Unofficial tallies: Hinkles, Chamberlin on track to win primaries

Uncanvassed vote totals indicated local Montana House candidates Randy Chamberlin and Jedediah Hinkle were on track to win their primary races, and Montana Senate candidate Caleb Hinkle also was in the lead.

Chamberlin had 1,111 votes to Jennifer Carlson’s 770 in the Republican Primary race for Montana House District (HD) 68, according to the unofficial totals from the Montana Secretary of State’s Office.

In the Republican Primary race for Montana Senate District (SD) 34, Caleb Hinkle had 2,526 votes to Shelley Vance’s 902 as reported by the secretary of state’s office. Vance is the incumbent.

Jedediah Hinkle had 1,073 votes to Russell Nelson’s 448 in the Republican Primary race for HD 67, uncanvassed figures showed.

Democrats seeking these three seats faced no primary opponents.

Caleb Hinkle is the incumbent in HD 68, which includes part of Belgrade and nearby areas such as Logan and Churchill. His brother, Jedediah Hinkle, is the incumbent in HD 67, which includes most of Belgrade and nearby areas including the airport. Democrats seeking those seats include Jocelyn Kent for HD 68 and Logan Henke for HD 67.

Carl Anderson is on track to be the Democratic nominee for SD 34.

Rep. Jane Gillette (R-HD 77) represents parts of Broadwater and Gallatin Counties including Willow Creek, Three Forks, Manhattan, Amsterdam, and elsewhere. She ran unopposed in the Republican Primary for that seat. She’s on course to face Democrat Deborah Anne Hansen in the general election.

"Going into this race I was very confident I was going to retain a majority of support from the voters,” reads a Wednesday statement from Jedediah Hinkle. “Each election I dedicate months’ worth of time getting to know them face to face, and try to keep them informed on legislative matters between legislative sessions. They know that I uphold the values I run on when I represent them in the legislature."