1976 Montana Senate election

none 1976 United States Senate election in Montana July 2023 1976 Montana Senate election Montana legislative no 1974 Montana Senate election 1974 1978 Montana Senate election 1978 25 of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate 26 1976 11 02 W. Gordon McOmber Montana Democratic Party 6th-Fairfield 30 25 5 Frank W. Hazelbaker Montana Republican Party 41st-Dillon 20 25 5 Senate President W. Gordon McOmberSenate Journal of the Forty-fourth Legislature of the State of Montana 3 Journals of the Montana Senate https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_9/page/n19/mode/2upLeadership: Senate Montana Legislature https://www.legmt.gov/statistics/leadership/ Democratic 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 Democratic 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.Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1977 Montana State Legislature https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_10/page/n9/mode/1up 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.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 Following the previous election in 1974, Democrats held a 30-to-20-seat majority over Republicans.Montana State Legislature: Party Control: Majority and Minority Party Numbers 1889-Present Montana State Legislature https://archive.legmt.gov/civic-education/facts/party-control/1974 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://sosmt.gov/Portals/142/Elections/archives/1970s/1974_Legislative_Primary.pdf?dt=15234773332191974 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts Montana Secretary of State https://archive.org/details/returnsbydistric1974montrich/page/1/mode/1up Democrats and Republicans were tied at 25 seats each following the 1976 election—giving Republicans a net gain of five seats. 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. Retiring incumbents Democrats District 20: Mike Greely District 42: Neil J. Lynch District 50: Richard A. Colberg Republicans District 16: Glen L. Drake District 32: Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell Incumbents defeated in general election Democrats District 24: Don Foster District 30: Max Conover District 33: Gene Cetrone 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. Only districts that held elections are listed below. State senate district Incumbent Party Elected senator Outcome 1 Ed B. Smith Ed B. Smith Rep Ed B. Smith Ed B. Smith Rep hold 2 Mark Etchart Mark Etchart Rep Mark Etchart Mark Etchart Rep hold 3 Greg Jergeson Dem Greg Jergeson Dem hold 8 Richard G. Smith Richard G. Smith Dem Richard G. Smith Richard G. Smith Dem hold 10 Bob Brown Bob Brown (Montana politician) Rep Bob Brown Bob Brown (Montana politician) Rep hold 12 George McCallum George McCallum Rep George McCallum George McCallum Rep hold 13 Jean A. Turnage Jean A. Turnage Rep Jean A. Turnage Jean A. Turnage Rep hold 16 Glen L. Drake Glen L. Drake Rep A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen Rep hold 17 Larry Fasbender Larry Fasbender Dem Larry Fasbender Larry Fasbender Dem hold 20 Mike Greely Mike Greely Dem Bill Thomas Bill Thomas Dem hold 21 George F. Roskie George F. Roskie Rep George F. Roskie George F. Roskie Rep hold 24 Don Foster Don Foster Dem Harold L. Dover Harold L. DoverRep gain 26 William L. Mathers William L. Mathers Rep William L. Mathers William L. Mathers Rep hold 27 Cornie R. Thiessen Cornie R. Thiessen Dem Cornie R. Thiessen Cornie R. Thiessen Dem hold 29 Carroll Graham Carroll Graham Dem Carroll Graham Carroll Graham Dem hold 30 Max Conover Max Conover Dem Tom Hager Tom HagerRep gain 32 Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell Rep Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. Rep hold 33 Gene Cetrone Gene Cetrone Dem William R. "Bill" Lowe William R. "Bill" LoweRep gain 39 Ann Seibel Ann Seibel Dem Everett R. Lensink Everett R. LensinkRep gain 41 Frank W. Hazelbaker Frank W. Hazelbaker Rep Frank W. Hazelbaker Frank W. Hazelbaker Rep hold 42 Neil J. Lynch Neil Lynch (politician) Dem Bob Peterson Bob Peterson Dem hold 43 Robert E. "Bob" Lee Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem Robert E. "Bob" Lee Robert E. "Bob" Lee Dem hold 45 John "Sandy" Mehrens John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem John "Sandy" Mehrens John "Sandy" Mehrens Dem hold 49 Robert D. Watt Robert D. Watt Dem Robert D. Watt Robert D. Watt Dem hold 50 Richard A. Colberg Richard A. Colberg Dem Don H. Weston Don H. WestonWeston Republican Don H. Weston won the election; 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. Murray was appointed on December 22, 1976 to replace deceased Senator-elect Weston.OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA SENATE 1977 ii Journals of the Montana Senate https://archive.org/details/senatejournaloft00unse_10/page/n9/mode/1upRep 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__NOTOC__ District 1 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Wallace B. Edland 1487 1487 1487 2 yes 1487 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 1572 1572 1572 2 yes 1572 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Ed B. Smith (incumbent) 3945 3945 3945 2263 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Wallace B. Edland 2263 2263 3945 2263 2 yes 3945 2263 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 2 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party William S. Forsythe 1225 1225 1225 2 yes 1225 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Mark Etchart (incumbent) 1413 1413 1413 2 yes 1413 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Mark Etchart (incumbent) 3872 3872 2050 3872 2 yes Montana Democratic Party William S. Forsythe 2050 2050 2050 3872 2 yes 2050 3872 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 3 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 1710 1710 1710 2 yes 1710 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party E. L. Luckett 1247 1247 1247 2 yes 1247 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Greg Jergeson (incumbent) 3500 3500 3500 2341 2 yes Montana Republican Party E. L. Luckett 2341 2341 3500 2341 2 yes 3500 2341 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 8 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 1506 1506 1506 2 yes 1506 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Walt Whirry 778 778 778 654 2 yes Montana Republican Party Walter Deets 654 654 778 654 2 yes 778 654 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Richard G. Smith (incumbent) 3250 3250 3250 2996 2 yes Montana Republican Party Walt Whirry 2996 2996 3250 2996 2 yes 3250 2996 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 10 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Cecil H. Storms 1446 1446 1446 2 yes 1446 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Bob Brown (incumbent) 1229 1229 1229 2 yes 1229 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Bob Brown (incumbent) 3763 3763 3763 2403 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Cecil H. Storms 2403 2403 3763 2403 2 yes 3763 2403 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 12 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party John F. Harwood 1511 1511 1511 953 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Claude H. "Blackie" Lackner 953 953 1511 953 2 yes 1511 953 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party George McCallum (incumbent) 1542 1542 1542 2 yes 1542 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party George McCallum (incumbent) 4327 4327 4327 2991 2 yes Montana Democratic Party John F. Harwood 2991 2991 4327 2991 2 yes 4327 2991 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 13 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party David V. Scheeler 1410 1410 1410 2 yes 1410 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 2063 2063 2063 2 yes 2063 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) 4525 4525 4525 2567 2 yes Montana Democratic Party David V. Scheeler 2567 2567 4525 2567 2 yes 4525 2567 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 16 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Rick Reese 1219 1219 1219 917 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Mary D. Munger 917 917 1219 917 2 yes 1219 917 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 1243 1243 1243 532 235 2 yes Montana Republican Party C. E. "Sandy" McPherson 532 532 1243 532 235 2 yes Montana Republican Party Barbara "Bobby" Byrd 235 235 1243 532 235 2 yes 1243 532 235 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen 3495 3495 3495 3474 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Rick Reese 3474 3474 3495 3474 2 yes 3495 3474 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 17 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 1671 1671 1671 2 yes 1671 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party William C. Shortridge 919 919 919 2 yes 919 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Larry Fasbender (incumbent) 3081 3081 3081 2272 2 yes Montana Republican Party William C. Shortridge 2272 2272 3081 2272 2 yes 3081 2272 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 20 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Bill Thomas 1307 1307 1307 2 yes 1307 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Sal Leigland 694 694 694 419 2 yes Montana Republican Party John J. Gilligan 419 419 694 419 2 yes 694 419 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Bill Thomas 2798 2798 2798 2051 2 yes Montana Republican Party Sal Leigland 2051 2051 2798 2051 2 yes 2798 2051 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 21 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Donald "Jim" Skinner 746 746 746 653 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Edward J. Warren 653 653 746 653 2 yes 746 653 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party George F. Roskie (incumbent) 1152 1152 1152 2 yes 1152 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party George F. Roskie (incumbent) 3037 3037 3037 2217 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Donald "Jim" Skinner 2217 2217 3037 2217 2 yes 3037 2217 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 24 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Don Foster (incumbent) 1810 1810 1810 2 yes 1810 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Harold L. Dover 1214 1214 1214 855 838 2 yes Montana Republican Party W. G. "Bud" Rafter 855 855 1214 855 838 2 yes Montana Republican Party Dale K. Knox 838 838 1214 855 838 2 yes 1214 855 838 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Harold L. Dover 3680 3680 3680 3585 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Don Foster (incumbent) 3585 3585 3680 3585 2 yes 3680 3585 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 26 Republican primary results Montana Republican Party William L. Mathers (incumbent) 1688 1688 1688 2 yes 1688 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party William L. Mathers (incumbent) 5185 5185 5185 2 yes 5185 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 27 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 1567 1567 1567 2 yes 1567 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party James R. Miller 1386 1386 1386 2 yes 1386 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Cornie R. Thiessen (incumbent) 3540 3540 3540 2777 2 yes Montana Republican Party James R. Miller 2777 2777 3540 2777 2 yes 3540 2777 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 29 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Carroll Graham (incumbent) 1359 1359 1359 2 yes 1359 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Carroll Graham (incumbent) 3408 3408 3408 1531 2 yes Independent Tom Dailey 1531 1531 3408 1531 2 yes 3408 1531 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 30 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Max Conover (incumbent) 1452 1452 1452 2 yes 1452 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Tom Hager 887 887 887 628 2 yes Montana Republican Party M. E. Eddleman 628 628 887 628 2 yes 887 628 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Tom Hager 3972 3972 3972 3445 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Max Conover (incumbent) 3445 3445 3972 3445 2 yes 3972 3445 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 32 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Iris P. Walthall 893 893 893 2 yes 893 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 2039 2039 2039 743 2 yes Montana Republican Party John F. Self 743 743 2039 743 2 yes 2039 743 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. 5238 5238 5238 1920 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Iris P. Walthall 1920 1920 5238 1920 2 yes 5238 1920 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 33 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Gene Cetrone (incumbent) 1339 1339 1339 2 yes 1339 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party William R. "Bill" Lowe 1968 1968 1968 2 yes 1968 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party William R. "Bill" Lowe 3807 3807 3807 3169 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Gene Cetrone (incumbent) 3169 3169 3807 3169 2 yes 3807 3169 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 39 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Ann Seibel (incumbent) 1291 1291 1291 2 yes 1291 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Everett R. Lensink 1398 1398 1398 2 yes 1398 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Everett R. Lensink 3110 3110 3110 2849 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Ann Seibel (incumbent) 2849 2849 3110 2849 2 yes 3110 2849 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 41 Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 2641 2641 2641 2 yes 2641 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) 5120 5120 5120 2 yes 5120 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 42 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Bob Peterson 1483 1483 1483 1280 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Al Luebeck 1280 1280 1483 1280 2 yes 1483 1280 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Bob Peterson 4824 4824 4824 2 yes 4824 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 43 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 1501 1501 1501 2 yes 1501 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Robert E. "Bob" Lee (incumbent) 4500 4500 4500 2 yes 4500 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 45 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 1849 1849 1849 1296 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Joseph H. McCarvel 1296 1296 1849 1296 2 yes 1849 1296 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Joyce W. Stancliffe 415 415 415 2 yes 415 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party John "Sandy" Mehrens (incumbent) 3888 3888 3888 1250 2 yes Montana Republican Party Joyce W. Stancliffe 1250 1250 3888 1250 2 yes 3888 1250 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 49 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 1238 1238 1238 1136 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Roy E. Burditt 1136 1136 1238 1136 2 yes 1238 1136 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party George R. Wolstad 1051 1051 1051 2 yes 1051 100.00% General election results Montana Democratic Party Robert D. Watt (incumbent) 3793 3793 3793 2175 2 yes Montana Republican Party George R. Wolstad 2175 2175 3793 2175 2 yes 3793 2175 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party District 50 Democratic primary results Montana Democratic Party Daphne Bugbee 2165 2165 2165 2 yes 2165 100.00% Republican primary results Montana Republican Party Don H. WestonWeston 1065 1065 1065 920 570 2 yes Montana Republican Party Horace H. "Shorty" Koessler 920 920 1065 920 570 2 yes Montana Republican Party Larry Livingston 570 570 1065 920 570 2 yes 1065 920 570 100.00% General election results Montana Republican Party Don H. WestonWeston 4507 4507 4507 3653 2 yes Montana Democratic Party Daphne Bugbee 3653 3653 4507 3653 2 yes 4507 3653 100.00% Montana Democratic Party Montana Republican Party See also 1976 United States presidential election in Montana 1976 United States Senate election in Montana 1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana 1976 Montana gubernatorial election 1976 Montana House of Representatives election References Senate Montana Senate Category:November 1976 in the United States Category:Montana Senate elections Category:Montana Senate