1996 United States Senate election in Montana

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1996 United States Senate election in Montana
Flag of Montana.svg
  1990 November 5, 1996 2002  
  MaxBaucus (1).jpg Denny rehberg.jpg
Nominee Max Baucus Denny Rehberg
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote201,935182,111
Percentage49.56%44.69%

1996 United States Senate election in Montana results map by county.svg
County results
Baucus:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Rehberg:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Max Baucus
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Max Baucus
Democratic

The 1996 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus, who was first elected in 1978 and was re-elected in 1984 and 1990, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and moved on to the general election, where he faced a stiff challenge in Denny Rehberg, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana and the Republican nominee. Despite Bob Dole's victory over Bill Clinton and Ross Perot in the state that year in the presidential election, Baucus managed to narrowly win re-election over Rehberg to secure a fourth term in the Senate.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Max Baucus (incumbent) 85,976 100.00%
Total votes85,976 100.00%

Reform primary

Candidates

Results

Reform Party Primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Reform Becky Shaw 930 68.03%
Reform Webb Sullivan43731.97%
Total votes1,367 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Denny Rehberg 82,158 73.81%
Republican Ed Borcherdt14,67013.18%
Republican John K. McDonald14,48513.01%
Total votes111,313 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1996 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Max Baucus (incumbent) 201,935 49.56% −18.57%
Republican Denny Rehberg 182,11144.69%+15.31%
Reform Becky Shaw19,2764.73%
Natural Law Stephen Heaton4,1681.02%
Majority19,8244.86%−33.88%
Turnout 407,490
Democratic hold Swing

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "1996 Statewide Primary Canvass - June 4, 1996" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Gruenwald, Juliana (June 10, 1996). "Democrat Yellowtail, GOP's Hill To Contend For Montana House Seat". CNN. AllPolitics. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  3. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 3, 2014.