2006 United States Senate election in Montana

none March 2026 November 2017 2006 United States Senate election in Montana Montana presidential no 2000 United States Senate election in Montana 2000 2012 United States Senate election in Montana 2012 November 7, 2006 File:Jon Tester, official 110th Congress photo.jpg 150x150px Jon Tester Democratic Party (United States) 199,845 49.16% File:Conrad Burns official portrait.jpg Conrad Burns Republican Party (United States) 196,283 48.29% 2006 United States Senate election in Montana results map by county.svg 302px County resultsTester: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Burns: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% U.S. Senator Conrad Burns Republican Party (United States) Jon Tester Democratic Party (United States) The 2006 United States Senate election in Montana was held November 7, 2006. The filing deadline was March 23; the primary was held June 6. Incumbent Republican Senator Conrad Burns ran for re-election to a fourth term, but lost to Democrat Jon Tester by a margin of 0.87%, or 3,562 votes out of 406,505 cast. This made the election the second-closest race of the 2006 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in Virginia. This was the last time an incumbent Senator lost reelection in Montana until 2024, when Tester lost to Tim Sheehy. Background Burns was first elected as a United States Senator from Montana in 1988, when he defeated Democratic incumbent John Melcher in a close race, 52% to 48%. Burns was re-elected 62.4% to 37.6%, over Jack Mudd in the Republican Revolution year of 1994. In 2000, Burns faced the well-financed Brian Schweitzer whom he beat 50.6% to 47.2%. In 2000, George W. Bush carried Montana 58% to 33% in the race for president, but Burns won by 3.4%. Since the direct election of Senators began in 1913, Burns is only the second Republican Montana has elected to the U.S. Senate. Also, for thirty-two straight years, 1952 to 1984, Montana elected only Democratic Senators. Burns' involvement in the Jack Abramoff scandal made him vulnerable.Welna David 5 June 2006 Montana's Sen. Burns Faces Tough Test This Fall https://www.npr.org/2006/06/05/5452446/montanas-sen-burns-faces-tough-test-this-fall 1 June 2024 NPR A SurveyUSA poll released in March 2006 found that 38% of Montanans approved of him, while 52% disapproved of him.https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=1d129929-79ef-4681-baac-183bf3669860 SurveyUSA News Poll #8541 www.surveyusa.com 8 April 2023 Polls against leading Democratic candidates had him below his challengers.2006 Senate RealClearPolitics Poll Averages RealClearPolitics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/2006_senate_realclearpolitics_poll_averages-63.html 2024-06-01 www.realclearpolitics.com en-us Democratic primary Candidates Jon Tester, President of the Montana State Senate John Morrison, Montana State Auditor Robert Candee, farmer Ken Marcure, activist Withdrew Paul Richards, Montana State Representative (endorsed Tester) Campaign On May 31, 2006, Richards, citing the closeness of the race, and his own position (third) in the polls, withdrew from the race, and threw his support to Tester.http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/05/31/news/state/25-richards-tester.txt BillingsGazette.com :: Richards: Tester is best choice June 1, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060602004409/http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/05/31/news/state/25-richards-tester.txt June 2, 2006 dead mdy-all Morrison started off strong in the race for the Democratic nomination for Senator, collecting $1.05 million as of the start of 2006, including $409,241 in the last three months of 2005.http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/02/01/news/state/75-fundraising.txt BillingsGazette.com :: Burns' fundraising nears $5 million; Morrison's hits $1 million 8 April 2023April 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes but Morrison's advantages in fundraising and name identification did not translate into a lead in the polls.Horrigan Marie 2006-05-31 MT Senate: Race to Take On Embattled Burns Nears Finish http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/05/mt_senate_race_to_take_on_emba.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060827025641/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/05/mt_senate_race_to_take_on_emba.html August 27, 2006 June 7, 2006 mdy-all Later, the race was called a "deadlock,"https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/tester-morrison-deadlocked/article_63859e86-06d3-52ae-bc84-13e720df23fb.html Tester, Morrison deadlocked Charles S. Johnson May 28, 2006 Helena Independent Record 8 April 2023 but Tester continued to gather momentum. Results Democratic primary resultshttp://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2006/elections/primary/2006_State_Primary.pdf 2006 Statewide Primary Canvass - June 6, 2006 compiled by Secretary Of State Brad Johnson April 22, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110112003246/http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2006/elections/primary/2006_State_Primary.pdf January 12, 2011 dead mdy-all Jon Tester Democratic Party (United States) 65,757 60.77 John Morrison Democratic Party (United States) 38,394 35.48 Paul Richards (withdrawn) Democratic Party (United States) 1,636 1.51 Robert Candee Democratic Party (United States) 1,471 1.36 Kenneth Marcure Democratic Party (United States) 940 0.87 108,198 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Conrad Burns, incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Keenan, Minority Leader of the Montana Senate Bob Kelleher, perennial candidate Daniel Lloyd Neste Huffman, businessman Results Republican primary results Conrad Burns (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 70,434 72.26 Bob Keenan Republican Party (United States) 21,754 22.32 Bob Kelleher Republican Party (United States) 4,082 4.19 Daniel Loyd Neste Huffman Republican Party (United States) 1,203 1.23 97,473 100.00 General election Candidates Conrad Burns (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Stan Jones (L), activist Jon Tester (D), State Senator Campaign The race was expected to be close, due to Burns' narrow margin of victory in 2000, when he significantly underperformed Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush, and a political scandal that he had been involved in. Republican incumbents everywhere were facing more challenging races in 2006 due to the waning popularity of the Republican-controlled Congress and the administration of President George W. Bush. In July 2006, the Rasmussen report viewed Burns as the "second most vulnerable Senator seeking re-election this year", after Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum.http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/montanaSenate.htm Rasmussen Reports: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election July 11, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060713152910/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/montanaSenate.htm July 13, 2006 dead mdy-all Senator Conrad Burns of Montana faced a strong challenge from Brian Schweitzer in 2000, being re-elected by 3.4% in a state that went for Bush twice by margins of over 20%.2000 Election Statistics https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2000/2000Stat.htm 2024-06-01 clerk.house.gov1 June 2024 2000 Presidential General Election Results - Montana https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&off=0&elect=0&fips=30&f=0 1 June 2024 U.S. Election Atlas This, combined with the increasing strength of the state Democratic partySaad Lydia 28 June 2006 Voters Seem Ready for a Change of Scenery in Congress https://www.astrid-online.it/static/upload/protected/GALL/GALLUP_28_06_06.pdf 1 June 2024 astrid-online.it and accusations of ethical issues related to the Jack Abramoff scandal,Ydstie John 27 March 2006 Sen. Burns Scrutinized for Earmark Tied to Abramoff https://www.npr.org/2006/03/27/5299944/sen-burns-scrutinized-for-earmark-tied-to-abramoff 1 June 2024 NPR made this a highly competitive race. On July 27, Burns was forced to apologize after he confronted out of state firefighters who were preparing to leave Montana after helping contain a summer forest fire and directly questioned their competence and skill, remarks for which he was strongly criticized.http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/10273/C8/L8 Conrad Burns Issues Apology for Altercation with Firefighters Missoula New West Network August 3, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061226085513/http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/10273/C8/L8 December 26, 2006 dead mdy-all On August 31, in a letter faxed to the office of Montana governor Brian Schweitzer, Burns urged the governor, a Democrat, to declare a fire state of emergency and activate the Montana Army National Guard for firefighting. Schweitzer had already declared such a state of emergency on July 11 — thus, activating the Montana Army National Guard. He issued a second declaration on August 11. A Burns spokesman said the senator was "pretty sure" Schweitzer had already issued such a disaster declaration, but just wanted to make sure. "The genesis of the letter was just to make sure that all the bases were covered," Pendleton said. "This is not a political football. It’s just a cover-the-bases letter and certainly casts no aspersions on the governor."https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/burns-urges-schweitzer-to-take-steps-already-taken/article_7701cc57-779f-50c9-9f67-842c8a440d7e.html Burns urges Schweitzer to take steps already taken Jennifer McKee September 1, 2006 Helena Independent Record 8 April 2023 Debates Complete video of debate, June 25, 2006 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, September 10, 2006 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, September 23, 2006 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 9, 2006 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 12, 2006 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 20, 2006 - C-SPAN Endorsements Jon Tester (D) ;Individuals Wesley Clark, General, 2004 democratic presidential candidatehttp://securingamerica.com/node/1465 Jon Tester (Senate - MT) | WesPAC 4 November 2006 8 April 2023 November 4, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061104135540/http://securingamerica.com/node/1465 dead Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006 https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf The Cook Political Report https://web.archive.org/web/20080605093937/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_sen_ratings_nov6.pdf September 30, 2021 June 5, 2008 Tossup November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal BallElection Eve 2006: The Final Predictions https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2006110601/ Sabato's Crystal Ball June 25, 2021 Lean D Flip November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report2006 Senate Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2006-senate-ratings6 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report June 25, 2021 Lean D Flip November 6, 2006 Real Clear PoliticsElection 2006 https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html Real Clear Politics June 25, 2021 Tossup November 6, 2006 Polling Source Date JonTester (D) ConradBurns (R) StanJones (L)Mason Dixonhttps://archive.today/20060317010846/http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/12/25/build/state/25-burns-poll.inc Mason Dixon May 2005 26% 50%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20051031042808/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Montana%20Senate.htm October 31, 2005 September 8, 2005 38% 51%Mason DixonDecember 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes December 24, 2005 35% 49%RasmussenRasmussen January 11, 2006 45% 45%RasmussenRasmussen February 13, 2006 46% 46%RasmussenRasmussen March 20, 2006 46% 43%RasmussenRasmussen April 15, 2006 44% 47%Ayres McHenry & Associates (R)Ayres McHenry & Associates (R) May 2, 2006 48% 42%RasmussenRasmussen May 16, 2006 48% 44%Mason DixonMason Dixon May 28, 2006 45% 42%Lake Research (D)Lake Research (D) June 20–26, 2006 43% 42%RasmussenRasmussen July 11, 2006 50% 43%RasmussenRasmussen August 10, 2006 47% 47%Lake Research (D)Lake Research (D) August 10, 2006 44% 37%GallupGallup September 5, 2006 48% 45%RasmussenRasmussen September 13, 2006 52% 43%RasmussenRasmussen September 20, 2006 50% 43%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes October 1, 2006 47% 40% 3%Reuters/ZogbyReuters/Zogby October 5, 2006 46% 42%RasmussenRasmussen October 11, 2006 49% 42%RasmussenRasmussen October 18, 2006 48% 46%Montana State University-BillingsMontana State University-Billings https://web.archive.org/web/20061027183104/http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS03/61018005 October 27, 2006 October 19, 2006 46% 35%Mason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBCMason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBC October 24, 2006 46% 43%Harstad Strategic (D)Harstad Strategic (D) October 25, 2006 48% 42%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20061101043812/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/October%202006/montanaSenate1026.htm November 1, 2006 October 29, 2006 51% 47%Reuters/ZogbyReuters/Zogby October 31, 2006 47% 46% 2%Mason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchyMason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchy November 3, 2006 47% 47% 1%RasmussenRasmussen https://web.archive.org/web/20061114130202/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/November%202006/MontanaSenate.htm November 14, 2006 November 3, 2006 50% 46%USA Today/GallupUSA Today/Gallup November 4, 2006 50% 41%RasmussenRasmussen November 4, 2006 50% 48%OnPoint Polling and ResearchOnPoint Polling and Research November 6, 2006 49% 44% Results Tester narrowly defeated Burns on election day by just over 3,000 votes. Libertarian candidate Jones received over 10,000 votes, greater than Tester's margin of victory. Due to errors with polling machines, the Montana count was delayed well into Wednesday, November 8. The race was too close to call throughout the night and many pundits predicted the need for a recount. After a very close election, on November 9, incumbent Conrad Burns conceded defeat.https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6270464 Sen. Burns Concedes Montana Race November 9, 2006 NPR April 1, 2018 mdy-all April 2019 medicmedic Just before 11:00 AM (MST) on November 8, Jon Tester was declared Senator-elect for Montana in USA Today.https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/MT/2006-11-08-montana-senate_x.htm USA Today Democrat challenger takes Montana November 8, 2006 May 27, 2010 At 2:27 PM EST on November 8, CNN projected that Jon Tester would win the race.http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.senate/index.html Democrat wins Montana Senate seat, CNN projects CNN dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061108230743/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.senate/index.html November 8, 2006 Under Montana law, if the margin of defeat is more than 0.25% but less than 0.5%, the losing candidate can request a recount if they pay for it themselves.http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/13/16/13-16-211.htm 13-16-211. Recounts are allowed if bond is posted to cover all costs November 9, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20071110015451/http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/13/16/13-16-211.htm November 10, 2007 dead mdy-all However, this election did not qualify for a recount because the margin was larger than 0.5%. Burns conceded the race on November 9 and congratulated Tester on his victory.https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/2006-11-09-burns-tester_x.htm USA Today Montana's Burns concedes Senate race November 9, 2006 May 27, 2010 As of 2026, this was one of three elections in the past eight midterm cycles to involve the incumbent president's party losing a Senate seat in a state that leaned more than 10 points towards them. The other races were the 2010 United States Senate election in Illinois and the 2010 United States Senate election in Wisconsin.https://decisiondeskhq.substack.com/p/democrats-still-underdogs-senate-vibes Democrats are still underdogs in the Senate Decision Desk HQ Skelley Geoffrey April 27, 2026 April 27, 2026 2006 United States Senate election in Montana2006 Election Statistics Democratic Party (United States) Jon Tester 199,845 49.16% +1.92% Republican Party (United States) Conrad Burns (incumbent) 196,283 48.29% -2.27% Libertarian Party (United States) Stan Jones 10,377 2.55% N/A 406,505 100.00% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) D -> R By county Sourcehttps://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006//pages/results/states/MT/S/01/county.000.html U.S. Senate / Montana / County Results CNN 8 November 2022 Jon TesterDemocratic Conrad BurnsRepublican Stan JonesLibertarian Margin Total County Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % VotesBeaverhead1,37634.14%2,55263.31%1032.56%1,17629.17%4,031Big Horn2,99964.72%1,55133.47%841.81%1,44831.25%4,634Blaine1,39051.90%1,22645.78%622.32%1646.12%2,678Broadwater82534.93%1,45161.43%863.64%62626.50%2,362Carbon2,24745.92%2,51051.30%1362.78%2635.38%4,893Carter9814.71%55483.18%142.10%45668.47%666Cascade14,94749.37%14,78948.85%5401.78%1580.52%30,276Chouteau1,49151.86%1,34546.78%391.36%1465.08%2,875Custer1,99142.36%2,58154.91%1282.72%59012.55%4,700Daniels42440.77%59457.12%222.12%17016.35%1,040Dawson1,59540.31%2,24756.79%1152.91%65216.48%3,957Deer Lodge3,21172.63%1,09624.79%1142.58%2,11547.84%4,421Fallon34726.31%95172.10%211.59%60445.79%1,319Fergus1,98535.25%3,47461.68%1733.07%1,48926.44%5,632Flathead13,27640.24%18,51156.10%1,2093.66%5,23515.87%32,996Gallatin16,51148.67%16,69349.21%7202.12%1820.54%33,924Garfield9816.58%48381.73%101.69%38565.14%591Glacier2,74862.37%1,56435.50%942.13%1,18426.87%4,406Golden Valley18137.24%29861.32%71.44%11724.07%486Granite59439.13%86256.79%624.08%26817.65%1,518Hill3,41158.33%2,32039.67%1172.00%1,09118.66%5,848Jefferson2,41545.76%2,71551.44%1482.80%3005.68%5,278Judith Basin37731.63%78565.86%302.52%40834.23%1,192Lake5,61848.81%5,48047.61%4133.59%1381.20%11,511Lewis and Clark14,92154.74%11,73443.05%6042.22%3,18711.69%27,259Liberty40139.66%59658.95%141.38%19519.29%1,011Lincoln2,86039.17%4,10556.23%3364.60%1,24517.05%7,301Madison1,22433.68%2,31163.59%992.72%1,08729.91%3,634McCone39437.88%62460.00%222.12%23022.12%1,040Meagher27232.19%55265.33%212.49%28033.14%845Mineral79648.98%77947.94%503.08%171.05%1,625Missoula29,32763.92%15,61034.02%9422.05%13,71729.90%45,879Musselshell67031.16%1,38264.28%984.56%71233.12%2,150Park3,73150.60%3,44146.67%2012.73%2903.93%7,373Petroleum7429.43%18067.92%114.15%10640.00%265Phillips55928.18%1,36668.85%592.97%80740.68%1,984Pondera1,08041.08%1,49456.83%552.09%41415.75%2,629Powder River24824.55%73472.67%282.77%48648.12%1,010Powell1,05240.48%1,45455.94%933.58%40215.47%2,599Prairie21331.09%45566.42%172.48%24235.33%685Ravalli7,90642.41%10,27355.11%4622.48%2,36712.70%18,641Richland1,35435.22%2,38161.94%1092.84%1,02726.72%3,844Roosevelt2,20357.47%1,57341.04%571.49%63016.44%3,833Rosebud1,89555.31%1,42532.15%1063.09%47013.72%3,426Sanders2,16543.53%2,57551.77%2344.70%4108.24%4,974Sheridan98851.43%88746.17%462.39%1015.26%1,921Silver Bow9,50066.69%4,39430.85%3512.46%5,10635.84%14,245Stillwater1,55639.28%2,26257.11%1433.61%70617.82%3,961Sweet Grass56332.39%1,11564.15%603.45%55231.76%1,738Teton1,25240.80%1,75557.18%622.02%50316.39%3,069Toole75937.52%1,19559.07%693.41%43621.55%2,023Treasure16136.93%26059.63%153.44%9922.71%436Valley1,55043.90%1,89353.61%882.49%3439,71%3,531Wheatland32738.47%49858.59%252.94%17120.12%850Wibaux16533.81%31764.96%61.23%15231.15%488Yellowstone27,98147.77%29,20349.85%1,3942.38%1,2222.09%58,578 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Lake (Largest city: Polson) Park (Largest city: Livingston) Mineral (Largest city: Superior) Sheridan (Largest city: Plentywood) See also 2006 United States Senate elections References External links Official campaign websites (Archived) Jon Tester (D) Conrad Burns (R) "Montana Senator in Fight of Political Life," Associated Press, October 15, 2006 Robert 'Bob' Candee's official campaign site https://web.archive.org/web/20161009033025/http://robertcandee.net/ October 9, 2016 Stan Jones' official campaign site Bob Keenan's official campaign site John Morrison's official campaign site Paul Richards' official campaign site Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee page on this election https://web.archive.org/web/20060323061850/http://www.dscc.org/2006races/mt/ March 23, 2006 Montana 2006 Category:2006 Montana elections