Three votes hand DVM Montana House seat

HELENA, MONT. — Krayton Kerns, DVM, earned his seat and a Republican majority in the Montana House of Representatives by three votes.

Dr. Krayton Kerns

The 49-year-old mixed animal practitioner beat an incumbent to become the newest member of the State House, which grants the GOP a one-seat majority.

The race, decided three weeks after the Nov. 7 election, was previously thought to be a tie. The recount decision means the House now has 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats and 1 Constitution Party member who leans right on most issues.

Kerns, owner of Beartooth Veterinary Service in Laurel, officially takes office as state representative Jan. 3.

"The thing for everybody to take home here is every single vote does count," Kerns says. "Three single votes are what's sending me up to the legislature, and that's huge. I think we're one of the few state houses that went from Democrat controlled to Republican controlled in this election."