1978 Montana Senate election

Not to be confused with 1978 United States Senate election in Montana.

1978 Montana Senate election
November 7, 1978 (1978-11-07)
27[a] of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate
26 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Rep
Dem
Leader Jean A. Turnage W. Gordon McOmber
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat 13th-Polson 6th-Fairfield
Last election 25 25
Seats after 26 24
Seat change Increase1 Decrease1
Senate President before election

W. Gordon McOmber[2][3]
Democratic

Elected Senate President

William L. Mathers[4]
Republican

Elections in Montana
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
U.S. House of Representatives elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Secretary of State elections
Attorney General elections
State Auditor elections
Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
Ballot measures
1894
Capital referendum
2004
Initiative 96
2012
Referendum 121
2016
Initiative 182
2020
Initiative 190
2022
Referendum 131
2024
Initiative 128
Billings
Mayoral elections
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2025
Missoula
Mayoral elections
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2023 sp
  • 2025
Great Falls
Mayoral elections
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2025
Bozeman
Mayoral elections
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2025
Helena
Mayoral elections
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2025

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]

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 Party Elected senator Outcome
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
7 Harold C. Nelson Rep Harold C. Nelson Rep hold
9 Matt Himsl Rep Matt Himsl Rep hold
11 Joe R. Roberts Dem William F. Hafferman Dem hold
14 John E. Manley Dem John E. Manley Dem hold
15 Frank Dunkle Rep Steve Brown Dem gain
18 Margaret S. Warden Dem Jesse A. O'Hara Rep gain
19 John W. “Jack” Devine Dem Patrick L. Ryan Dem hold
22 Pat M. Goodover Rep Pat M. Goodover Rep hold
23 Jack E. Galt Rep Jack E. Galt Rep hold
25 Dave Manning Dem Dave Manning Dem hold
28 S. A. Olson Rep S. A. Olson Rep hold
31 Pat Regan Dem Pat Regan Dem hold
34 Thomas E. Towe Dem Thomas E. Towe Dem hold
35 Chet Blaylock Dem Chet Blaylock Dem hold
36 L. M. “Larry” Aber Rep Max Conover Dem gain
37 Pete Story Rep Pete Story Rep hold
38 Paul 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
44 John E. "Jack" Healy Dem John E. "Jack" Healy Dem hold
46 Miles Romney Dem Elmer D. Severson Rep gain
47 Bill Norman Dem Bill Norman Dem hold
48 Elmer 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donald W. Meyers 1,421 100.00%
Total votes 1,421 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stan Stephens (incumbent) 722 100.00%
Total votes 722 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stan Stephens (incumbent) 3,172 68.58%
Democratic Donald W. Meyers 1,453 31.42%
Total votes 4,625 100.00%
Republican hold

District 5

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Beverly "Bobbi" Swank 2,314 100.00%
Total votes 2,314 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 653 100.00%
Total votes 653 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 4,652 78.58%
Democratic Beverly "Bobbi" Swank 1,268 21.42%
Total votes 5,920 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert E. Stephens 1,196 31.83%
Democratic Gary Dyer 1,136 30.24%
Democratic Joe H. Preputin 911 24.25%
Democratic Russell R. Andrews 514 13.68%
Total votes 3,757 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Aklestad 1,060 100.00%
Total votes 1,060 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Aklestad 3,845 55.69%
Democratic Robert E. Stephens 3,059 44.31%
Total votes 6,904 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 7

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clifford Stoltz 930 34.91%
Democratic Billie H. Wallace 895 33.60%
Democratic Donald "Don" Pemberton 839 31.49%
Total votes 2,664 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 756 100.00%
Total votes 756 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 2,672 58.55%
Democratic Clifford Stoltz 1,892 41.45%
Total votes 4,564 100.00%
Republican hold

District 9

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard J. "Rick" Champoux 1,523 100.00%
Total votes 1,523 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Himsl (incumbent) 1,779 100.00%
Total votes 1,779 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Himsl (incumbent) 3,046 57.19%
Democratic Richard J. "Rick" Champoux 2,280 42.81%
Total votes 5,326 100.00%
Republican hold

District 11

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William F. Hafferman 1,100 41.79%
Democratic Robert C. "Bob" Case 772 29.33%
Democratic Paul W. Applegate 658 25.00%
Democratic Terry A. Bicknell 102 3.88%
Total votes 2,632 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William F. Hafferman 3,433 100.00%
Total votes 3,433 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 14

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. Manley (incumbent) 1,331 50.59%
Democratic Ron Scharf 1,300 49.41%
Total votes 2,631 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. Manley (incumbent) 4,100 100.00%
Total votes 4,100 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 15

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Brown 2,830 100.00%
Total votes 2,830 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Dunkle (incumbent) 594 63.60%
Republican Roger K. Barrett 340 36.40%
Total votes 934 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Brown 3,864 51.60%
Republican Frank Dunkle (incumbent) 3,624 48.40%
Total votes 7,488 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 18

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Margaret S. Warden (incumbent) 1,533 100.00%
Total votes 1,533 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jesse A. O'Hara 284 100.00%
Total votes 284 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jesse A. O'Hara 2,175 52.30%
Democratic Margaret S. Warden (incumbent) 1,984 47.70%
Total votes 4,159 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 19

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick L. Ryan 1,122 100.00%
Total votes 1,122 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rodger D. Young[d] 198 100.00%
Total votes 198 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick L. Ryan 1,887 61.79%
Republican Greg Nelson[d] 1,167 38.21%
Total votes 3,054 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 22

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jacob D. Beck 552 100.00%
Total votes 552 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 367 100.00%
Total votes 367 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 1,492 67.60%
Democratic Jacob D. Beck 715 32.40%
Total votes 2,207 100.00%
Republican hold

District 23

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 1,474 100.00%
Total votes 1,474 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 5,018 100.00%
Total votes 5,018 100.00%
Republican hold

District 25

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Manning (incumbent) 2,061 100.00%
Total votes 2,061 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary L. Gershmel 1,471 100.00%
Total votes 1,471 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Manning (incumbent) 3,207 50.32%
Republican Gary L. Gershmel 3,166 49.68%
Total votes 6,373 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 28

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kenneth Rustad 1,420 100.00%
Total votes 1,420 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican S. A. Olson (incumbent) 1,455 100.00%
Total votes 1,455 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican S. A. Olson (incumbent) 2,771 50.66%
Democratic Kenneth Rustad 2,699 49.34%
Total votes 5,470 100.00%
Republican hold

District 31

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Regan (incumbent) 670 58.57%
Democratic Wallace W. Frickle 474 41.43%
Total votes 1,144 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Degenhardt 421 100.00%
Total votes 421 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Regan (incumbent) 2,178 65.23%
Republican Craig Degenhardt 1,161 34.77%
Total votes 3,339 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 34

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 1,324 74.17%
Democratic James P. Twomey 461 25.83%
Total votes 1,785 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lou Aleksich 745 100.00%
Total votes 745 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 3,421 59.64%
Republican Lou Aleksich 2,315 40.36%
Total votes 5,736 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 35

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chet Blaylock 1,446 100.00%
Total votes 1,446 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenneth G. Hageman 632 100.00%
Total votes 632 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chet Blaylock 2,848 55.08%
Republican Kenneth G. Hageman 2,323 44.92%
Total votes 5,171 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 36

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Max Conover 1,966 59.29%
Democratic Don Scanlin 1,350 40.71%
Total votes 3,316 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent) 1,273 100.00%
Total votes 1,273 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Max Conover 3,659 50.25%
Republican L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent) 3,622 49.75%
Total votes 7,281 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 37

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard C. Parks 1,492 100.00%
Total votes 1,492 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Story (incumbent) 2,619 100.00%
Total votes 2,619 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Story (incumbent) 3,988 58.45%
Democratic Richard C. Parks 2,835 41.55%
Total votes 6,823 100.00%
Republican hold

District 38

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 1,406 100.00%
Total votes 1,406 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 5,159 100.00%
Total votes 5,159 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 40

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Terry Murphy (incumbent) 2,679 100.00%
Total votes 2,679 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Anderson 873 62.54%
Republican Jeff Lauderdale 523 37.46%
Total votes 1,396 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Anderson 3,386 50.42%
Democratic Terry Murphy (incumbent) 3,329 49.58%
Total votes 6,715 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 43

  • District 43 held a special election to fill the last two years of a vacated term.[a]
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lawrence C. Stimatz 2,685 53.67%
Independent Walter A. Richter 2,318 46.33%
Total votes 5,003 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 44

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. "Jack" Healy (incumbent) 2,434 100.00%
Total votes 2,434 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. "Jack" Healy 3,673 100.00%
Total votes 3,673 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 46

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fritz Tossberg 1,597 50.02%
Democratic Russell J. Bergren 1,596 49.98%
Total votes 3,193 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Elmer D. Severson 1,937 100.00%
Total votes 1,937 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Elmer D. Severson 4,738 56.26%
Democratic Fritz Tossberg 3,684 43.74%
Total votes 8,422 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 47

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Norman (incumbent) 2,310 100.00%
Total votes 2,310 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Payne 844 100.00%
Total votes 844 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Norman (incumbent) 3,239 52.88%
Republican Thomas Payne 2,886 47.12%
Total votes 6,125 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 48

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Palmer 1,696 60.57%
Democratic Elmer Flynn (incumbent) 1,104 39.43%
Total votes 2,800 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Palmer 3,549 100.00%
Total votes 3,549 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 50

  • District 50 held a special election to fill the last two years of a vacated term.[a]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred Van Valkenburg 987 37.96%
Democratic Philip D. Campbell 947 36.42%
Democratic James N. "Jim" Meinert 666 25.62%
Total votes 2,600 100.00%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent)[c] 853 57.87%
Republican Bradley J. Stoick 621 42.13%
Total votes 1,474 100.00%
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred Van Valkenburg 3,662 54.45%
Republican William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent)[c] 3,064 45.55%
Total votes 6,726 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ a b Democratic Senator Bob Lee did not complete the term to which he was elected in 1976.
  3. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Although Rodger D. Young won the primary, Greg Nelson was the Republican nominee in the general election.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b "Senate Journal of the Forty-sixth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. January 3, 1979. p. 3.
  5. ^ a b "Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1979". Montana State Legislature. p. iii.
  6. ^ a b c "1978 - Primary 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. ^ "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 Associaton. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. ^ "OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA SENATE 1977". Journals of the Montana Senate. p. ii.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.