In the Republican primary for the state’s utility regulation board, Flathead Valley doctor Annie Bukacek has a 74-vote lead over former state lawmaker Derek Skees, which puts that race into recount territory. On the Democratic side of District 5, retired Whitefish executive John Repke bested Helena telecommunications professional Kevin Hamm with an 8-point lead. Incumbent PSC commissioner Randy Pinocci, whose district covers a broad swath of northern Montana, coasted to victory over challenger K. Webb Galbreath of Browning.
