HELENA — Every four years, Montanans elect not only a governor but also four other state executive officeholders, collectively known as the state land board.
Currently, all of those positions are occupied by Republicans.
MTN has already examined Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s campaign for re-election and his opponent, attorney Ben Alke, a Democrat from Bozeman.
Now, the competitions for three other land board offices are taking shape.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen filed for a second four-year term earlier this month, stating that she had pledged to voters not to seek higher office while eligible to run for her current position. She highlighted success in her first term with increased business registrations and reduced red tape.
If re-elected, Jacobsen aims to continue focusing on election integrity measures, hoping that the Montana Supreme Court will allow stricter voter ID provisions to be enacted after facing legal challenges.
Jesse James Mullen, a Democrat from Deer Lodge, is running against Jacobsen. As a first-time statewide candidate, Mullen’s campaign emphasizes a business-owner’s approach to improving the office’s interactions with businesses and the public.
Stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming state elections.