With fewer than two weeks before the close of the filing period, the Helena-area legislative races are shaping up for an interesting mix of hotly contested Democratic primary battles and at least two general-election bouts, but five Helena-area House district elections and the valley’s lone Senate race are still without a candidate from each party.

Five incumbents — Republicans Scott Mendenhall (House District 77), John Ward (HD 84) and Harry Klock (HD 83) and Democrats Mary Caferro (HD 80) and Galen Hollenbaugh (HD 81) are so far unchallenged, and the Senate District 41 race, as it stands now, may be decided in the June 3 Democratic primary battle between incumbent Sen. Christine Kaufmann and four-term Rep. Hal Jacobson.

Here’s a rundown of the races as they stand now. The filing period closes March 20.

SD 41

Democrat Christine Kaufmann, who had won three House District 81 races, was appointed to the seat for the 2007 session after Ken Toole won a post on the Public Service Commission. Her opponent in her first election for the seat is longtime House colleague Hal Jacobson, who’s been termed out of his HD 82 seat. No Republican has filed for the race.

HD 82

Jacobson’s old spot has elicited a lot of interest among the Democrats, with fundraising requests out in the mail last fall. County prosecutor Mike Menahan and retired state administrator Matt Cohn have filed for the primary race. Robin Shropshire, a University of MontananHelena professor, expressed early interest but chose to focus on other work instead.

Republican Mark Colton filed for the race late last week.

HD 78

Democrat Jill Cohenour, running for her fourth term serving East Helena in the Legislature, has a challenger in Republican Steve Gibson, a longtime state employee. Cohenour took the seat in 2006 with a 202-vote victory over her Republican challenger.

HD 79

Former Rep. Dave Gallik, a Democrat, can’t run again here because of term limits. So far, the race is between Democrat Chuck Hunter, yet another retired state worker looking to spend his retirement at the Capitol, and Republican Shawn White Wolf.

Commenting on a recently disclosed misdemeanor conviction for driving under the influence, White Wolf at the time said he planned on dropping out of the race, though he’s still listed on the Secretary of State’s Web site.

HD 81

Democrat Galen Hollenbaugh was appointed to Kaufmann’s old seat in 2007 after she moved to the Senate. Attorney Beth Brenneman initially said she would challenge him in the primary, but chose not to file for family health reasons.

HD 77

Republican Scott Mendenhall so far is unchallenged for his fourth term here. He won the 2006 race by 25 votes.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com