Montana became a territory May 28, 1864 and the first delegation created nine counties:
Beaverhead
Beaverhead County is the largest County (United States), county by area in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 9,371. Its county seat is Dillon, Montana, Dillon. The county was founded ...
,
Big Horn (renamed Custer in 1877),
Chouteau
Chouteau was the name of a highly successful, ethnically French fur-trading family based in Saint Louis, Missouri, which they helped found.
Their ancestors Chouteau and Laclède initially settled in New Orleans. They then moved-up the Mississipp ...
,
Deer Lodge
Deer Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,938 at the 2020 census.
Description
The city is perhaps best known as the home of the Montana State Prison, a major local employer. ...
,
Gallatin,
Jefferson Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...
,
Edgerton (renamed Lewis and Clark in 1867),
Madison Madison may refer to:
People
* Madison (name), a given name and a surname
* James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States
Place names
* Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...
, and
Missoula. Montana became a state on November 8, 1889.
Montana has a history of voters
splitting their tickets and filling elected offices with individuals from both parties. Through the mid-20th century, the state had a tradition of "sending the liberals to Washington and the conservatives to Helena". Between 1988 and 2006, the pattern flipped, with voters more likely to elect conservatives to federal offices. There have also been long-term shifts in party control. From 1968 through 1988, the state was dominated by the Democratic Party, with Democratic governors for a 20-year period, and a Democratic majority of both the national congressional delegation and during many sessions of the state legislature. This pattern shifted, beginning with the 1988 election when Montana elected a
Republican governor for the first time since 1964 and sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1948. This shift continued with the
reapportionment
Apportionment is the process by which seats in a legislative body are distributed among administrative divisions, such as states or parties, entitled to representation. This page presents the general principles and issues related to apportionme ...
of the state's legislative districts that took effect in 1994, when the Republican Party took control of both chambers of the state legislature, consolidating a Republican party dominance that lasted until the 2004 reapportionment produced more swing districts and a brief period of Democratic legislative majorities in the mid-2000s.
Montana has voted for the Republican nominee in all but two presidential elections since 1952. The state last supported a Democrat for president in 1992, when
Bill Clinton won a plurality victory. However, since 1889 the state has voted for Democratic governors 60 percent of the time, and Republican governors 40 percent of the time. In the
2008 presidential election, Montana was considered a
swing state and was ultimately won by Republican
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...
by a narrow margin of two percent.
In a 2020 study, Montana was ranked as the 21st easiest state for citizens to vote in.
1890s
Included representatives from additional territorial counties:
Meagher (1866),
Dawson (1869),
Silver Bow (1881),
Yellowstone (1883),
Fergus (1885),
Park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
(1887), and
Cascade
Cascade, Cascades or Cascading may refer to:
Science and technology Science
*Cascade waterfalls, or series of waterfalls
* Cascade, the CRISPR-associated complex for antiviral defense (a protein complex)
* Cascade (grape), a type of fruit
* Bioc ...
(1887)
1892 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1892
1896 elections
First election to include
Flathead,
Valley,
Teton,
Ravalli,
Granite,
Carbon, and
Sweet Grass counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1896
1900s
1900 elections
First election to include
Broadwater County
Broadwater County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 6,774. Its county seat is Townsend, Montana, Townsend. The county was named for Charles Arth ...
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1900
1904 elections
First election to include
Powell
Powell may refer to:
People
* Powell (surname)
* Powell (given name)
* Powell baronets, several baronetcies
*Colonel Powell (disambiguation), several military officers
*General Powell (disambiguation), several military leaders
*Governor Powell (di ...
and
Rosebud counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1904
1908 elections
First election to include
Sanders County
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1908
1910s
1912 elections
First election to include
Lincoln,
Musselshell,
Hill and
Blaine counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1912
1916 elections
First election to include
Big Horn,
Stillwater,
Sheridan
Sheridan may refer to:
People
Surname
*Sheridan (surname)
*Philip Sheridan (1831–1888), U.S. Army general after whom the Sheridan tank is named
*Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), Irish playwright (''The Rivals''), poet and politician
...
,
Fallon,
Toole,
Richland,
Mineral,
Wibaux,
Phillips
Phillips may refer to:
Businesses Energy
* Chevron Phillips Chemical, American petrochemical firm jointly owned by Chevron Corporation and Phillips 66.
* ConocoPhillips, American energy company
* Phillips 66, American energy company
* Phil ...
, and
Prairie counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1916
1918 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1918
The 1918 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 5, 1918. Incumbent United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh, who was first elected to the Senate in 1912, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary uncontested, and w ...
1920s
1920 elections
First election to include
Liberty,
Golden Valley, and
Daniels counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1920
1922 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1922
The 1922 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 7, 1922. Incumbent United States Senator Henry L. Myers, who was first elected to the Senate in 1910, and was re-elected in 1916, declined to seek re-election. Former Uni ...
1924 elections
First election to include
Judith Basin and
Lake counties.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1924
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1924
The 1924 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 4, 1924. Incumbent United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh, who was first elected to the Senate in 1912 by the state legislature (as was the practice then), and re-elected in ...
1928 elections
First election to include
Petroleum County
Petroleum County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 496, making it the least populous county in Montana and the eighth-least populous in the United States. Its county seat is Winnett. The coun ...
.
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1928
The 1928 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 6, 1928 as part of the 1928 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president ...
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1928
The 1928 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 6, 1928. Incumbent United States Senator Burton K. Wheeler, who was first elected to the Senate in 1922, ran for re-election. After successfully defeating several challenge ...
1930s
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1930
The 1930 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 4, 1930. Incumbent United States Senator Thomas J. Walsh, who was first elected to the Senate in 1912, and re-elected in 1918 and 1924, ran for re-election. He won the Demo ...
1932 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1932
1934 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1934
*
United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934
The 1934 United States Senate special election in Montana took place on November 6, 1934. Incumbent United States Senator John E. Erickson, who, as governor, had appointed himself to the seat in 1933 upon the death of Thomas J. Walsh, ran for re ...
1936 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1936
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1936
1940s
1940 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1940
The 1940 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 5, 1940 as part of the 1940 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president an ...
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1940
1942 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1942
The 1942 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 3, 1942. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, ran for re-election. ...
1944 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1944
1946 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1946
1948 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1948
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1948
The 1948 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1948. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936 and 1942, ran for re- ...
1950s
1952 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1952
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1952
1954 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1954
The 1954 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934 ...
1956 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1956
The 1956 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 6, 1956 as part of the 1956 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president an ...
1958 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1958
1960s
1960 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1960
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1960
The 1960 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, and 1 ...
1964 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1964
The 1964 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 3, 1964, and was part of the 1964 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for presid ...
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1964
1966 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1966
1968 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1968
1970s
1970 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1970
1972 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1972
The 1972 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 7, 1972, and was part of the 1972 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for presi ...
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1972
1976 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1976
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1976
1978 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1978
The 1978 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 7, 1978. Following the death of United States Senator Lee Metcalf on January 12, 1978, Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul G. Hatfield was appointed to serve for the r ...
1980s
1980 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1980
1982 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1982
1984 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1984
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1984
1988 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1988
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1988
1990s
1990 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1990
The 1990 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 6, 1990. Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus, who was first elected in 1978 and was re-elected in 1984, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, h ...
1992 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1992
1994 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1994
1996 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 1996
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus, who was first elected in 1978 and was re-elected in 1984 and 1990, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the Democr ...
2000s
2000 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 2000
The 2000 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 7, 2000, and was part of the 2000 United States presidential election. Voters chose three electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice presid ...
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 2000
The 2000 United States Senate election in Montana was held November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Conrad Burns won re-election to a third term. , this is the last time that a Republican has won Montana's class 1 Senate seat.
Demo ...
2002 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 2002
The 2002 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Max Baucus won re-election to a fifth term.
Democratic primary Candidates
* Max Baucus, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
...
2004 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 2004
The 2004 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 2, 2004, and was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for presi ...
*
Montana gubernatorial election, 2004
The 2004 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004 for the post of List of Governors of Montana, Governor of Montana. Democratic Party (United States), Democrat Brian Schweitzer defeated Secretary of State of Montana, Montana ...
2006 elections
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 2006
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 ...
*
United States House of Representatives election in Montana, 2006
2008 elections
*
United States presidential election in Montana, 2008
*
United States Senate election in Montana, 2008
*
United States House of Representatives election in Montana, 2008
*
Montana Democratic primary, 2008
The 2008 Montana Democratic presidential primary took place on June 3, 2008, with 16 delegates at stake. Along with South Dakota, it was one of the last two elections in the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Primary. The winner in Montana's at- ...
*
Montana Republican caucuses, 2008
*
Montana gubernatorial election, 2008
2010s
2010 elections
*
2010 Montana elections
*
2012 elections
*
2012 United States presidential election in Montana
The 2012 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Montana voters chose three electo ...
*
2012 United States Senate election in Montana
The 2012 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives an ...
*
2012 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
*
Montana Republican caucuses, 2012
*
2012 Montana gubernatorial election
The 2012 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Montana. Incumbent Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term.
Montana Attorney Gener ...
2014 elections
*
2014 United States Senate election in Montana
The 2014 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate from Montana, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the Unite ...
*
2014 Montana judicial elections
2016 elections
*
2016 United States presidential election in Montana
*
*
2016 Montana gubernatorial election
The 2016 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Montana, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and electio ...
2018 elections
*
*
2018 United States Senate election in Montana
The 2018 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Montana, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the Unit ...
2020s
2020 elections
*
*
2020 United States Senate election in Montana
The 2020 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Montana. It was held concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as ot ...
*
2020 Montana gubernatorial election
The 2020 Montana gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the next governor of Montana, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and vario ...
*
2020 United States presidential election in Montana
2022 elections
*
2024 elections
*
2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana
*
2024 United States Senate election in Montana
The 2024 United States Senate election in Montana will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Montana. Incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Jon Tester is seeking re-election to ...
*
2024 Montana gubernatorial election
*
2024 United States presidential election in Montana
The 2024 United States presidential election in Montana is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States elections in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia will participate. Montana voters ...
See also
*
Political party strength in Montana
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Montana:
*Governor
* Lieutenant Governor
* Secretary of State
*Attorney General
* State Treasurer
*State Auditor
*Superintendent of Public Instruction
The table als ...
*
United States presidential elections in Montana
*
Women's suffrage in Montana
The women's suffrage movement in Montana started while it was still a territory. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was an early organizer that supported suffrage in the state, arriving in 1883. Women ...
References
Works cited
*
External links
Counties History*
*
*
* (State affiliate of the U.S.
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...
)
*
{{Montana
Government of Montana
Political events in Montana