Who’s running: A roundup of Helena-area candidates for the Montana Legislature

Candidate filing for legislative seats up for election this November closed on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday's closing, 380 candidates have filed for 143 offices, according to the candidate filing database on the Montana secretary of state's website.

More than 140 candidates file for political office as Montana's election season kicks off

The primary election is June 2.

Here's a roundup of legislative races around Helena and beyond (incumbents are listed first, candidates listed in alphabetical order afterward):

Helena area

HD 79 — West Side

• Incumbent Democrat Luke Muszkiewicz of Helena
• Republican Chiko Olson of Helena

HD 80 — West Valley

• Democrat Qasim W. Abdul-Baki of Helena
• Republican Katie Fruits of Helena
• Democrat Megan Lane of Helena
• Seat currently held by Democrat Melissa Romano

HD 81 — Downtown, Northeast Valley

• Democrat Janet Ellis of Helena
• Democrat Ben Kuiper of Helena
• Republican John J. Loonery Sr. of Helena
• Democrat Craig Sundberg 
• Seat currently held by Democrat Mary Caferro of Helena

HD 82 — Airport area, Helena Valley Southeast

• Incumbent Democrat Pete Elverum of Helena
• Republican Clinton McKay of Helena

HD 83 — East Helena

• Democrat Joe Cohenour of East Helena
• Republican Aaron Leas of East Helena
• Seat currently held by Democrat Jill Cohenour of East Helena

HD 84 — Tri-Lakes area

• Republican Roy Caldwell of Helena
• Republican James Marshal of Helena
• Democrat Tia Nelson of Helena
• Democrat Jamie Van Valkenburg of Helena
• Seat currently held by Republican Julie Darling of Helena

SD 41 — Helena Valley

• Democrat Erin Farris-Olsen of Helena
• Libertarian Dru Koester of East Helena
• Democrat Dana Toole of Helena
• Seat currently held by Democrat Janet Ellis of Helena

SD 42 — Southeast Lewis and Clark County

• Incumbent Democrat Mary Ann Dunwell of Helena
• Republican Nicholas Lancette of Helena
• Republican Stephen Lapraim of Helena
• Republican Mike Talia of Helena

Canyon Creek north to Augusta

HD 17 — Northern Lewis and Clark County

• Democrat Chris Bechtold of Choteau
• Republican Justin W. Cleveland of Fairfield
• Republican Michael J. Fasbender of Helena
• Republican Susan Giese of Helena
• Seat currently held by Republican Zack Wirth of Wolf Creek

SD 09 — Birdseye to Canadian border

• Democrat Noy Holland of Choteau
• Republican Llew Jones, currently the House District 18 representative
• Republican Zack Wirth, currently the House District 80 representative
• Seat currently held by Republican Bruce “Butch” Gillespie

Jefferson County

HD 75 — Boulder area

• Incumbent Republican Mark Reinschmidt of Whitehall
• Libertarian Greg DeVries of Jefferson City
• Democrat Patrick Sullivan of Clancy

Broadwater County

HD 77 — Townsend and Three Forks areas

• Incumbent Republican Jane Gillette of Three Forks
• Democrat Deborah Anne Hansen of Manhattan
• Republican Shannon Woodward of Townsend