The race for the open Senate seat in Montana continues to move forward this week, despite a collective sense of bewilderment from both the candidates and the handful of people who have actually been reading their flyers. Candidates Alistair Pringle and Brenda Stout-Higgins confirmed on Tuesday that they have no intention of dropping out, primarily because the weather has been quite nice and the coffee at the downtown diner is still reasonably priced.

Calls for one candidate to step aside have circulated for weeks, mostly originating from a group of concerned citizens who meet near the M Trailhead to discuss things they read on social media. However, both Pringle and Stout-Higgins remain steadfast. They argue that as long as there is an empty podium available, they are morally obligated to stand behind it and talk about how much they value our Montana way of life.

“I checked my calendar, and I don’t have anything else scheduled until the first frost,” said local rancher and part-time snowplow operator Dale Cinders. “If they keep running, I keep hearing them talk. It’s a very polite stalemate. It’s almost as if they think if they stop running, they’ll have to get jobs in Belgrade and commute like the rest of us.”

The political math remains as elusive as finding a parking spot on Main Street during the Farmers Market. Supporters of both candidates have suggested that if they simply combined their platforms, they could effectively do nothing together, which would save everyone a significant amount of time and campaign literature. Yet, the candidates continue to traverse the valley, stopping at every strip mall in Four Corners to shake hands with people who are primarily there to pick up a smoothie.

When asked what it would take for either candidate to exit the race, an aide for the Pringle campaign noted that the candidate is waiting for a “clear signal from the people.” So far, the only signals from the people have involved requests for them to move their trucks out of the bike lane and questions about when the new luxury storage units will be finished.

For now, the campaigns will carry on. Both candidates are expected to attend the same community potluck on Thursday, where they will likely stand at opposite ends of the room and agree that the wind in Livingston is indeed quite strong this time of year.

Nobody has mentioned stopping, and the brochures are already printed.