Explain these Montana counties

[TML]

Both of these counties are over 90% white, and the share of people with higher education is less than 30%. These factors combine to produce Republican dominance.

[TML]

Flathead and Ravalli. Flathead has Kalispell, which is decent sized (for Montana). Both are pretty strong Republican beacons in otherwise blue-leaning Western/Ski Resort parts of Montana. I know western Montana is much more Democratic friendly than the eastern part. So why are these two much more Republican leaning?

In Montana, it is more mining (Butte), state capital (Helena), and university (Bozeman and Missoula) that gives it the Democratic tilt, rather than ski areas.

Flathead has quite a bit of variation, I'd guess that Kalispell is a little more left (Trump in the 50s, vs. more rural areas.

Democratic strength can also be found in Indian Reservations.