A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
Rep. Steve Lavin (R-Kalispell), currently representing House District 8 (map), is the only incumbent Flathead legislator who has not filed for re-election. Nor has he filed a C-1 statement of candidacy with the commissioner of political practices. This is a bit odd, but it’s too early to conclude that he may not run again.
If, however, he decides not to run again, he may delay his decision until the last moment, or even file and then withdraw at the last moment, to deny a Republican not of his choice time to mount a campaign. Were he not to run, former Kalispell Tammi Fisher, who was clobbered by Mark Blasdel in SD-4 in 2014, might file for the Republican nomination.
Republicans have candidates in all Flathead districts except HD-5. But as displayed in the table below, only three house districts have Democratic candidates. Recruiting Democrats to run in deep red districts, even as non-campaigning options on the ballot, is becoming increasingly difficult. Serving as a non-campaigning ballot option, or mounting a soapbox campaign with no expectation of winning, are honorable political adventures.
