Hedalen outpaces Democrat O’Brien for Montana’s top education slot

Statewide voting results show that Republican Susie Hedalen, the Superintendent of Public Schools Townsend, will become the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Montana.

For the very beginning, Hedalen opened up a 20-point lead over Democrat Shannon O’Brien, and that margin held into Wednesday morning as she had a lead of more than 100,000 votes as of 7:45 a.m, with 60 percent of the precincts reporting. Hedalen had received 310,245 votes to O’Brien’s 209,189.

The Associated Press called the victory for Hedalen on Wednesday morning.

On Twitter, she praised Republican President-elect Donald Trump and declared victory.

As I take a moment to reflect on this journey, my heart is filled with gratitude for all of the support I have received. A special thank you to my husband, family, and friends. I’m excited for Tuesday’s results and the opportunity to serve as MT’s next State Superintendent! pic.twitter.com/RuLTighw93

— Susie Hedalen (@SusieHedalen) November 4, 2024

The race for the top education official in Montana pitted two longtime educators against each other. Hedalen has experience as the leader of public schools in Townsend, while O’Brien has served as an educator, a college dean and the education adviser to former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

Hedalen will replace outgoing Republican Elsie Arntzen, who became the first Republican in nearly 40 years to win consecutive terms in the position that previously was a Democratic stronghold.

Arntzen, a former longtime lawmaker from Billings, had launched an unsuccessful campaign to become the Republican nominee for Congress in Montana’s Second District, but she was beaten in a crowded primary field by Troy Downing.

Hedalen will have several notable challenges ahead as the department has faced record turnover and recently received an audit that showed as much as $67 million in federal funds were either misspent or not documented properly. The next superintendent will also work with the newly implemented public charter school programs, which have garnered positive response from districts.

The superintendent’s office will also have to navigate several controversial items in the future that have become endemic to public school conversations across America including transgender athletes in sports, book banning and a movement to increase parental rights.