1978 Montana Senate election

Last updated

1978 Montana Senate election
Flag of Montana.svg
←  1976
November 7, 1978 (1978-11-07)
1980  →
27 [a] of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Rep
Dem
Leader Jean A. Turnage W. Gordon McOmber
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat13th-Polson 6th-Fairfield
Last election2525
Seats after2624
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Senate President before election

W. Gordon McOmber [2] [3]
Democratic

Elected Senate President

William L. Mathers [4]
Republican

The 1978 Montana Senate election took place on November 7, 1978, with the primary election held on June 6, 1978. Montana voters elected 27 [a] of the 50 members of the Montana Senate. [5] The election coincided with United States national elections and Montana state elections, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Montana House. [6] [1]

Contents

Following the previous election in 1976, the chamber was tied with both Democrats and Republicans holding 25 seats. [7] [8] [9] Republicans flipped control of the chamber in 1978 by winning 26 seats while Democrats held 24—giving Republicans a net gain of one seat. [7] [6] [1] The newly elected members served in the 46th Montana State Legislature, during which Republican William L. Mathers was elected President of the Montana Senate. [4]

Retiring incumbents

Democrats

  1. District 6: W. Gordon McOmber
  2. District 11: Joe R. Roberts
  3. District 19: John W. “Jack” Devine
  4. District 43: [a] Robert E. "Bob" Lee [b]
  5. District 46: Miles Romney

Incumbent defeated in primary election

Democrat

  1. District 48: Elmer Flynn

Incumbents defeated in general election

Democrats

  1. District 18: Margaret S. Warden
  2. District 40: Terry Murphy

Republicans

  1. District 15: Frank Dunkle
  2. District 36: L. M. “Larry” Aber
  3. District 50: [a] William E. "Bill" Murray [c]

Summary of results

Italics denote an open seat held by the incumbent party; bold text denotes a gain for a party. [5] [6] [1]

State senate district Incumbent PartyElected senatorOutcome
4 Stan Stephens Rep Stan Stephens Rep hold
5 Allen C. Kolstad Rep Allen C. Kolstad Rep hold
6 W. Gordon McOmber Dem Gary Aklestad Rep gain
7Harold C. Nelson Rep Harold C. Nelson Rep hold
9Matt Himsl Rep Matt Himsl Rep hold
11Joe R. Roberts Dem William F. Hafferman Dem hold
14John E. Manley Dem John E. Manley Dem hold
15Frank Dunkle Rep Steve Brown Dem gain
18Margaret S. Warden Dem Jesse A. O'Hara Rep gain
19John W. “Jack” Devine Dem Patrick L. Ryan Dem hold
22Pat M. Goodover Rep Pat M. Goodover Rep hold
23Jack E. Galt Rep Jack E. Galt Rep hold
25Dave Manning Dem Dave Manning Dem hold
28S. A. Olson Rep S. A. Olson Rep hold
31Pat Regan Dem Pat Regan Dem hold
34Thomas E. Towe Dem Thomas E. Towe Dem hold
35 Chet Blaylock Dem Chet Blaylock Dem hold
36L. M. “Larry” Aber Rep Max Conover Dem gain
37Pete Story Rep Pete Story Rep hold
38Paul F. Boylan Dem Paul F. Boylan Dem hold
40 Terry Murphy Dem Mike Anderson Rep gain
43 [a] Robert E. "Bob" Lee [b] Dem Lawrence C. Stimatz Dem hold
44John E. "Jack" Healy Dem John E. "Jack" Healy Dem hold
46Miles Romney Dem Elmer D. Severson Rep gain
47Bill Norman Dem Bill Norman Dem hold
48Elmer Flynn Dem Bob Palmer Dem hold
50 [a] William E. "Bill" Murray [c] Rep Fred Van Valkenburg Dem gain

Detailed results by district

District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 14 • District 15 • District 18 • District 19 • District 22 • District 23 • District 25 • District 28 • District 31 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 40 • District 43 • District 44 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48 • District 50

District 4

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Donald W. Meyers 1,421 100.00%
Total votes1,421 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stan Stephens (incumbent) 722 100.00%
Total votes722 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stan Stephens (incumbent) 3,172 68.58%
Democratic Donald W. Meyers1,45331.42%
Total votes4,625 100.00%
Republican hold

District 5

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Beverly "Bobbi" Swank 2,314 100.00%
Total votes2,314 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 653 100.00%
Total votes653 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 4,652 78.58%
Democratic Beverly "Bobbi" Swank1,26821.42%
Total votes5,920 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert E. Stephens 1,196 31.83%
Democratic Gary Dyer1,13630.24%
Democratic Joe H. Preputin91124.25%
Democratic Russell R. Andrews51413.68%
Total votes3,757 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gary Aklestad 1,060 100.00%
Total votes1,060 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gary Aklestad 3,845 55.69%
Democratic Robert E. Stephens3,05944.31%
Total votes6,904 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 7

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clifford Stoltz 930 34.91%
Democratic Billie H. Wallace89533.60%
Democratic Donald "Don" Pemberton83931.49%
Total votes2,664 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 756 100.00%
Total votes756 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 2,672 58.55%
Democratic Clifford Stoltz1,89241.45%
Total votes4,564 100.00%
Republican hold

District 9

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard J. "Rick" Champoux 1,523 100.00%
Total votes1,523 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Himsl (incumbent) 1,779 100.00%
Total votes1,779 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Himsl (incumbent) 3,046 57.19%
Democratic Richard J. "Rick" Champoux2,28042.81%
Total votes5,326 100.00%
Republican hold

District 11

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William F. Hafferman 1,100 41.79%
Democratic Robert C. "Bob" Case77229.33%
Democratic Paul W. Applegate65825.00%
Democratic Terry A. Bicknell1023.88%
Total votes2,632 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William F. Hafferman 3,433 100.00%
Total votes3,433 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 14

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John E. Manley (incumbent) 1,331 50.59%
Democratic Ron Scharf1,30049.41%
Total votes2,631 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John E. Manley (incumbent) 4,100 100.00%
Total votes4,100 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 15

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Brown 2,830 100.00%
Total votes2,830 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Dunkle (incumbent) 594 63.60%
Republican Roger K. Barrett34036.40%
Total votes934 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Brown 3,864 51.60%
Republican Frank Dunkle (incumbent)3,62448.40%
Total votes7,488 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 18

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Margaret S. Warden (incumbent) 1,533 100.00%
Total votes1,533 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jesse A. O'Hara 284 100.00%
Total votes284 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jesse A. O'Hara 2,175 52.30%
Democratic Margaret S. Warden (incumbent)1,98447.70%
Total votes4,159 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 19

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Patrick L. Ryan 1,122 100.00%
Total votes1,122 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rodger D. Young [d] 198 100.00%
Total votes198 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Patrick L. Ryan 1,887 61.79%
Republican Greg Nelson [d] 1,16738.21%
Total votes3,054 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 22

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jacob D. Beck 552 100.00%
Total votes552 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 367 100.00%
Total votes367 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 1,492 67.60%
Democratic Jacob D. Beck71532.40%
Total votes2,207 100.00%
Republican hold

District 23

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 1,474 100.00%
Total votes1,474 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 5,018 100.00%
Total votes5,018 100.00%
Republican hold

District 25

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Manning (incumbent) 2,061 100.00%
Total votes2,061 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gary L. Gershmel 1,471 100.00%
Total votes1,471 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Manning (incumbent) 3,207 50.32%
Republican Gary L. Gershmel3,16649.68%
Total votes6,373 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 28

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Kenneth Rustad 1,420 100.00%
Total votes1,420 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican S. A. Olson (incumbent) 1,455 100.00%
Total votes1,455 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican S. A. Olson (incumbent) 2,771 50.66%
Democratic Kenneth Rustad2,69949.34%
Total votes5,470 100.00%
Republican hold

District 31

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Pat Regan (incumbent) 670 58.57%
Democratic Wallace W. Frickle47441.43%
Total votes1,144 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Craig Degenhardt 421 100.00%
Total votes421 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Pat Regan (incumbent) 2,178 65.23%
Republican Craig Degenhardt1,16134.77%
Total votes3,339 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 34

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 1,324 74.17%
Democratic James P. Twomey46125.83%
Total votes1,785 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lou Aleksich 745 100.00%
Total votes745 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 3,421 59.64%
Republican Lou Aleksich2,31540.36%
Total votes5,736 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 35

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chet Blaylock 1,446 100.00%
Total votes1,446 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kenneth G. Hageman 632 100.00%
Total votes632 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chet Blaylock 2,848 55.08%
Republican Kenneth G. Hageman2,32344.92%
Total votes5,171 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 36

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Max Conover 1,966 59.29%
Democratic Don Scanlin1,35040.71%
Total votes3,316 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent) 1,273 100.00%
Total votes1,273 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Max Conover 3,659 50.25%
Republican L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent)3,62249.75%
Total votes7,281 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 37

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard C. Parks 1,492 100.00%
Total votes1,492 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pete Story (incumbent) 2,619 100.00%
Total votes2,619 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pete Story (incumbent) 3,988 58.45%
Democratic Richard C. Parks2,83541.55%
Total votes6,823 100.00%
Republican hold

District 38

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 1,406 100.00%
Total votes1,406 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 5,159 100.00%
Total votes5,159 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 40

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Terry Murphy (incumbent) 2,679 100.00%
Total votes2,679 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Anderson 873 62.54%
Republican Jeff Lauderdale52337.46%
Total votes1,396 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Anderson 3,386 50.42%
Democratic Terry Murphy (incumbent)3,32949.58%
Total votes6,715 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 43

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Lawrence C. Stimatz 2,685 53.67%
Independent Walter A. Richter2,31846.33%
Total votes5,003 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 44

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John E. "Jack" Healy (incumbent) 2,434 100.00%
Total votes2,434 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John E. "Jack" Healy 3,673 100.00%
Total votes3,673 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 46

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Fritz Tossberg 1,597 50.02%
Democratic Russell J. Bergren1,59649.98%
Total votes3,193 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Elmer D. Severson 1,937 100.00%
Total votes1,937 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Elmer D. Severson 4,738 56.26%
Democratic Fritz Tossberg3,68443.74%
Total votes8,422 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Norman (incumbent) 2,310 100.00%
Total votes2,310 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Thomas Payne 844 100.00%
Total votes844 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Norman (incumbent) 3,239 52.88%
Republican Thomas Payne2,88647.12%
Total votes6,125 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 48

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Palmer 1,696 60.57%
Democratic Elmer Flynn (incumbent)1,10439.43%
Total votes2,800 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Palmer 3,549 100.00%
Total votes3,549 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 50

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Fred Van Valkenburg 987 37.96%
Democratic Philip D. Campbell94736.42%
Democratic James N. "Jim" Meinert66625.62%
Total votes2,600 100.00%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent) [c] 853 57.87%
Republican Bradley J. Stoick62142.13%
Total votes1,474 100.00%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Fred Van Valkenburg 3,662 54.45%
Republican William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent) [c] 3,06445.55%
Total votes6,726 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 In 1978, Montana held 25 regular state senate elections and two special elections in districts 43 and 50 for seats that had been vacated. [1]
  2. 1 2 Democratic Senator Bob Lee did not complete the term to which he was elected in 1976.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Republican Don H. Weston won election to the Montana Senate in 1976; however, he died in December 1976 before taking office. [10] Republican William E. "Bill" Murray was appointed on December 22, 1976 to replace deceased Senator-elect Weston until the 1978 election. [11]
  4. 1 2 Although Rodger D. Young won the primary, Greg Nelson was the Republican nominee in the general election.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "1978 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  2. ↑ "Senate Journal of the Forty-fifth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. January 3, 1977. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "Leadership: Senate". Montana Legislature.
  4. 1 2 "Senate Journal of the Forty-sixth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. January 3, 1979. p. 3.
  5. 1 2 "Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1979". Montana State Legislature . p. iii.
  6. 1 2 3 "1978 - Primary 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. ↑ "1976 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  9. ↑ "1976 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State .
  10. ↑ "Donald H. Weston (1927 - 1976)". Montana Broadcasters Association. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. ↑ "OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA SENATE 1977". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. ii.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.