2016 Montana Senate election

← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →
25 seats in the Montana Senate 26 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Debby Barrett (term-limited) Jon Sesso Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 5, 2015 January 5, 2015 Leader's seat 36th-Dillon 37th-Butte Last election 29 21 Seats won 32 18 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 143,936 97,280 Percentage 59.52% 40.22%
Results:      Republican gain      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Democratic hold      No election
Senate President before election Debby Barrett Republican Elected Senate President Scott Sales Republican

Elections in Montana
Federal government Presidential elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2000 2004 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections 1890 1895 1895 sp 1899 1901 1901 sp 1905 1907 1911 1913 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1934 sp 1936 1940 1942 1946 1948 1952 1954 1958 1960 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 2026 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1945 2nd sp 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1969 2nd sp 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 AL sp 2018 2020 2022 2024
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Ballot measures 1894 Capital referendum 2004 Initiative 96 2012 Referendum 121 2016 Initiative 182 2020 Initiative 190

An election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect 25 members to Montana's Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including the Presidency, U.S. House of Representatives, Governorship, and state house. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016.^[1]

Results summary[edit]

Party		Candi- dates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
	Republican Party	23	143,936	59.52%	32	3	64
	Democratic Party	21	97,280	40.22%	18	3	36
	Libertarian Party	1	623	0.26%	0		0
	Write-in	1	2	0.001%	0		0
Total		46	241,841	100%	50		100

Popular vote Republican   59.517% Democratic   40.225% Libertarian   0.258% Write-in   0.001%

Senate seats Republican   64% Democratic   36%

Summary of results by State Senate District[edit]

State Senate District	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Party
Montana 2	Dee Brown		Rep	Dee Brown		Rep
Montana 3	Bruce Tutvedt		Rep	Keith Regier		Rep
Montana 6	Janna Taylor		Rep	Albert Olszewski		Rep
Montana 7	Jennifer Fielder		Rep	Jennifer Fielder		Rep
Montana 10	Rick Ripley		Rep	Steve Fitzpatrick		Rep
Montana 15	Brad Hamlett		Dem	Ryan Osmundson		Rep
Montana 16	Jonathan Windy Boy		Dem	Frank Smith		Dem
Montana 17	John Brenden		Rep	Mike Lang		Rep
Montana 18	Matt Rosendale		Rep	Steve Hinebauch		Rep
Montana 21	Sharon Stewart-Peregoy		Dem	Jason Small		Rep
Montana 23	Roger Webb		Rep	Roger Webb		Rep
Montana 25	Robyn Driscoll		Dem	Jen Gross		Dem
Montana 26	Elsie Arntzen		Rep	Margaret MacDonald		Dem
Montana 28	Taylor Brown		Rep	Tom Richmond		Rep
Montana 31	Mike Phillips		Dem	Mike Phillips		Dem
Montana 35	Scott Sales		Rep	Scott Sales		Rep
Montana 36	Debby Barrett		Rep	Jeff Welborn		Rep
Montana 37	Jon Sesso		Dem	Jon Sesso		Dem
Montana 38	Jim Keane		Dem	Edith McClafferty		Dem
Montana 39	Gene Vuckovich		Dem	Gene Vuckovich		Dem
Montana 40	Christine Kaufmann		Dem	Terry Gauthier		Rep
Montana 44	Fred Thomas		Rep	Fred Thomas		Rep
Montana 45	Dick Barrett		Dem	Dick Barrett		Dem
Montana 46	Sue Malek		Dem	Sue Malek		Dem
Montana 47	Cliff Larsen		Dem	Dan Salomon		Rep

Detailed Results[edit]

^[2][3]

Districts 2–25[edit]

District 2[edit]

Incumbent Republican Dee Brown has represented the 2nd district since 2013.

Montana Senate 2nd district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dee Brown (incumbent)	7,961	100%
Total votes			7,961	100%
	Republican hold

District 3[edit]

Incumbent Republican Bruce Tutvedt has represented the 3rd district since 2009. Tutvedt was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. State Representative Keith Regier won the open seat.

Montana Senate 3rd district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Keith Regier	6,511	56.83%
	Democratic	Melissa L. Hartman	4,946	43.17%
Total votes			11,457	100%
	Republican hold

District 6[edit]

Incumbent Republican Janna Taylor has represented the 6th district since 2013. Taylor didn't seek re-election. State Representative Albert Olszewski won the open seat.

Montana Senate 6th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Albert Olszewski	7,370	72.03%
	Democratic	Rolf Harmsen	2,862	27.97%
Total votes			10,232	100%
	Republican hold

District 7[edit]

Incumbent Republican Jennifer Fielder has represented the 7th district since 2013.

Montana Senate 7th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jennifer Fielder (incumbent)	6,761	67.19%
	Democratic	Mark Sheets	3,300	32.79%
	Independent	Glenn Ferren (write-in)	2	0.02%
Total votes			10,063	100%
	Republican hold

District 10[edit]

Incumbent Rick Ripley has represented the 10th district since 2009. Ripley was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 10th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Fitzpatrick	7,851	76.95%
	Democratic	Deborah L. Magin	2,352	23.05%
Total votes			10,203	100%
	Republican hold

District 15[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Brad Hamlett has represented the 15th district since 2009. Hamlett was term-limited and he successfully ran for the Montana house. Republican state representative Ryan Osmundson won the open seat.

Montana Senate district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ryan Osmundson	7,806	76.85%
	Democratic	Sean McConnaha	2,351	23.15%
Total votes			10,157	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 16[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Jonathan Windy Boy has represented the 16th district since 2009. Windy Boy was term-limited and he successfully ran for the Montana house. Former state Senator Frank Smith won the open seat.

Montana Senate 16th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Smith	3,752	57.41%
	Republican	G. Bruce Meyers	2,783	42.59%
Total votes			6,535	100%
	Democratic hold

District 17[edit]

Incumbent Republican John Brenden has represented the 17th district since 2009. Brenden was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 17th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Lang	7,732	77.73%
	Democratic	Douglas Adolphson	2,215	22.27%
Total votes			9,947	100%
	Republican hold

District 18[edit]

Incumbent Republican Matt Rosendale has represented the 18th district since 2013. Rosendale retired and successfully ran for state auditor.

Montana Senate 18th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Hinebauch	8,531	100%
Total votes			8,531	100%
	Republican hold

District 21[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Sharon Stewart-Peregoy has represented the 21st district since 2009. Stewart-Peregoy was term-limited and she successfully ran for the Montana house.

Montana Senate 21st district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Small	3,277	51.49%
	Democratic	Carolyn Pease-Lopez	3,087	48.51%
Total votes			6,364	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 23[edit]

Incumbent Republican Roger Webb has represented the 23rd district since 2013.

Montana Senate 23rd district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roger Webb (incumbent)	6,652	66.15%
	Democratic	Paul J. Van Tricht	3,404	33.85%
Total votes			10,056	100%
	Republican hold

District 25[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Robyn Driscoll has represented the 25th district and its predecessors since 2013. Driscoll didn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 25th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jen Gross	3,591	50.68%
	Republican	Donna Huston	3,495	49.32%
Total votes			7,086	100%
	Democratic hold

Districts 26–47[edit]

District 26[edit]

Incumbent Republican Elsie Arntzen has represented the 26th district and its predecessors since 2013. Arntzen retired to run for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction. Democratic state representative Margaret MacDonald won the open seat.

Montana Senate 26th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Margaret MacDonald	7,658	50.14%
	Republican	Donald Roberts	7,614	49.86%
Total votes			15,272	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 28[edit]

Incumbent Republican Taylor Brown has represented the 28th district since 2009. Brown was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 28th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Richmond	5,743	66.92%
	Democratic	Deborah Abbey	2,839	33.08%
Total votes			8,582	100%
	Republican hold

District 31[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Mike Phillips has represented the 31st district since 2013.

Montana Senate 31st district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Phillips (incumbent)	10,295	100%
Total votes			10,295	100%
	Democratic hold

District 35[edit]

Incumbent Republican Scott Sales has represented the 35th district and its predecessors since 2013.

Montana Senate 35th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Scott Sales (incumbent)	9,408	100%
Total votes			9,408	100%
	Republican hold

District 36[edit]

Incumbent Republican Senate President Debby Barrett has represented the 36th district since 2009. Barrett was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 36th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Welborn	9,785	100%
Total votes			9,785	100%
	Republican hold

District 37[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Minority Leader Jon Sesso has represented the 37th district since 2013.

Montana Senate 37th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jon Sesso (incumbent)	7,244	100%
Total votes			7,244	100%
	Democratic hold

District 38[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Jim Keane has represented the 38th district since 2009. Keane was term-limited and he successfully ran for the Montana house. State representative Edith McClafferty won the open seat.

Montana Senate 38th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edith McClafferty	6,113	53.50%
	Republican	Glenn J. Rosenbaum	5,314	46.50%
Total votes			11,427	100%
	Democratic hold

District 39[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Gene Vuckovich has represented the 39th district since 2011.

Montana Senate 39th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gene Vuckovich (incumbent)	4,686	53.23%
	Republican	Suzzann Nordwick	3,494	39.69%
	Libertarian	Dick Motta	623	7.08%
Total votes			8,803	100%
	Democratic hold

District 40[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Christine Kaufmann has represented the 40th district since 2007. Kaufmann was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 40th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terry Gauthier	6,135	52.69%
	Democratic	Hal Jacobson	5,509	47.31%
Total votes			11,644	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 44[edit]

Incumbent Republican Majority Leader Fred Thomas has represented the 44th district since 2013.

Montana Senate 44th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Fred Thomas (incumbent)	7,614	70.03%
	Democratic	James R. Olsen	3,258	29.97%
Total votes			10,872	100%
	Republican hold

District 45[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Dick Barrett has represented the 45th district and its predecessors since 2013.

Montana Senate 45th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dick Barrett (incumbent)	6,372	64.82%
	Republican	Sashin Hume	3,459	35.18%
Total votes			9,831	100%
	Democratic hold

District 46[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Sue Malek has represented the 46th district since 2013.

Montana Senate 46th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sue Malek (incumbent)	7,003	64.80%
	Republican	Adam S. Pummill	3,804	35.20%
Total votes			10,807	100%
	Democratic hold

District 47[edit]

Incumbent Democrat Cliff Larsen has represented the 47th district since 2009. Larsen was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. Republican state representative Dan Salomon won the open seat.

Montana Senate 47th district general election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dan Salomon	4,836	52.12%
	Democratic	Tom France	4,443	47.88%
Total votes			9,279	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

References[edit]