Flathead County was abuzz on Tuesday as residents flocked to the polls to vote in the midterm elections.  

Polling locations opened at 7 a.m. on Nov. 3 with doors closing at 8 p.m. Voters faced choices for county, state and national races on the ballot as well as three ballot initiatives for Montana.  

Public lands, data centers, the economy, inflation, nonpartisan judicial elections and frustration with both major political parties were among the issues voters were considering as they headed to the polls Tuesday.  

A steady flow of people came in and out of the Trade Center building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell. A few stopped for a bite to eat or to grab a drink from one of three food trucks stationed just outside. Others walked briskly in and out of the building to make it back to work. 

Outside the fairgrounds entrance, several people wielded campaign signs for Republican congressional candidate Aaron Flint, including Flint himself. Others touted signs supporting Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Alani Bankhead and Calvin Lime, a Democrat vying to represent House District 8 in the state Legislature.  

On top of many voters' minds was the U.S. House race between Flint and Democrat Sam Forstag. The race includes Libertarian Nick Sheedy.  

Todd Gamon, 57, said he supported Flint because he shares the Republican Party's goal of limiting government overreach and respects Flint's service as an Army veteran. Craig Jore, 57, said he backed Flint because he believes the candidate will keep data centers off public lands.  

But Jake Dressen, 54, an independent voter, said he believes Forstag would be more effective at preventing data center development in Montana.  

Lauren Borden, 32, said she wished political parties didn't exist but supported Forstag, a former smokejumper. A one-time wildland firefighter who is now in nursing school, she said she values his understanding of the challenges facing working Montanans.  

"He cares for the people, and he cares for the small businesses. He cares for Montanans. He knows how hard it is to struggle within the state" she said before walking into the Columbia Falls Kids Foundation building to vote.  

Others said they didn't feel strongly about any candidate on the ballot and instead stuck by the party they affiliate with.  

Vicki Brown, 73, said she has always sided with Republicans because she disagrees with Democrats' position on abortion.  

"That sways pretty much every vote," Brown said as she walked out of the polling station at Bad Rock fire station near Columbia Falls.  

Alex Ingold, a 22-year-old who grew up in Whitefish, said that he voted blue as in past elections because he opposes Republicans' positions.  

"They don't care about human lives, I feel. And they don't respect people that are diverse," Ingold said.  

John McCartney, 57, said he's voted independent or for a third party for the past 25 years and urged others to educate themselves on those candidates as well. He said that most Americans don't realize that a third-party candidate may more closely align with their political values.  

FLINT STOOD outside the county fairgrounds with his supporters holding campaign signs. He said he arrived at 6:45 a.m., 15 minutes before the polling place opened, and that the experience reminded him of his military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"Until you're flying home, you're on mission, and you keep fighting through the finish line. So that's what we're doing ... we're going to be out here fighting for every vote, and it's been fun," he said while waving to passing motorists.  

He said he was feeling good ahead of election night.  

"I think as long as every day working Montana folks show up and vote, we're looking very good for election night," he said.  

OTHERS FELT strongly about U.S. Senate race, which includes frontrunners Republican Kurt Alme, Democrat Alani Bankhead and Independent Seth Bodnar. Kyle Austin represented the Libertarian party in the race.  

Kalispell resident Catharine Brown, 30, said she thought the Senate race was the most important on the ballot, adding that she'd be voting for Alme and Flint because of their positions on transgender athletes, tax breaks for the middle class and less federal government oversight.  

MULTIPLE RACES for state Legislature seats also pushed people out to the polls.

Kyle Preston, 49, said he voted for Republican Derek Peachey, who was vying to unseat incumbent Democrat Debo Powers for District 3. Preston said that he hopes Peachey will fix the state's tax law that he thinks unfairly hit certain property owners.  

Flathead Democracy organizer Leannete Galaz danced outside the county Fairgrounds in an inflatable Pikachu costume to rally for Calvin Lime, the Democrat vying to unseat incumbent Republican Lukas Schubert in House District 8.  

"He knows what it's like to live here, grow up here," said Galaz, who managed Lime’s campaign. "I think he's a great candidate to help and support and represent the people of Evergreen."   

Galaz added that she believes Schubert has focused too much on national issues that she considers less relevant to local residents, citing illegal immigration and his proposed joint resolution declaring that "Christ is King." 

"He's disrespected the role of the state Legislature," she said.   

BETH GUNLIKSON said she felt passionately about CI-132, which would amend the state constitution to require that judicial elections remain nonpartisan.  

"While they may vote Republican or Democrat, that's not how they should make their decisions from the bench. Their decisions should be made separate from a political party," the 58-year-old said after leaving the polling location at the Roy Duff Memorial Armory Building in Whitefish. 

Jessica Owen, 44, said she was frustrated by the misinformation and polarization surrounding the ballot issues before voters.  

"I think there's too much hyperbole, so that we're not understanding what a ballot issue is actually going to bring us," she said.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support. 

    A roll of Future Voter stickers for kids at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center poll location in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Election workers drop off a ballot box full of absentee ballots at the Smith Valley Fire Hall poll location on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A voter drops off a ballet at the drive-thru ballot box outside the Flathead County Elections Department in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    An election worker helps a voter cast a ballot at the Smith Valley Fire Hall polling location on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A man registers to vote outside the Flathead County Elections Department in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A voter drops off a ballet at the drive-thru ballot box outside the Flathead County Elections Department in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    A voter places an I Voted sticker on her shirt after casting her ballet in the midterm elections outside the Flathead County Elections Department in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Republican candidate for U.S. House Aaron Flint waves to passing motorists outside the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center polling location in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider