Montana House Of Representatives District 71

About the District
Population	10,992
Gender	50.6% Male 49.4% Female
Race	93.2% White 0.2% Black 0.3% Asian 0.5% Native American 0.1% Pacific Islander
Ethnicity	2.7% Hispanic
Median household income	$56,823
High school graduation rate	95.6%
College graduation rate	33.1%

Montana House of Representatives District 71 is represented by Kenneth Walsh (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Montana state representatives represented an average of 10,842 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 9,894 residents.

About the office[edit]

Members of the Montana House of Representatives are subject to term limits and may not serve more than four two-year terms. Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.^[1]^[2]

Qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the Montana House of Representatives, a candidate must be:^[3]

"[A] resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election"
"[A] resident of the county for six months preceding the general election if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county".

Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$100.48/legislative day	$126.12/day; For additional expenses, legislators will receive a primary $3,000 stipend and a secondary amount between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the size of a legislator's district.

Term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Montana House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Montana voters approved CI-64 in 1992. CI-64 created Section 8 of Article IV of the Montana Constitution, which says that state representatives cannot serve eight or more years in any 16-year period.^[4]

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Montana State Legislature, the board of county commissioners that represent the vacant seat must select a replacement. The secretary of state must notify the board of county commissioners and the county central committee of the political party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after the vacancy happened. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the secretary of state to provide a list of candidates to the board of county commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the Legislature is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list.^[5] Any person selected to fill a House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.^[6]

See sources: Montana Const. Art. 5, Sec 7 and Montana Code Ann. §5-2-402

District map[edit]

The map below shows this district's current boundaries, not those enacted as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Redistricting[edit]

2020-2022[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Montana after the 2020 census

New state legislative district maps have not yet been enacted. The Montana state constitution provides that the state's redistricting commission must submit legislative maps to the Montana State Legislature so the legislature can provide non-binding recommendations about the maps before they are enacted. In 2021, the legislature adjourned on April 29, before U.S. Census data was delivered. The legislature's next session takes place in 2023.^[7]

How does redistricting in Montana work? Montana uses a non-politician commission for congressional and state legislative redistricting. This commission comprises five members. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature select one member a piece. These four members then select a fifth to serve as the commission's chair. If the first four commissioners are unable to agree on an appointment, the Montana Supreme Court may select the fifth member.^[8]

The Montana Constitution requires that no commissioner be a public official. State statutes require that two of the first four commissioners "must be selected from certain counties (roughly, in the Montana Rockies to the west) and two must be selected from the rest of the state (to the east)."^[8]

The state's Districting and Apportionment Commission must complete congressional redistricting within 90 days of receiving federal census data. It must prepare a legislative redistricting plan "by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature's recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature's recommendations, it is not required to do so."^[9]

The state constitution requires that districts be both contiguous and compact.^[8]

“	The ... commission has stated that it may gauge compactness by looking to a district's general appearance, and the degree to which it fosters "functional compactness" through "travel and transportation, communication, and geography." The commission has similarly determined that it will, in drawing legislative districts, consider the boundary lines of political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, school districts, Indian reservations, neighborhood commissions, and others); follow geographic boundaries; and consider keeping intact communities of interest (based on "Indian reservations, urban[, suburban, or rural] interests, . . . neighborhoods, trade areas, geographic location, communication and transportation networks, media markets, social, cultural and economic interests, or occupations and lifestyles").^[10]	”
—All About Redistricting

Elections[edit]

2022[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Incumbent Kenneth Walsh is running in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate
		Kenneth Walsh (R)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Incumbent Kenneth Walsh advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenneth Walsh	100.0	2,465

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 2,465
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Jackson Duprey (R)
Christian Pederson (R)

2020[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Kenneth Walsh defeated Ian Root in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kenneth Walsh (R)	74.4	5,653
	Ian Root (D)	25.6	1,945

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,598
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Ian Root advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ian Root	100.0	1,150

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,150
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Kenneth Walsh defeated Cindy Younkin in the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on June 2, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kenneth Walsh	75.7	2,482
	Cindy Younkin	24.3	797

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,279
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Incumbent Ray Shaw defeated Jay Frederick and Michael White in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Ray Shaw (R)	57.9	3,662
	Jay Frederick (D)	28.8	1,819
	Michael White (L)	13.3	844

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,325
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Jay Frederick advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jay Frederick	100.0	952

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 952
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Incumbent Ray Shaw advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ray Shaw	100.0	1,814

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 1,814
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016.

Incumbent Ray Shaw ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 71 general election.^[11]^[12]

Montana House of Representatives, District 71 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Ray Shaw Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Montana Secretary of State

Incumbent Ray Shaw defeated Robert Wagner in the Montana House of Representatives District 71 Republican primary.^[13]^[14]

Montana House of Representatives, District 71 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ray Shaw Incumbent	60.67%	1,490
	Republican	Robert Wagner	39.33%	966
Total Votes				2,456
Source: Montana Secretary of State

2014[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Johanna Lester was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Ray Shaw defeated Bob Wagner in the Republican primary. Shaw defeated Lester in the general election.^[15]^[16]^[17]

Montana House of Representatives, District 71 General Election, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ray Shaw Incumbent	73.9%	3,385
	Democratic	Johanna Lester	26.1%	1,196
Total Votes				4,581

Montana House of Representatives, District 71 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ray Shaw Incumbent	59.3%	1,307
Bob Wagner	40.7%	897
Total Votes		2,204

2012[edit]

See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 12, 2012. Ray Shaw (R) defeated Kim Miller (I) and write-in candidate Donald J. Lepinsky in the general election. Shaw defeated incumbent Bob Wagner and Robert Kennedy in the Republican primary.^[18]^[19]^[20]

Montana House of Representatives, District 71, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ray Shaw	56.9%	3,311
	Independent	Kim Miller	42.7%	2,481
	Independent	Donald Lepinsky	0.4%	24
Total Votes				5,816

Montana House of Representatives, District 71 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ray Shaw	45.9%	1,040
Bob Wagner Incumbent	43.8%	992
Robert Kennedy	10.3%	233
Total Votes		2,265

Campaign contributions[edit]

From 2012 to 2018, candidates for Montana House of Representatives District 71 raised a total of $80,892. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $6,741 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Montana House of Representatives District 71
Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2018	$27,220	3	$9,073
2016	$9,003	2	$4,502
2014	$12,068	3	$4,023
2012	$32,601	4	$8,150
Total	$80,892	12	$6,741

External links[edit]

Montana Legislature

Footnotes[edit]

↑ Confirmed via email with the Montana State Legislature on 8/6/2011
↑ Montana Constitution, "Article V, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 5, Section 4," accessed February 9, 2021
↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 4, Section 8," accessed February 9, 2021
↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-402 (3) (a)-(c))
↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-405 (1)-(2))
↑ Montana State Legislature, "Constitution of Montana -- Article V -- THE LEGISLATURE," accessed June 2, 2022
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 All About Redistricting, "Montana," accessed April 29, 2015
↑ Montana State Legislature, "Districting and Apportionment Commission," accessed October 6, 2021
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass," accessed November 16, 2015
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Elections Candidate Information," accessed October 23, 2013
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislatve Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014

[show]

Current members of the Montana House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Wylie Galt

Representatives

District 1

Steve Gunderson (R)

District 2

Neil Duram (R)

District 3

Braxton Mitchell (R)

District 4

Matt Regier (R)

District 5

Dave Fern (D)

District 6

Amy Regier (R)

District 7

Frank Garner (R)

District 8

John Fuller (R)

District 9

Brian Putnam (R)

District 10

Mark Noland (R)

District 11

Derek Skees (R)

District 12

Linda Reksten (R)

District 13

Paul Fielder (R)

District 14

Denley Loge (R)

District 15

Marvin Weatherwax (D)

District 16

Tyson Running Wolf (D)

District 17

Ross Fitzgerald (R)

District 18

Llew Jones (R)

District 19

Wendy McKamey (R)

District 20

Fred Anderson (R)

District 21

Edward Buttrey (R)

District 22

Lola Sheldon-Galloway (R)

District 23

Scot Kerns (R)

District 24

Steven Galloway (R)

District 25

Steve Gist (R)

District 26

Jeremy Trebas (R)

District 27

Joshua Kassmier (R)

District 28

Ed Hill (R)

District 29

Doug Flament (R)

District 30

Wylie Galt (R)

District 31

Frank Smith (D)

District 32

Jonathan Windy Boy (D)

District 33

Casey Knudsen (R)

District 34

Rhonda Knudsen (R)

District 35

Brandon Ler (R)

District 36

Bob Phalen (R)

District 37

Jerry Schillinger (R)

District 38

Kenneth Holmlund (R)

District 39

Geraldine Custer (R)

District 40

Barry Usher (R)

District 41

Rynalea Whiteman Pena (D)

District 42

Sharon Stewart-Peregoy (D)

District 43

Kerri Seekins-Crowe (R)

District 44

Larry Brewster (R)

District 45

Katie Zolnikov (R)

District 46

Bill Mercer (R)

District 47

Katharin Kelker (D)

District 48

Jessica Karjala (D)

District 49

Emma Kerr-Carpenter (D)

District 50

Mallerie Stromswold (R)

District 51

Mike Yakawich (R)

District 52

Sherry Essmann (R)

District 53

Dennis Lenz (R)

District 54

Terry Moore (R)

District 55

Vince Ricci (R)

District 56

Sue Vinton (R)

District 57

Fiona Nave (R)

District 58

Seth Berglee (R)

District 59

Marty Malone (R)

District 60

Laurie Bishop (D)

District 61

Jim Hamilton (D)

District 62

Ed Stafman (D)

District 63

Alice Buckley (D)

District 64

Jane Gillette (R)

District 65

Kelly Kortum (D)

District 66

Denise Hayman (D)

District 67

Jedediah Hinkle (R)

District 68

Caleb Hinkle (R)

District 69

Jennifer Carlson (R)

District 70

Julie Dooling (R)

District 71

Kenneth Walsh (R)

District 72

Tom Welch (R)

District 73

Jim Keane (D)

District 74

Derek Harvey (D)

District 75

Marta Bertoglio (R)

District 76

Donavon Hawk (D)

District 77

Sara Novak (D)

District 78

Gregory Frazer (R)

District 79

Robert Farris-Olsen (D)

District 80

Becky Beard (R)

District 81

Mary Caferro (D)

District 82

Moffie Funk (D)

District 83

Kim Abbott (D)

District 84

Mary Dunwell (D)

District 85

Michele Binkley (R)

District 86

David Bedey (R)

District 87

Ron Marshall (R)

District 88

Sharon Greef (R)

District 89

Katie Sullivan (D)

District 90

Marilyn Marler (D)

District 91

Connie Keogh (D)

District 92

Mike Hopkins (R)

District 93

Joe Read (R)

District 94

Tom France (D)

District 95

Danny Tenenbaum (D)

District 96

Kathy Whitman (R)

District 97

Brad Tschida (R)

District 98

Willis Curdy (D)

District 99

Mark Thane (D)

District 100

Andrea Olsen (D)

Republican Party (67)

Democratic Party (33)

[1] Confirmed via email with the Montana State Legislature on 8/6/2011

[2] Montana Constitution, "Article V, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021

[3] Montana State Constitution, "Article 5, Section 4," accessed February 9, 2021

[4] Montana State Constitution, "Article 4, Section 8," accessed February 9, 2021

[5] Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-402 (3) (a)-(c))

[6] Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-405 (1)-(2))

[7] Montana State Legislature, "Constitution of Montana -- Article V -- THE LEGISLATURE," accessed June 2, 2022

[mtloyola-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 All About Redistricting, "Montana," accessed April 29, 2015

[9] Montana State Legislature, "Districting and Apportionment Commission," accessed October 6, 2021

[quotedisclaimer-10] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[glist16-11] Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016

[gresults16-12] Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016

[13] Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016

[14] Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016

[15] Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014

[16] Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014

[17] Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass," accessed November 16, 2015

[18] Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Elections Candidate Information," accessed October 23, 2013

[19] Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislatve Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014

[20] Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014

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Montana House Of Representatives District 71

Contents

About the office[edit]

Qualifications[edit]

Salaries[edit]

Term limits[edit]

Vacancies[edit]

District map[edit]

Redistricting[edit]

2020-2022[edit]

Elections[edit]

2022[edit]

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020[edit]

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

2018[edit]

General election for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 71

2016[edit]

2014[edit]

2012[edit]

Campaign contributions[edit]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]