McGinley wins Beaverhead County's only contested race with 69% of vote

By J.P. Plutt
Dillon Tribune staff
The Beaverhead County election results were in at 11:15 a.m.
Incumbent County Commissioner Mike McGinley won his race over write-in
candidate Steve MacArthur of Lima, 69.2% to 30.8%. McGinley garnered
1,984 votes in the nonpartisan contest to 885 votes for the challenger.
Of the 3,780 ballots cast in the midterm General Election, 1,389
(36.7%) were absentee ballots. The high percentage confirms the trend
voters have made towards permanent absentee status as 89% of the
absentee ballots issued were returned. Overall, the turnout totaled
62%.
In statewide contested races on the Beaverhead County ballot:
United States Representative
Denny Rehberg (R) – 2,699
Dennis McDonald (D) – 832
Mike Fellows (L) – 170
Supreme Court Justice (non-partisan)
Nels Swandal – 1,790
Beth Baker – 1,445
Ballot Issues:
Constitution Convention call
No – 2,113
Yes – 1,377
Constitutional Initiative 105 (Ban new property tax)
Yes – 2,765
No – 909
Initiative No. 161 (Fund wildlife habitat)
No – 2,183
Yes – 1,483
Inititiative 1 – 164 (Payday loans)
Yes – 2,577
No – 1,064