Llew Jones’ Ballot Fight Takes A Wild New Turn

Montana GOP Picks Replacement for Llew Jones

Less than a week after we told you about a Montana lawmaker who could be knocked off the November ballot, the Montana Republican Party has already picked someone to replace him.

There's just one problem: Llew Jones isn't giving up his spot without a fight.

Ted Kronebusch Has A Connection to Llew Jones

On Monday night, the Montana Republican Party selected Ted Kronebusch as the replacement candidate for Senate District 9. This comes after Attorney General Austin Knudsen's new interpretation of Montana's term-limit law put Jones' candidacy in question.

It should be noted that Kronebusch is a longtime friend of Jones, as well as the chairman of the Pondera County Republican Central Committee. He's also one of the people suing to keep Jones on the ballot. So to say this situation is a little unusual is putting it lightly.

In June, Jones won his primary, defeating Rep. Zach Wirth in a race that highlighted the growing divide between the hard-line conservatives backed by the state GOP and the more moderate faction.

On Monday, Wirth was also considered as a possible replacement for Jones, but Kronebusch received roughly three-quarters of the votes from the committee representing the four counties in the district.

Still, that doesn't mean Kronebusch is on the ballot.

Photo Credit: Senator-Representative LLew Jones via Facebook//Canva

Llew Jones Is Still Fighting to Stay on the Ballot

Llew Jones is still fighting the term-limit decision in court, arguing that because of how close the election is, the new interpretation shouldn't be used to remove him from the ballot.

And the timing couldn't be tighter.

A judge is scheduled to hear the case Tuesday afternoon, while Christi Jacobson, Montana's Secretary of State, is expected to certify the November ballot Thursday.

So as of right now, the Republican Party has picked a replacement. Whether Montana voters will actually see Kronebusch's name on the ballot instead of Jones' could come down to what happens in court over the next couple of days.

Source: Daily Montanan