Hunter To Challenge Rhonda Knudsen For SD15
Glasgow’s Gregg Hunter is challenging Rhonda Knudsen, of Culbertson, for Montana Senate District 15.
The new district encompasses portions of Valley, Richland and Roosevelt counties and all of Daniels and Sheridan counties, including the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Culbertson, Plentywood, Scobey and Sidney.
This is a single-party race. No Democratic or Libertarian candidates filed, meaning voters will pick their legislator in the June primary rather than the November general election. Voters may participate in the political party primary of their choosing.
Hunter is a newcomer to politics, but is well known in the area as a public relations and marketing specialist at Nemont Communications. He is a past president of his local chamber of commerce and has served on several committees including TBID, Wayfinding, Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament and the Longest Dam Race.
Hunter told the Northern Plains Independent that he thought long and hard about entering the political arena and did so with the encouragement of his wife, Kim, their two adult children and one daughter- in-law. For more than 30 years, Hunter has served as an EMT in northeast Montana, currently with the Hinsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service. He said his main goals include raising the presence of the new district in the statehouse. “We are a long way from Helena,” said Hunter, “and we need a louder voice from here in the northeast corner of the state to be heard. I’m not a politician and believe that we need more common sense Montana values making our decisions.”
Hunter told area media that he is pro Second Amendment, in favor of limited government and plans to advocate for property tax reform.
Rhonda Knudsen enters the race with considerable experience in the statehouse. She is currently Speaker pro tempore of the Montana House of Representatives, having previously served in the Montana House in 2019 and 2021. Her son is Austin Knudsen, current Montana Attorney General and former Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. Her husband is Miles Knudsen. He is currently running against Valerie Moore for the new HD-29.
Knudsen said the role of pro tem is key to the business of distributing bills for consideration by the legislature and is effectively second in command for that body. She added that she spends, “a lot of time on the road.” “This is not a 90day job,” Knudsen said, “it’s probably a 200 day job.” She told area media that she chose the Senate race because the legislature would benefit from her level of experience. She describes herself as a traditional conservative on tax issues. Her committee assignments have included Taxation, Natural Resources, Rules and Joint Rules.
The primary for SD15 is set for June 4.
