-elections/#).

Libby, District 4 (Two positions for a 3-year term; one position for a 1-year term)

Alida Snow

Ronald A. Miller

Walter A. Snyder

Troy District 1 (One position for a 3-year term; one position for Yaak/McCormick 3-year term)

Lori Damon

Yaak District 24 (One position for a 3-year term)

David Henderson

McCormick District 15 (One position for a 3-year term)

Pamela Wilson

Eureka District 13 (Two positions for a 3-year term; one position for a Fortine seat 3-year term)

Bri Van Orden

Meg Barnes

Rodney J. Schmidt

Trego District 53 (Two positions for a 3-year term; one position for a 2-year term)

Stephanie LeDuc-Vanderyacht

Lee Eggebroten

Leilani Swan

Rob Russell

Heather Brannan

Diane Hackett Carlton

Mark Spehar

Kaitlyn Haugen

Fortine District 14 (Two positions for a 3-year term)

Barbara A. Gwynn

Kathy Derrow