The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

Jon Bennion, a republican running for Montana Attorney General, stopped in Ekalaka and Alzada last Thursday. Bennion is currently Montana Attorney General Tim Fox's chief deputy and has worked at the Montana Department of Justice since 2013. He announced that he was running for Fox's seat in next year's election back in February.

Originally from Billings, Bennion graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2005. He now resides in the small town of Clancy, just over 10 miles from Helena, with his wife and son.

Bennion comes from a large family of six siblings and enjoys woodcarving and spending time outdoors when he isn't busy working for the AG or on the campaign trail.

To date, he has visited thirty-some Montana counties and plans to visit every county at least once before Montana's primary elections on June 2, 2020.

Those visits are perhaps the best part of the campaign so far, he told the Eagle.

"I am able to get to areas of the state that I am unable to get to often and have meaningful conversations with people."

At the Wagon Wheel Café, Bennion answered questions and conversed with a small group of locals. He addressed public safety concerns, combating government overreach and the state's drug issues.

Bennion will face off with Austin Knudsen, who was elected Roosevelt County Attorney in 2018, in the Republican primary.

Kim Dudik, who currently represents Missoula in the state Legislature, and Raph Graybill, the governor's chief legal counsel, will square off in the Democratic primary.

The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.