1978 Montana Senate election

none 1978 United States Senate election in Montana July 2023 1978 Montana Senate election Montana legislative no 1976 Montana Senate election 1976 1980 Montana Senate election 1980 27special In 1978, Montana held 25 regular state senate elections and two special elections in districts 43 and 50 for seats that had been vacated.1978 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/returnsbydistric1978montrich/page/1/mode/1up of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate 26 1978 11 07 Rep Jean A. Turnage Montana Republican Party 13th-Polson 25 26 1 Dem W. Gordon McOmber(retired) Montana Democratic Party 6th-Fairfield 25 24 1 Senate President W. Gordon McOmberSenate Journal of the Forty-fifth Legislature of the State of Montana 3 Journals of the Montana Senate https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_10/page/n9/mode/1up January 3, 1977Leadership: Senate Montana Legislature https://www.legmt.gov/statistics/leadership/ Democratic William L. MathersSenate Journal of the Forty-sixth Legislature of the State of Montana 3 Journals of the Montana Senate https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_11/page/3/mode/1up January 3, 1979 Republican The 1978 Montana Senate election took place on November 7, 1978, with the primary election held on June 6, 1978. Montana voters elected 27special of the 50 members of the Montana Senate.Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1979 Montana State Legislature https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_11/page/n10/mode/1up iii The election coincided with United States national elections and Montana state elections, including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Montana House.1978 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/primaryelectionr1978montrich/page/1/mode/1up1978 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/returnsbydistric1978montrich/page/1/mode/1up Following the previous election in 1976, the chamber was tied with both Democrats and Republicans holding 25 seats.Montana State Legislature: Party Control: Majority and Minority Party Numbers 1889-Present Montana State Legislature https://archive.legmt.gov/civic-education/facts/party-control/1976 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/primaryelectionr1976montrich/page/1/mode/1up1976 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/returnsbydistric1976montrich/page/1/mode/1up Republicans flipped control of the chamber in 1978 by winning 26 seats while Democrats held 24—giving Republicans a net gain of one seat. The newly elected members served in the 46th Montana State Legislature, during which Republican William L. Mathers was elected President of the Montana Senate. Retiring incumbents Democrats District 6: W. Gordon McOmber District 11: Joe R. Roberts District 19: John W. “Jack” Devine District 43:special Robert E. "Bob" LeeLee District 46: Miles Romney Incumbent defeated in primary election Democrat District 48: Elmer Flynn Incumbents defeated in general election Democrats District 18: Margaret S. Warden District 40: Terry Murphy Republicans District 15: Frank Dunkle District 36: L. M. “Larry” Aber District 50:special William E. "Bill" MurrayMurray Summary of results Italics denote an open seat held by the incumbent party; bold text denotes a gain for a party. State senate district Incumbent Party Elected senator Outcome 4 Stan Stephens Rep Stan Stephens Rep hold 5 Allen C. Kolstad Allen Kolstad Rep Allen C. Kolstad Allen Kolstad Rep hold 6 W. Gordon McOmber Gordon McOmber Dem Gary Aklestad Gary AklestadRep gain 7 Harold C. Nelson Harold C. Nelson Rep Harold C. Nelson Harold C. Nelson Rep hold 9 Matt Himsl Matt Himsl Rep Matt Himsl Matt Himsl Rep hold 11 Joe R. Roberts Joe R. Roberts Dem William F. Hafferman William F. Hafferman Dem hold 14 John E. Manley John E. Manley Dem John E. Manley John E. Manley Dem hold 15 Frank Dunkle Frank Dunkle Rep Steve Brown Steve BrownDem gain 18 Margaret S. Warden Margaret S. Warden Dem Jesse A. O'Hara Jesse O'HaraRep gain 19 John W. “Jack” Devine John W. “Jack” Devine Dem Patrick L. Ryan Patrick L. Ryan Dem hold 22 Pat M. Goodover Pat M. Goodover Rep Pat M. Goodover Pat M. Goodover Rep hold 23 Jack E. Galt Jack E. Galt Rep Jack E. Galt Jack E. Galt Rep hold 25 Dave Manning Dave Manning Dem Dave Manning Dave Manning Dem hold 28 S. A. Olson S. A. Olson Rep S. A. Olson S. A. Olson Rep hold 31 Pat Regan Pat Regan Dem Pat Regan Pat Regan Dem hold 34 Thomas E. Towe Thomas E. Towe Dem Thomas E. Towe Thomas E. Towe Dem hold 35 Chet Blaylock Chet Blaylock Dem Chet Blaylock Chet Blaylock Dem hold 36 L. M. “Larry” Aber L. M. “Larry” Aber Rep Max Conover Max ConoverDem gain 37 Pete Story Pete Story Rep Pete Story Pete Story Rep hold 38 Paul F. Boylan Paul F. Boylan Dem Paul F. Boylan Paul F. Boylan Dem hold 40 Terry Murphy Terry Murphy (American politician) Dem Mike Anderson Mike AndersonRep gain 43special Robert E. "Bob" Lee Robert E. "Bob" LeeLee Democratic Senator Bob Lee did not complete the term to which he was elected in 1976. Dem Lawrence C. Stimatz Lawrence C. Stimatz Dem hold 44 John E. "Jack" Healy John E. "Jack" Healy Dem John E. "Jack" Healy John E. "Jack" Healy Dem hold 46 Miles Romney Miles Romney Dem Elmer D. Severson Elmer D. SeversonRep gain 47 Bill Norman Bill Norman Dem Bill Norman Bill Norman Dem hold 48 Elmer Flynn Elmer Flynn Dem Bob Palmer Bob Palmer Dem hold 50special William E. "Bill" Murray William E. "Bill" MurrayMurray Republican Don H. Weston won election to the Montana Senate in 1976; however, he died in December 1976 before taking office.Donald H. Weston (1927 - 1976) July 24, 2025 Montana Broadcasters Association https://www.mtbroadcasters.org/awards/hall-of-fame?page=3 Republican William E. "Bill" Murray was appointed on December 22, 1976 to replace deceased Senator-elect Weston until the 1978 election.OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA SENATE 1977 ii Journals of the Montana Senate https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_10/page/n9/mode/1up Rep Fred Van Valkenburg Fred Van ValkenburgDem 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__NOTOC__ District 4 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Donald W. Meyers 1421 1421 1421 2 yes 1421 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Stan Stephens (incumbent) 722 722 722 2 yes 722 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Stan Stephens (incumbent) 3172 3172 3172 1453 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Donald W. Meyers 1453 1453 3172 1453 2 yes 3172 1453 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 5 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Beverly "Bobbi" Swank 2314 2314 2314 2 yes 2314 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 653 653 653 2 yes 653 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Allen C. Kolstad (incumbent) 4652 4652 4652 1268 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Beverly "Bobbi" Swank 1268 1268 4652 1268 2 yes 4652 1268 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 6 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Robert E. Stephens 1196 1196 1196 1136 911 514 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Gary Dyer 1136 1136 1196 1136 911 514 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Joe H. Preputin 911 911 1196 1136 911 514 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Russell R. Andrews 514 514 1196 1136 911 514 2 yes 1196 1136 911 514 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Gary Aklestad 1060 1060 1060 2 yes 1060 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Gary Aklestad 3845 3845 3845 3059 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Robert E. Stephens 3059 3059 3845 3059 2 yes 3845 3059 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 7 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Clifford Stoltz 930 930 930 895 839 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Billie H. Wallace 895 895 930 895 839 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Donald "Don" Pemberton 839 839 930 895 839 2 yes 930 895 839 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 756 756 756 2 yes 756 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Harold C. Nelson (incumbent) 2672 2672 2672 1892 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Clifford Stoltz 1892 1892 2672 1892 2 yes 2672 1892 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 9 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Richard J. "Rick" Champoux 1523 1523 1523 2 yes 1523 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Matt Himsl (incumbent) 1779 1779 1779 2 yes 1779 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Matt Himsl (incumbent) 3046 3046 3046 2280 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Richard J. "Rick" Champoux 2280 2280 3046 2280 2 yes 3046 2280 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 11 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party William F. Hafferman 1100 1100 1100 772 658 102 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Robert C. "Bob" Case 772 772 1100 772 658 102 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Paul W. Applegate 658 658 1100 772 658 102 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Terry A. Bicknell 102 102 1100 772 658 102 2 yes 1100 772 658 102 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party William F. Hafferman 3433 3433 3433 2 yes 3433 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 14 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party John E. Manley (incumbent) 1331 1331 1331 1300 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Ron Scharf 1300 1300 1331 1300 2 yes 1331 1300 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party John E. Manley (incumbent) 4100 4100 4100 2 yes 4100 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 15 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Steve Brown 2830 2830 2830 2 yes 2830 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Frank Dunkle (incumbent) 594 594 594 340 2 yes Montana Republican Party Roger K. Barrett 340 340 594 340 2 yes 594 340 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Steve Brown 3864 3864 3864 3624 2 yes Montana Republican Party Frank Dunkle (incumbent) 3624 3624 3864 3624 2 yes 3864 3624 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 18 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Margaret S. Warden (incumbent) 1533 1533 1533 2 yes 1533 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Jesse A. O'Hara 284 284 284 2 yes 284 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Jesse A. O'Hara 2175 2175 2175 1984 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Margaret S. Warden (incumbent) 1984 1984 2175 1984 2 yes 2175 1984 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 19 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Patrick L. Ryan 1122 1122 1122 2 yes 1122 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Rodger D. YoungYoung Although Rodger D. Young won the primary, Greg Nelson was the Republican nominee in the general election. 198 198 198 2 yes 198 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Patrick L. Ryan 1887 1887 1887 1167 2 yes Montana Republican Party Greg NelsonYoung 1167 1167 1887 1167 2 yes 1887 1167 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 22 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Jacob D. Beck 552 552 552 2 yes 552 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 367 367 367 2 yes 367 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Pat M. Goodover (incumbent) 1492 1492 1492 715 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Jacob D. Beck 715 715 1492 715 2 yes 1492 715 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 23 Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 1474 1474 1474 2 yes 1474 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Jack E. Galt (incumbent) 5018 5018 5018 2 yes 5018 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 25 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Dave Manning (incumbent) 2061 2061 2061 2 yes 2061 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Gary L. Gershmel 1471 1471 1471 2 yes 1471 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Dave Manning (incumbent) 3207 3207 3207 3166 2 yes Montana Republican Party Gary L. Gershmel 3166 3166 3207 3166 2 yes 3207 3166 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 28 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Kenneth Rustad 1420 1420 1420 2 yes 1420 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party S. A. Olson (incumbent) 1455 1455 1455 2 yes 1455 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party S. A. Olson (incumbent) 2771 2771 2771 2699 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Kenneth Rustad 2699 2699 2771 2699 2 yes 2771 2699 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 31 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Pat Regan (incumbent) 670 670 670 474 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Wallace W. Frickle 474 474 670 474 2 yes 670 474 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Craig Degenhardt 421 421 421 2 yes 421 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Pat Regan (incumbent) 2178 2178 2178 1161 2 yes Montana Republican Party Craig Degenhardt 1161 1161 2178 1161 2 yes 2178 1161 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 34 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 1324 1324 1324 461 2 yes Montana Democratic Party James P. Twomey 461 461 1324 461 2 yes 1324 461 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Lou Aleksich 745 745 745 2 yes 745 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Thomas E. Towe (incumbent) 3421 3421 3421 2315 2 yes Montana Republican Party Lou Aleksich 2315 2315 3421 2315 2 yes 3421 2315 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 35 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Chet Blaylock 1446 1446 1446 2 yes 1446 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Kenneth G. Hageman 632 632 632 2 yes 632 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Chet Blaylock 2848 2848 2848 2323 2 yes Montana Republican Party Kenneth G. Hageman 2323 2323 2848 2323 2 yes 2848 2323 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 36 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Max Conover 1966 1966 1966 1350 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Don Scanlin 1350 1350 1966 1350 2 yes 1966 1350 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent) 1273 1273 1273 2 yes 1273 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Max Conover 3659 3659 3659 3622 2 yes Montana Republican Party L. M. "Larry" Aber (incumbent) 3622 3622 3659 3622 2 yes 3659 3622 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 37 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Richard C. Parks 1492 1492 1492 2 yes 1492 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Pete Story (incumbent) 2619 2619 2619 2 yes 2619 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Pete Story (incumbent) 3988 3988 3988 2835 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Richard C. Parks 2835 2835 3988 2835 2 yes 3988 2835 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 38 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 1406 1406 1406 2 yes 1406 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Paul F. Boylan (incumbent) 5159 5159 5159 2 yes 5159 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 40 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Terry Murphy (incumbent) 2679 2679 2679 2 yes 2679 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Mike Anderson 873 873 873 523 2 yes Montana Republican Party Jeff Lauderdale 523 523 873 523 2 yes 873 523 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Mike Anderson 3386 3386 3386 3329 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Terry Murphy (incumbent) 3329 3329 3386 3329 2 yes 3386 3329 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 43 District 43 held a special election to fill the last two years of a vacated term.special General election results Montana Democratic Party Lawrence C. Stimatz 2685 2685 2685 2318 2 yes Independent Walter A. Richter 2318 2318 2685 2318 2 yes 2685 2318 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 44 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party John E. "Jack" Healy (incumbent) 2434 2434 2434 2 yes 2434 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party John E. "Jack" Healy 3673 3673 3673 2 yes 3673 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 46 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Fritz Tossberg 1597 1597 1597 1596 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Russell J. Bergren 1596 1596 1597 1596 2 yes 1597 1596 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Elmer D. Severson 1937 1937 1937 2 yes 1937 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Elmer D. Severson 4738 4738 4738 3684 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Fritz Tossberg 3684 3684 4738 3684 2 yes 4738 3684 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 47 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Bill Norman (incumbent) 2310 2310 2310 2 yes 2310 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Thomas Payne 844 844 844 2 yes 844 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Bill Norman (incumbent) 3239 3239 3239 2886 2 yes Montana Republican Party Thomas Payne 2886 2886 3239 2886 2 yes 3239 2886 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 48 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Bob Palmer 1696 1696 1696 1104 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Elmer Flynn (incumbent) 1104 1104 1696 1104 2 yes 1696 1104 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Bob Palmer 3549 3549 3549 2 yes 3549 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 50 District 50 held a special election to fill the last two years of a vacated term.special Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Fred Van Valkenburg 987 987 987 947 666 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Philip D. Campbell 947 947 987 947 666 2 yes Montana Democratic Party James N. "Jim" Meinert 666 666 987 947 666 2 yes 987 947 666 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent)Murray 853 853 853 621 2 yes Montana Republican Party Bradley J. Stoick 621 621 853 621 2 yes 853 621 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Fred Van Valkenburg 3662 3662 3662 3064 2 yes Montana Republican Party William E. "Bill" Murray (incumbent)Murray 3064 3064 3662 3064 2 yes 3662 3064 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party See also 1978 United States elections 1978 United States Senate election in Montana 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana 1978 Montana House of Representatives election References Senate Montana Senate Category:Montana Senate elections Category:Montana Senate