Missoulian: Parties battle for control of legislature

HELENA - The two major political parties are battling for control of the Montana Legislature as voters prepare to fill all 100 House seats on Nov. 4 and half of the 50 Senate positions. The political makeup of the 2007 Legislature was narrowly divided, with Democrats controlling the Senate 26-24, Republicans prevailing 50-49 in the House and a lone member of the Constitution Party rounding out that chamber. With an eye toward the biennial legislative session that convenes in January, each major party recruited candidates aggressively. "These races are tight all over the state," said Erik Iverson, the state Republican Party chairman. "The balance of power could go either way." * The Montana Democratic Party recruited "candidates who look like their districts and are in touch with their communities," spokesman Kevin O'Brien said. With third-party or independent candidates pursuing seats in the Legislature and possibly siphoning votes away from Republicans, Democrats stand to benefit, O'Brien said. A dozen candidates have filed as independents or as contenders with Constitution Party or Libertarian affiliation. Political scientist Craig Wilson of Montana State University-Billings said Republicans probably have an advantage in their quest to control the Senate, given the party affiliation of senators whose positions are not up for election this time around. Among the 25 holdovers, 16 are in the GOP.