1976 United States Senate election in Montana

1976 United States Senate election in Montana

←  1970 November 2, 1976 1982  →

Nominee John Melcher Stanley Burger Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 206,232 115,213 Percentage 64.16% 35.84%

County results Melcher:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Burger:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Melcher Democratic

The 1976 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1976. Rather than seek a fifth term, incumbent United States Senator Mike Mansfield, a Democrat, opted to retire, creating an open seat. United States Congressman John Melcher, who had represented Montana's 2nd congressional district from 1969 to 1977, won the Democratic nomination and defeated Stanley C. Burger, the Republican nominee, by a wide margin in the general election. This was the first open seat election in Montana since 1960 and the first open seat election in Montana for the Class 1 Senate seat since 1922.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Melcher, United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district
• Ray Gulick, farmer

Results

Democratic Party primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack Melcher	89,413	88.52
	Democratic	Ray E. Gulick	11,593	11.48
Total votes			101,006	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Stanley C. Burger, former Executive Officer of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation
• Dave Drum
• Jack Tierney
• Larry L. Gilbert

Results

Republican Primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stanley C. Burger	32,313	40.41
	Republican	Dave Drum	27,257	34.09
	Republican	Jack Tierney	15,129	18.92
	Republican	Larry L. Gilbert	5,258	6.58
Total votes			79,957	100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1976 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Melcher	206,232	64.16%	+3.62%
	Republican	Stanley C. Burger	115,213	35.84%	−3.62%
Majority			91,019	28.32%	+7.24%
Turnout			321,445
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1976 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 1, 1976". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
2. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.