1976 Montana Senate election

Not to be confused with 1976 United States Senate election in Montana.

1976 Montana Senate election
November 2, 1976 (1976-11-02)
25 of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader W. Gordon McOmber Frank W. Hazelbaker
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 6th-Fairfield 41st-Dillon
Last election 30 20
Seats after 25 25
Seat change Decrease5 Increase5
Senate President before election

W. Gordon McOmber[1][2]
Democratic

Elected Senate President

W. Gordon McOmber[3]
Democratic

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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]

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 Party Elected senator Outcome
1 Ed B. Smith Rep Ed B. Smith Rep hold
2 Mark Etchart Rep Mark Etchart Rep hold
3 Greg Jergeson Dem Greg Jergeson Dem hold
8 Richard G. Smith Dem Richard G. Smith Dem hold
10 Bob Brown Rep Bob Brown Rep hold
12 George McCallum Rep George McCallum Rep hold
13 Jean A. Turnage Rep Jean A. Turnage Rep hold
16 Glen L. Drake Rep A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen Rep hold
17 Larry Fasbender Dem Larry Fasbender Dem hold
20 Mike Greely Dem Bill Thomas Dem hold
21 George F. Roskie Rep George F. Roskie Rep hold
24 Don Foster Dem Harold L. Dover Rep gain
26 William L. Mathers Rep William L. Mathers Rep hold
27 Cornie R. Thiessen Dem Cornie R. Thiessen Dem hold
29 Carroll Graham Dem Carroll Graham Dem hold
30 Max Conover Dem Tom Hager Rep gain
32 Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell Rep Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. Rep hold
33 Gene Cetrone Dem William R. "Bill" Lowe Rep gain
39 Ann 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
43 Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem hold
45 John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem hold
49 Robert D. Watt Dem Robert D. Watt Dem hold
50 Richard 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wallace B. Edland 1,487 100.00%
Total votes 1,487 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 1,572 100.00%
Total votes 1,572 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 3,945 63.55%
Democratic Wallace B. Edland 2,263 36.45%
Total votes 6,208 100.00%
Republican hold

District 2

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William S. Forsythe 1,225 100.00%
Total votes 1,225 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Etchart (incumbent) 1,413 100.00%
Total votes 1,413 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Etchart (incumbent) 3,872 65.38%
Democratic William S. Forsythe 2,050 34.62%
Total votes 5,922 100.00%
Republican hold

District 3

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 1,710 100.00%
Total votes 1,710 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican E. L. Luckett 1,247 100.00%
Total votes 1,247 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 3,500 59.92%
Republican E. L. Luckett 2,341 40.08%
Total votes 5,841 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 8

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 1,506 100.00%
Total votes 1,506 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Walt Whirry 778 54.33%
Republican Walter Deets 654 45.67%
Total votes 1,432 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 3,250 52.03%
Republican Walt Whirry 2,996 47.97%
Total votes 6,246 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 10

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cecil H. Storms 1,446 100.00%
Total votes 1,446 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Brown (incumbent) 1,229 100.00%
Total votes 1,229 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Brown (incumbent) 3,763 61.03%
Democratic Cecil H. Storms 2,403 38.97%
Total votes 6,166 100.00%
Republican hold

District 12

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John F. Harwood 1,511 61.32%
Democratic Claude H. "Blackie" Lackner 953 38.68%
Total votes 2,464 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George McCallum (incumbent) 1,542 100.00%
Total votes 1,542 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George McCallum (incumbent) 4,327 59.13%
Democratic John F. Harwood 2,991 40.87%
Total votes 7,318 100.00%
Republican hold

District 13

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David V. Scheeler 1,410 100.00%
Total votes 1,410 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 2,063 100.00%
Total votes 2,063 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 4,525 63.80%
Democratic David V. Scheeler 2,567 36.20%
Total votes 7,092 100.00%
Republican hold

District 16

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Reese 1,219 57.07%
Democratic Mary D. Munger 917 42.93%
Total votes 2,136 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 1,243 61.84%
Republican C. E. "Sandy" McPherson 532 26.47%
Republican Barbara "Bobby" Byrd 235 11.69%
Total votes 2,010 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 3,495 50.15%
Democratic Rick Reese 3,474 49.85%
Total votes 6,969 100.00%
Republican hold

District 17

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 1,671 100.00%
Total votes 1,671 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William C. Shortridge 919 100.00%
Total votes 919 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 3,081 57.56%
Republican William C. Shortridge 2,272 42.44%
Total votes 5,353 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 20

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Thomas 1,307 100.00%
Total votes 1,307 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sal Leigland 694 62.35%
Republican John J. Gilligan 419 37.65%
Total votes 1,113 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Thomas 2,798 57.70%
Republican Sal Leigland 2,051 42.30%
Total votes 4,849 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 21

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald "Jim" Skinner 746 53.32%
Democratic Edward J. Warren 653 46.68%
Total votes 1,399 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Roskie (incumbent) 1,152 100.00%
Total votes 1,152 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George F. Roskie (incumbent) 3,037 57.80%
Democratic Donald "Jim" Skinner 2,217 42.20%
Total votes 5,254 100.00%
Republican hold

District 24

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Foster (incumbent) 1,810 100.00%
Total votes 1,810 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold L. Dover 1,214 41.76%
Republican W. G. "Bud" Rafter 855 29.41%
Republican Dale K. Knox 838 28.83%
Total votes 2,907 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold L. Dover 3,680 50.65%
Democratic Don Foster (incumbent) 3,585 49.35%
Total votes 7,265 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 26

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William L. Mathers (incumbent) 1,688 100.00%
Total votes 1,688 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William L. Mathers (incumbent) 5,185 100.00%
Total votes 5,185 100.00%
Republican hold

District 27

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 1,567 100.00%
Total votes 1,567 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James R. Miller 1,386 100.00%
Total votes 1,386 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 3,540 56.04%
Republican James R. Miller 2,777 43.96%
Total votes 6,317 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 29

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carroll Graham (incumbent) 1,359 100.00%
Total votes 1,359 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carroll Graham (incumbent) 3,408 69.00%
Independent Tom Dailey 1,531 31.00%
Total votes 4,939 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 30

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Max Conover (incumbent) 1,452 100.00%
Total votes 1,452 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Hager 887 58.55%
Republican M. E. Eddleman 628 41.45%
Total votes 1,515 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Hager 3,972 53.55%
Democratic Max Conover (incumbent) 3,445 46.45%
Total votes 7,417 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 32

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Iris P. Walthall 893 100.00%
Total votes 893 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 2,039 73.29%
Republican John F. Self 743 26.71%
Total votes 2,782 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 5,238 73.18%
Democratic Iris P. Walthall 1,920 26.82%
Total votes 7,158 100.00%
Republican hold

District 33

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gene Cetrone (incumbent) 1,339 100.00%
Total votes 1,339 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William R. "Bill" Lowe 1,968 100.00%
Total votes 1,968 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William R. "Bill" Lowe 3,807 54.57%
Democratic Gene Cetrone (incumbent) 3,169 45.43%
Total votes 6,976 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 39

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ann Seibel (incumbent) 1,291 100.00%
Total votes 1,291 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett R. Lensink 1,398 100.00%
Total votes 1,398 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett R. Lensink 3,110 52.19%
Democratic Ann Seibel (incumbent) 2,849 47.81%
Total votes 5,959 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 41

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 2,641 100.00%
Total votes 2,641 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 5,120 100.00%
Total votes 5,120 100.00%
Republican hold

District 42

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Peterson 1,483 53.67%
Democratic Al Luebeck 1,280 46.33%
Total votes 2,763 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Peterson 4,824 100.00%
Total votes 4,824 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 43

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 1,501 100.00%
Total votes 1,501 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 4,500 100.00%
Total votes 4,500 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 45

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 1,849 58.79%
Democratic Joseph H. McCarvel 1,296 41.21%
Total votes 3,145 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joyce W. Stancliffe 415 100.00%
Total votes 415 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 3,888 75.67%
Republican Joyce W. Stancliffe 1,250 24.33%
Total votes 5,138 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 49

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 1,238 52.15%
Democratic Roy E. Burditt 1,136 47.85%
Total votes 2,374 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George R. Wolstad 1,051 100.00%
Total votes 1,051 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 3,793 63.56%
Republican George R. Wolstad 2,175 36.44%
Total votes 5,968 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 50

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daphne Bugbee 2,165 100.00%
Total votes 2,165 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don H. Weston[a] 1,065 41.68%
Republican Horace H. "Shorty" Koessler 920 36.01%
Republican Larry Livingston 570 22.31%
Total votes 2,555 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don H. Weston[a] 4,507 55.23%
Democratic Daphne Bugbee 3,653 44.77%
Total votes 8,160 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Senate Journal of the Forty-fifth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. 3.
  4. ^ a b "Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1977". Montana State Legislature.
  5. ^ a b c "1976 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State.
  6. ^ a b c "1976 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State.
  7. ^ a b "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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