1976 Montana Senate election

Last updated

1976 Montana Senate election
Flag of Montana.svg
←  1974 November 2, 1976 (1976-11-02) 1978  →
25 of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Leader W. Gordon McOmber Frank W. Hazelbaker
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat6th-Fairfield 41st-Dillon
Last election3020
Seats after2525
Seat changeDecrease2.svg5Increase2.svg5
Senate President before election

W. Gordon McOmber [1] [2]
Democratic

Elected Senate President

W. Gordon McOmber [3]
Democratic

The 1976 Montana Senate election took place on November 2, 1976, with the primary election held on June 1, 1976. Montana voters elected 25 of the 50 members of the Montana Senate. [4] The election coincided with United States national elections and Montana state elections, including U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Montana Governor and Montana House. [5] [6]

Contents

Following the previous election in 1974, Democrats held a 30-to-20-seat majority over Republicans. [7] [8] [9] Democrats and Republicans were tied at 25 seats each following the 1976 election—giving Republicans a net gain of five seats. [7] [5] [6] The newly elected members served in the 45th Montana State Legislature, during which Democrat W. Gordon McOmber was re-elected President of the Montana Senate. [3]

Retiring incumbents

Democrats

  1. District 20: Mike Greely
  2. District 42: Neil J. Lynch
  3. District 50: Richard A. Colberg

Republicans

  1. District 16: Glen L. Drake
  2. District 32: Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell

Incumbents defeated in general election

Democrats

  1. District 24: Don Foster
  2. District 30: Max Conover
  3. District 33: Gene Cetrone
  4. District 39: Ann Seibel

Summary of results

Italics denote an open seat held by the incumbent party; bold text denotes a gain for a party. [4] [5] [6] Only districts that held elections are listed below.

State senate district Incumbent PartyElected senatorOutcome
1Ed B. Smith Rep Ed B. Smith Rep hold
2Mark Etchart Rep Mark Etchart Rep hold
3 Greg Jergeson Dem Greg Jergeson Dem hold
8Richard G. Smith Dem Richard G. Smith Dem hold
10 Bob Brown Rep Bob Brown Rep hold
12George McCallum Rep George McCallum Rep hold
13 Jean A. Turnage Rep Jean A. Turnage Rep hold
16Glen L. Drake Rep A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen Rep hold
17Larry Fasbender Dem Larry Fasbender Dem hold
20Mike Greely Dem Bill Thomas Dem hold
21George F. Roskie Rep George F. Roskie Rep hold
24Don Foster Dem Harold L. Dover Rep gain
26William L. Mathers Rep William L. Mathers Rep hold
27Cornie R. Thiessen Dem Cornie R. Thiessen Dem hold
29Carroll Graham Dem Carroll Graham Dem hold
30Max Conover Dem Tom Hager Rep gain
32Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell Rep Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. Rep hold
33Gene Cetrone Dem William R. "Bill" Lowe Rep gain
39Ann Seibel Dem Everett R. Lensink Rep gain
41 Frank W. Hazelbaker Rep Frank W. Hazelbaker Rep hold
42 Neil J. Lynch Dem Bob Peterson Dem hold
43Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem hold
45John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem hold
49Robert D. Watt Dem Robert D. Watt Dem hold
50Richard A. Colberg Dem Don H. Weston [a] Rep gain

Detailed results by district

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 13 • District 16 • District 17 • District 20 • District 21 • District 24 • District 26 • District 27 • District 29 • District 30 • District 32 • District 33 • District 39 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 45 • District 49 • District 50

District 1

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Wallace B. Edland 1,487 100.00%
Total votes1,487 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 1,572 100.00%
Total votes1,572 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 3,945 63.55%
Democratic Wallace B. Edland2,26336.45%
Total votes6,208 100.00%
Republican hold

District 2

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William S. Forsythe 1,225 100.00%
Total votes1,225 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mark Etchart (incumbent) 1,413 100.00%
Total votes1,413 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mark Etchart (incumbent) 3,872 65.38%
Democratic William S. Forsythe2,05034.62%
Total votes5,922 100.00%
Republican hold

District 3

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 1,710 100.00%
Total votes1,710 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican E. L. Luckett 1,247 100.00%
Total votes1,247 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 3,500 59.92%
Republican E. L. Luckett2,34140.08%
Total votes5,841 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 8

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 1,506 100.00%
Total votes1,506 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Walt Whirry 778 54.33%
Republican Walter Deets65445.67%
Total votes1,432 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 3,250 52.03%
Republican Walt Whirry2,99647.97%
Total votes6,246 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 10

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cecil H. Storms 1,446 100.00%
Total votes1,446 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Brown (incumbent) 1,229 100.00%
Total votes1,229 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Brown (incumbent) 3,763 61.03%
Democratic Cecil H. Storms2,40338.97%
Total votes6,166 100.00%
Republican hold

District 12

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John F. Harwood 1,511 61.32%
Democratic Claude H. "Blackie" Lackner95338.68%
Total votes2,464 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George McCallum (incumbent) 1,542 100.00%
Total votes1,542 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George McCallum (incumbent) 4,327 59.13%
Democratic John F. Harwood2,99140.87%
Total votes7,318 100.00%
Republican hold

District 13

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic David V. Scheeler 1,410 100.00%
Total votes1,410 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 2,063 100.00%
Total votes2,063 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 4,525 63.80%
Democratic David V. Scheeler2,56736.20%
Total votes7,092 100.00%
Republican hold

District 16

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rick Reese 1,219 57.07%
Democratic Mary D. Munger91742.93%
Total votes2,136 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 1,243 61.84%
Republican C. E. "Sandy" McPherson53226.47%
Republican Barbara "Bobby" Byrd23511.69%
Total votes2,010 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 3,495 50.15%
Democratic Rick Reese 3,47449.85%
Total votes6,969 100.00%
Republican hold

District 17

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 1,671 100.00%
Total votes1,671 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William C. Shortridge 919 100.00%
Total votes919 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 3,081 57.56%
Republican William C. Shortridge2,27242.44%
Total votes5,353 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 20

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Thomas 1,307 100.00%
Total votes1,307 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Sal Leigland 694 62.35%
Republican John J. Gilligan41937.65%
Total votes1,113 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Thomas 2,798 57.70%
Republican Sal Leigland2,05142.30%
Total votes4,849 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 21

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Donald "Jim" Skinner 746 53.32%
Democratic Edward J. Warren65346.68%
Total votes1,399 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George F. Roskie (incumbent) 1,152 100.00%
Total votes1,152 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George F. Roskie (incumbent) 3,037 57.80%
Democratic Donald "Jim" Skinner2,21742.20%
Total votes5,254 100.00%
Republican hold

District 24

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Don Foster (incumbent) 1,810 100.00%
Total votes1,810 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harold L. Dover 1,214 41.76%
Republican W. G. "Bud" Rafter85529.41%
Republican Dale K. Knox83828.83%
Total votes2,907 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harold L. Dover 3,680 50.65%
Democratic Don Foster (incumbent)3,58549.35%
Total votes7,265 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 26

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William L. Mathers (incumbent) 1,688 100.00%
Total votes1,688 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William L. Mathers (incumbent) 5,185 100.00%
Total votes5,185 100.00%
Republican hold

District 27

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 1,567 100.00%
Total votes1,567 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James R. Miller 1,386 100.00%
Total votes1,386 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 3,540 56.04%
Republican James R. Miller2,77743.96%
Total votes6,317 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 29

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carroll Graham (incumbent) 1,359 100.00%
Total votes1,359 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carroll Graham (incumbent) 3,408 69.00%
Independent Tom Dailey1,53131.00%
Total votes4,939 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 30

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Max Conover (incumbent) 1,452 100.00%
Total votes1,452 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Hager 887 58.55%
Republican M. E. Eddleman62841.45%
Total votes1,515 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Hager 3,972 53.55%
Democratic Max Conover (incumbent)3,44546.45%
Total votes7,417 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 32

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Iris P. Walthall 893 100.00%
Total votes893 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 2,039 73.29%
Republican John F. Self74326.71%
Total votes2,782 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 5,238 73.18%
Democratic Iris P. Walthall1,92026.82%
Total votes7,158 100.00%
Republican hold

District 33

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gene Cetrone (incumbent) 1,339 100.00%
Total votes1,339 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William R. "Bill" Lowe 1,968 100.00%
Total votes1,968 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William R. "Bill" Lowe 3,807 54.57%
Democratic Gene Cetrone (incumbent)3,16945.43%
Total votes6,976 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 39

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ann Seibel (incumbent) 1,291 100.00%
Total votes1,291 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Everett R. Lensink 1,398 100.00%
Total votes1,398 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Everett R. Lensink 3,110 52.19%
Democratic Ann Seibel (incumbent)2,84947.81%
Total votes5,959 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 41

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 2,641 100.00%
Total votes2,641 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 5,120 100.00%
Total votes5,120 100.00%
Republican hold

District 42

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Peterson 1,483 53.67%
Democratic Al Luebeck1,28046.33%
Total votes2,763 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Peterson 4,824 100.00%
Total votes4,824 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 43

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 1,501 100.00%
Total votes1,501 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 4,500 100.00%
Total votes4,500 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 45

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 1,849 58.79%
Democratic Joseph H. McCarvel1,29641.21%
Total votes3,145 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Joyce W. Stancliffe 415 100.00%
Total votes415 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 3,888 75.67%
Republican Joyce W. Stancliffe1,25024.33%
Total votes5,138 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 49

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 1,238 52.15%
Democratic Roy E. Burditt1,13647.85%
Total votes2,374 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George R. Wolstad 1,051 100.00%
Total votes1,051 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 3,793 63.56%
Republican George R. Wolstad2,17536.44%
Total votes5,968 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 50

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Daphne Bugbee 2,165 100.00%
Total votes2,165 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Don H. Weston [a] 1,065 41.68%
Republican Horace H. "Shorty" Koessler92036.01%
Republican Larry Livingston57022.31%
Total votes2,555 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Don H. Weston [a] 4,507 55.23%
Democratic Daphne Bugbee3,65344.77%
Total votes8,160 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
  1. 1 2 3 Republican Don H. Weston won the election; however, he died in December 1976 before taking office. [10] Republican William E. Murray was appointed on December 22, 1976 to replace deceased Senator-elect Weston. [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Senate Journal of the Forty-fourth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. 3.
  2. ↑ "Leadership: Senate". Montana Legislature.
  3. 1 2 "Senate Journal of the Forty-fifth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. 3.
  4. 1 2 "Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1977". Montana State Legislature .
  5. 1 2 3 "1976 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  6. 1 2 3 "1976 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  7. 1 2 "Montana State Legislature: Party Control: Majority and Minority Party Numbers 1889-Present". Montana State Legislature .
  8. ↑ "1974 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State .
  9. ↑ "1974 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  10. ↑ "Donald H. Weston (1927 - 1976)". Montana Broadcasters Associaton. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ "OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA SENATE 1977". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. ii.
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