Regier beats out Kaltschmidt in Republican primary

It came down to a roughly 100 vote difference June 7 in determining the winner of the Republican primary contest in the race for Senate District 3.

State Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, received 1,736 Votes to defeat businessman Don Kaltschmidt, who had 1,633 votes.

During the campaign, Regier said his years of experience and established relationships in the Legislature gives him the clout to get things done. He serves as House Majority Leader.

While, Kaltschmidt, owner of the Don “K” automobile dealership on Highway 93 South in Whitefish, said he would bring fresh ideas to the state’s Republican party.

Regier will now face Democratic challenger Melissa Hartman, of Whitefish, in the general election in November.

In the race for Flathead County Commissioner, incumbent Commissioner Pam Holmquist held off a primary challenger and earned the Republican nomination. Holmquist had 7,303 votes to Tim Harmon’s 6,123 votes.

Holmquist, a longtime Evergreen businesswoman, is running for a second six-year term.

She will face Democratic challenger Eileen Lowery in the general election in November.

Voter turnout in Flathead County was 34.31 percent with 21,542 total votes cast. Flathead County has 62,793 registered voters.