1980 Montana Senate election
November 4, 1980
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25 of the 50 seats in the Montana Senate 26 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Montana |
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The 1980 Montana Senate election took place on November 4, 1980, with the primary election held on June 3, 1980. Montana voters elected 25 of the 50 members of the Montana Senate.[5] The election coincided with United States national elections and Montana state elections, including U.S. President, U.S. House, Montana Governor, and Montana House.[6][7]
Following the previous election in 1978, Republicans held a 26-to-24 seat majority over Democrats.[8][9][10] Additionally, after being re-elected in 1978 as a Democrat, Senator John E. Manley of district 14 switched political party affiliation in 1979 to Republican, increasing the GOP's majority to 27 seats.[a]
Republicans increased their majority in the legislature to 29 seats, while Democrats held 21—giving Republicans a net gain of two seats.[8][6][7] The newly elected members served in the 47th Montana State Legislature, during which Republican Jean A. Turnage was elected President of the Montana Senate.[4]
Retiring incumbents
[edit]Democrats
[edit]- District 27: Cornie R. Thiessen
- District 45: John "Sandy" Mehrens
- District 49: Robert D. Watt
Republicans
[edit]- District 16: A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen
- District 26: William L. Mathers
- District 32: Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr.
- District 33: William R. "Bill" Lowe
- District 39: Everett R. Lensink
Incumbents defeated in primary election
[edit]Democrats
[edit]- District 8: Richard G. Smith
- District 17: Larry Fasbender
Incumbents defeated in general election
[edit]Democrat
[edit]- District 3: Greg Jergeson
Republican
[edit]- District 21: George F. Roskie
Summary of results
[edit]Italics denote an open seat held by the incumbent party; bold text denotes a gain for a party.[5][6][7] 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 | H. W. "Swede" Hammond | Rep gain | ||
| 8 | Richard G. Smith | Dem | Roger H. Elliott | Rep gain | ||
| 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 | A. T. "Tom" Rasmussen | Rep | Joseph P. Mazurek | Dem gain | ||
| 17 | Larry Fasbender | Dem | Gary P. Lee | Rep gain | ||
| 20 | Bill Thomas | Dem | Bill Thomas | Dem hold | ||
| 21 | George F. Roskie | Rep | Harry K. Berg | Dem gain | ||
| 24 | Harold L. Dover | Rep | Harold L. Dover | Rep hold | ||
| 26 | William L. Mathers | Rep | J. Donald Ochsner | Rep hold | ||
| 27 | Cornie R. Thiessen | Dem | Larry John Tveit | Rep gain | ||
| 29 | Carroll Graham | Dem | Carroll Graham | Dem hold | ||
| 30 | Tom Hager | Rep | Tom Hager | Rep hold | ||
| 32 | Lloyd C. Lockrem Jr. | Rep | Thomas F. Keating | Rep hold | ||
| 33 | William R. "Bill" Lowe | Rep | Bruce D. Crippen | Rep hold | ||
| 39 | Everett R. Lensink | Rep | Dorothy Eck | Dem gain | ||
| 41 | Frank W. Hazelbaker | Rep | Frank W. Hazelbaker | Rep hold | ||
| 42 | Robert R. "Bob" Peterson | Dem | Robert R. "Bob" Peterson | Dem hold | ||
| 43 | Lawrence G. Stimatz | Dem | Lawrence G. Stimatz | Dem hold | ||
| 45 | John "Sandy" Mehrens | Dem | Jack Haffey | Dem hold | ||
| 49 | Robert D. Watt | Dem | Jan Johnson | Rep gain | ||
| 50 | Fred Van Valkenburg | Dem | Fred Van Valkenburg | Dem hold |
Detailed results by district
[edit]| 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
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ed B. Smith (incumbent) | 1,341 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,341 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ed B. Smith (incumbent) | 5,611 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 5,611 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 2
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ernest Kummerfeldt | 1,915 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,915 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Etchart (incumbent) | 1,190 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,190 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Etchart (incumbent) | 3,431 | 54.47% | |
| Democratic | Ernest Kummerfeldt | 2,868 | 45.53% | |
| Total votes | 6,299 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 3
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Greg Jergeson (incumbent) | 1,969 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,969 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. W. Hammond | 1,182 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,182 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. W. "Swede" Hammond | 3,472 | 53.37% | |
| Democratic | Greg Jergeson (incumbent) | 3,034 | 46.63% | |
| Total votes | 6,506 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic |
District 8
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edwin O. Woster | 1,245 | 55.83% | |
| Democratic | Richard G. Smith (incumbent) | 985 | 44.17% | |
| Total votes | 2,230 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roger H. Elliott | 1,568 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,568 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Roger H. Elliott | 4,981 | 59.61% | |
| Democratic | Edwin O. Woster | 3,375 | 40.39% | |
| Total votes | 8,356 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic |
District 10
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bob Brown (incumbent) | 1,601 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,601 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bob Brown (incumbent) | 6,843 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 6,843 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 12
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Larry Sturm | 2,222 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,222 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George McCallum (incumbent) | 1,821 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,821 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George McCallum (incumbent) | 5,926 | 69.86% | |
| Democratic | Larry Sturm | 2,557 | 30.14% | |
| Total votes | 8,483 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 13
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) | 2,105 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,105 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jean A. Turnage (incumbent) | 6,791 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 6,791 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 16
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph P. Mazurek | 1,817 | 63.60% | |
| Democratic | John W. Mahan | 1,040 | 36.40% | |
| Total votes | 2,857 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Douglas B. Kelley[b] | 469 | 57.69% | |
| Republican | Riley Johnson | 344 | 42.31% | |
| Total votes | 813 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph P. Mazurek | 4,393 | 63.12% | |
| Republican | Bob McKay[b] | 2,567 | 36.88% | |
| Total votes | 6,960 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican |
District 17
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter H. Savoy | 1,215 | 52.62% | |
| Democratic | Larry Fasbender (incumbent) | 1,094 | 47.38% | |
| Total votes | 2,309 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary P. Lee | 500 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 500 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary P. Lee | 3,198 | 57.03% | |
| Democratic | Walter H. Savoy | 2,410 | 42.97% | |
| Total votes | 5,608 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic |
District 20
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Thomas (incumbent) | 1,301 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,301 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Thomas (incumbent) | 3,317 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 3,317 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
District 21
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry K. Berg | 965 | 50.47% | |
| Democratic | John F. Kenny | 947 | 49.53% | |
| Total votes | 1,912 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George F. Roskie (incumbent) | 574 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 574 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry K. Berg | 2,742 | 50.18% | |
| Republican | George F. Roskie (incumbent) | 2,722 | 49.82% | |
| Total votes | 5,464 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican |
District 24
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Edward B. "Ed" Butcher | 2,114 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,114 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Harold L. Dover (incumbent) | 1,931 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,931 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Harold L. Dover (incumbent) | 3,999 | 51.01% | |
| Democratic | Edward B. "Ed" Butcher | 3,841 | 48.99% | |
| Total votes | 7,840 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 26
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert G. "Bob" Barthelmess | 1,673 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,673 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Donald Ochsner | 1,095 | 60.60% | |
| Republican | Lyman W. Choate | 712 | 39.40% | |
| Total votes | 1,807 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Donald Ochsner | 3,428 | 50.07% | |
| Democratic | Robert G. "Bob" Barthelmess | 3,419 | 49.93% | |
| Total votes | 6,847 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 27
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harold L. Mercer | 1,246 | 60.75% | |
| Democratic | Richard Buehler | 805 | 39.25% | |
| Total votes | 2,051 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Larry John Tveit | 1,196 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,196 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Larry John Tveit | 3,576 | 49.20% | |
| Democratic | Harold L. Mercer | 3,085 | 42.45% | |
| Independent | Gene Delaney | 607 | 8.35% | |
| Total votes | 7,268 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic |
District 29
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carroll Graham (incumbent) | 1,278 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,278 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Carroll Graham (incumbent) | 4,064 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 4,064 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
District 30
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Duane E. Christensen | 1,814 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,814 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Hager (incumbent) | 1,907 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,907 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Hager (incumbent) | 5,991 | 59.36% | |
| Democratic | Duane E. Christensen | 4,101 | 40.64% | |
| Total votes | 10,092 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 32
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sally M. M. Jordan | 993 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 993 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas F. Keating | 1,966 | 60.09% | |
| Republican | Antoinette "Toni" Fraser Rosell | 1,306 | 39.91% | |
| Total votes | 3,272 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas F. Keating | 6,429 | 75.65% | |
| Democratic | Sally M. M. Jordan | 2,069 | 24.35% | |
| Total votes | 8,498 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 33
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Norm Schoenthal | 1,049 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,049 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Howard C. Porter[c] | 1,562 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,562 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bruce D. Crippen[c] | 4,292 | 66.99% | |
| Democratic | Norm Schoenthal | 2,115 | 33.01% | |
| Total votes | 6,407 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 39
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dorothy Eck | 1,049 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,049 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joyce O. Sandquist | 777 | 52.93% | |
| Republican | Edmund P. Sedivy Sr. | 691 | 47.07% | |
| Total votes | 1,468 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dorothy Eck | 3,371 | 52.15% | |
| Republican | Joyce O. Sandquist | 3,093 | 47.85% | |
| Total votes | 6,464 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican |
District 41
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) | 2,100 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,100 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank W. Hazelbaker (incumbent) | 4,622 | 66.66% | |
| Independent | Douglas Allen | 2,312 | 33.34% | |
| Total votes | 6,934 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold |
District 42
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert R. "Bob" Peterson (incumbent) | 2,807 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,807 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert R. "Bob" Peterson (incumbent) | 5,073 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 5,073 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
District 43
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lawrence G. Stimatz (incumbent) | 2,061 | 57.86% | |
| Democratic | Bob Kelly | 1,501 | 42.14% | |
| Total votes | 3,562 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lawrence G. Stimatz (incumbent) | 4,308 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 4,308 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
District 45
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jack Haffey | 1,403 | 36.60% | |
| Democratic | Peter "Pete" Lorello | 873 | 22.78% | |
| Democratic | Francis E. "Tiny" Sullivan | 779 | 20.32% | |
| Democratic | Ron Weaver | 778 | 20.30% | |
| Total votes | 3,833 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jack Haffey | 3,826 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 3,826 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
District 49
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terry Knight | 1,188 | 53.80% | |
| Democratic | Sharon Solomon | 1,020 | 46.20% | |
| Total votes | 2,208 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jan Johnson | 776 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 776 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jan Johnson | 3,292 | 51.84% | |
| Democratic | Terry Knight | 3,058 | 48.16% | |
| Total votes | 6,350 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic |
District 50
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Fred Van Valkenburg (incumbent) | 2,609 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,609 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Hamp | 1,447 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 1,447 | 100.00% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Fred Van Valkenburg (incumbent) | 4,760 | 54.91% | |
| Republican | John Hamp | 3,909 | 45.09% | |
| Total votes | 8,669 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold |
- ^ a b c After being re-elected in district 14 in 1978 as a Democrat, Senator John E. Manley changed political party affiliation in 1979 to Republican.[1]
- ^ a b Although Douglas B. Kelley won the primary, Bob McKay was the Republican nominee in the general election.
- ^ a b Although Howard C. Porter won the primary, Bruce D. Crippen was the Republican nominee in the general election.
See also
[edit]- 1980 United States presidential election in Montana
- 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana
- 1980 Montana gubernatorial election
- 1980 Montana House of Representatives election
References
[edit]- ^ Towe, Thomas E. (August 2020). "The Senate Democratic Caucus Of 1975". Public Land & Resources Law Review, Vol. 43, Article 11. p. 180.
- ^ "Senate Journal of the Forty-sixth Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. January 3, 1979. p. 3.
- ^ "Leadership: Senate". Montana Legislature.
- ^ a b "Senate Journal of the Forty-seventh Legislature of the State of Montana". Journals of the Montana Senate. January 5, 1981. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Officers and Members of the Montana Senate 1981". Montana State Legislature. p. ii.
- ^ a b c "1980 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State.
- ^ a b c "1980 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State.
- ^ a b "Montana State Legislature: Party Control: Majority and Minority Party Numbers 1889-Present". Montana State Legislature.
- ^ "1978 - Primary Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State.
- ^ "1978 - General Election: Returns for Legislative Candidates by Districts". Montana Secretary of State.