Whitefish voters will decide on a number of competitive races in the upcoming June primary election. 

The deadline for candidates to file is Wednesday, March 4.  

Three Republicans have registered in House District 4, which includes Columbia Falls and the eastern edge of Whitefish. Incumbent Rep. Lyn Bennett, a nurse of 20 years and previous president of Glacier Country Pachyderm, will be challenged by Shaun Pandina, a self-employed entrepreneur from Columbia Falls, and Whitefish resident Nathan Purdy, who owns a medical imaging company.  

The sole Democrat in the race is Paula Koch, a Spanish teacher at Columbia Falls Junior High. 

In Montana House District 3, extending west of Whitefish to West Glacier and the Canadian border, incumbent Democrat Rep. Debo Powers will again face off against Republican Cathy Mitchell, a rematch of 2024. Whitefish-based businessman Derek Peachey, a Republican, will also contend.  

In Montana House District 5, near Hungry Horse, incumbent Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell, with five years in office under his belt, will be challenged by Democrat Luca Welle, a 23-year-old river guide and substitute teacher. 

Whitefish School District has three school board trustee positions going up soon (May 5 election). Incumbents Shannon Hanson and Jerrie Boksich have filed for reelection. Karin Hilding and Gloria Nelson will also run for a chance at the three-year position. 

In Public Service Commission District 5, Republican Joe Dooling, a farmer and rancher, will challenge incumbent Republican Annie Bukacek for a chance to help regulate state utilities.  

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is vying for his third term. Three Democrats are competing for a change to run against him: Michael Black Wolf of Hays, Reilly Neill of Livingston, and Michael Hummert of Helena.  Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar has indicated he would challenge Daines as an independent candidate. 

Democrat Nathan Dugan looks to unseat incumbent Flathead County Commissioner Brad Abell. Democrat Colton Little has also filed to run.  

Judge Dan Wilson will face fellow Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy in the race for Montana Supreme Court. 

Two Republican candidates filed to be the Flathead County Clerk: Cheryl Hohman of Columbia Falls and Sheena Sterlin of Kalispell.  

Republican Evie Cahalen filed to run against Flathead County Sherrif Brian Heino.  

Shortly after Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he would not run for re-election, two conservatives announced their candidacy for Montana’s western U.S. House seat. 

Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski is running. He challenged Zinke in the 2022 primary for the newly created Western District and received 39.8% of the vote behind Zinke’s 41.7%. Olszewski will face conservative talk radio host Aaron Flint in the primary, who has been endorsed by Zinke and Sen. Tim Sheehy.  

Democratic candidates running for the seat are Ryan Busse, Russell Cleveland, Sam Forstag and Matt Rains. 

Senate District 2 will not see an election this year as Sen. Dave Fern has two years left of his four-year term.