November 3 was a day of record voter turnout for Sanders County, with the last ballot coming in just before the polls closed. The last voter walked into the Sanders County Courthouse a few minutes before 8 p.m. Tuesday to cast his ballot in the General Election. Sanders County Elections staff was done counting ballots and election results released about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

In local races, Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox won his re-elect bid, gathering 3,933 votes while challenger Chris Stough received 3,069 votes. Republican Bob Brown won the State Senate, District 7, seat with 5,661 votes to Diane Magone's 1,829. Brown is currently the State Representative in House District 13. That race was won Tuesday by Paul Fielder of Thompson Falls. Fielder, a Republican, received 3,017 votes, Democrat Colleen Hinds 1,053 and Libertarian Cade Stiles 393.

As of Wednesday morning, Republican Jennifer Fielder, the current State Senator for District 7 from Thompson Falls, was leading in the race for Public Service Commissioner against Monica Tranel. Fielder had 61,473 votes as of 11 a.m. Wednesday to Tranel's 57,290.

A total of 8,607 ballots were cast in the General Election, which the Sanders County Commissioners voted to hold by mail-in ballot. Election Administrator Nichol Scribner said that on Tuesday, more than 200 people came to the Sanders County Courthouse to register to vote and more than 600 voters chose to vote in-person on Election Day. Of the 8,607 ballots issued, 7,705 were voted and turned in, putting the voter turnout at 90%, a county record. The previous record was the June primary, when 67% of voters cast ballots.

Numbers released are unofficial until the election is validated on November 17. The latest in election results for statewide races are available online at https://electionresults.mt.gov/.