GOP to maintain grip on Ravalli County as no Dems file to run in local elections

Local races in Ravalli County's 2026 election cycle are taking shape and many are already a done deal after the deadline to file to run for office closed on Wednesday without a single Democrat running for a seat in the deep red county.

Several local elected positions were up for grabs including two county commission seats, county sheriff, county attorney, clerk and recorder/superintendent of schools and treasurer — none of which saw a single Democratic challenger. Many candidates for office in Ravalli County are running unopposed for reelection, and all candidates for local office in Ravalli County are Republicans.

Republicans Stephen Kowal of Stevensville and Matthew Roth of Florence will face each other on the June primary ballot for the Ravalli County Commissioners District 1 seat currently occupied by incumbent Republican Greg Chilcott, who is retiring.

Incumbent Ravalli County Sheriff and Coroner Steve Holton of Corvallis will run against challenger Nicholas R. Monaco of Florence in the June primary to keep his position.

Incumbent Republican Commissioner Jeff Burrows is running unopposed for reelection to his County Commissioners District 3 seat.

Incumbent Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder/Superintendent of Schools Regina Plettenburg is running unopposed for reelection to her position as well.

Incumbent County Attorney/Public Administrator Bill Fulbright is also running unopposed for reelection in the June primary.

Incumbent Ravalli County Treasurer/Surveyor/Assessor Dan Whitesitt of Stevensville is also running unopposed for reelection.

Incumbent District Court Judge Jennifer Lint is running unopposed for reelection to her nonpartisan seat on the District 21 Dept. 2 Court bench.

Incumbent Dept. 1 Justice of the Peace Jennifer Bedey Ray will run against Steve Pearson of Hamilton to keep her seat on the bench.

Incumbent Dept. 2 Justice of the Peace Scott Burlingham is running unopposed for reelection to his seat on the local bench.

The deadline to file to run for office was Wednesday, March 4. Primary elections will be held June 2 by mail. Absentee ballots will be mailed out May 8.

Special Purpose District Elections in May for drainage districts, fire districts, irrigation districts, park and library districts, water and/or sewer districts have been cancelled as there are no contested elections. Candidates will be elected by acclamation.

To see who's filed to run for the Montana Legislature in Ravalli County, please click below.

Who's running: A roundup of Bitterroot Valley candidates for the Montana Legislature

This story has been updated to show that Jennifer Lint is running unopposed for her position. A previous version of this story stated that she was not running for reelection. The Ravalli Republic regrets the error.