Unofficial election results show Lake County voters divide the ballot
EMILY HEIMARK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 hours, 31 minutes AGO
Emily Heimark (Messer) joined the Lake County Leader in July of 2025 after earning a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Montana. Emily grew up in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporting craft through the UM J-School newspaper and internships at the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader, she covers government, business, education, agriculture and community news. Contact Emily Heimark at [email protected] or 406.883.4343 | November 4, 2026 11:27 AM
Lake County remained largely Republican in its legislative results, although several local races came down to narrow margins in an election that saw a major national shift toward Democrats.
Currently, about 64% of the county’s votes have been counted according to unofficial election results posted this morning.
Lake County unofficial results:
U.S. Senate
Kurt Alme, Republican: 7,016 votes
Seth Bodnar, Independent: 4,740 votes
Alani Bankhead, Democrat: 1,845 votes
Kyle Austin, Libertarian: 188 votes
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Sam Forstag, Democrat: 6,011 votes
Aaron Flint, Republican: 7,370 votes
Nick Sheedy, Libertarian: 421 votes
Public Service Commissioner, District 5
Annie Bukacek, Republican: 2,799 votes
Kevin Hamm, Democrat: 2,484 votes
Supreme Court Justice No. 4
Amy Eddy, Nonpartisan: 7,517 votes
Dan Wilson, Nonpartisan: 5,619 votes
Retain Owen
Yes: 10,376 votes
No: 1,795 votes
Retain Mercer
Yes: 10,145 votes
No: 2,102 votes
State Senate District 6
Mark Noland, Republican: 2,022 votes
Patrick Fitzpatrick, Democrat: 1,257 votes
State Senate District 8
Tyson T. Running Wolf, Democrat: 1,190 votes
Christopher Paul Buckles, Republican: 1,198 votes
State Representative District 12
Tracy A. Sharp, Republican: 2,051 votes
Cindy L. Bruckner, Democrat: 1,219 votes
State Representative District 13
Finley Warden, Republican: 2,757 votes
Dalton Bradford, Democrat: 2,276 votes
State Representative District 15
Thedis B. Crowe, Democrat: 1,169 votes
Ralph Foster, Republican: 1,225 votes
State Representative District 91
Shelly Fyant, Democrat: 1,469 votes
Charles Headley, Republican: 1,443 votes
County Commissioner District 1
William “Bill” Barron, Republican: 10,051
County Clerk
Kendra Steele, Republican: 10,276
County Sheriff /Coroner
Don Bell, Republican: 10,817
County Attorney
James Lapotka, Republican: 10,177
County Superintendent of Schools
Carolyn Hall, Republican: 10,275
County Treasurer
Rebecca Maso, Republican: 10,103
Retain Schoening
Yes: 10,026
No: 1,935
CI-132 Constitutional Initiative
Yes: 9,079 votes
No: 4,528 votes
CI-133 Constitutional Initiative No. 133
Yes: 8,383 votes
No: 4,902 votes
I-194 Initiative
Yes: 8,278 votes
No: 4,890 votes
Rollins Rural Fire District Levy
For: 213
Against: 122
Amending the City of Polson Charter
For the adoption of the amendments: 1,144
For the existing city charter: 712
ARTICLES BY EMILY HEIMARK
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