2020 Montana Senate election

Not to be confused with 2020 United States Senate election in Montana.

2020 Montana Senate election

November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
25 seats in the Montana Senate 26 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	38.07%
Majority party Minority party   Leader Scott Sales (term-limited) Jon Sesso (term-limited) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 2, 2017 January 5, 2015 Leader's seat 35th-Bozeman 37th-Butte Last election 30 20 Seats won 31 19 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 184,066 97,474 Percentage 64.24% 34.02%
Results:      Republican gain      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Democratic hold      No election
Senate President before election Scott Sales Republican Elected Senate President Mark Blasdel Republican

An election was held on November 3, 2020 to elect 25 members to Montana's Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including the Presidency, U.S Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governorship, and state house. The primary election was held on June 2, 2020

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Safe R	October 21, 2020

Results summary

Summary of the November 3, 2020 Montana Senate election results

Party		Votes		Seats
		No.	%	No.	+/−	%
	Republican	184,066	64.24	31	+1	62.00
	Democratic	97,474	34.02	19	-1	38.00
	Libertarian	3,722	1.30	0	0	0.00
	Write-in	1,261	0.44	0	0	0.00
Total		286,523	100.00	50	±0	100.00
Registered voters		752,538	100.00
Turnout		286,523	38.07
Source: Montana Elections Results, Montana Secretary of State

Popular vote Republican   64.24% Democratic   34.02% Libertarian   1.30%

Senate seats Republican   62.00% Democratic   38.00%

Close races

Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. District 38, 0.44%
2. District 39, 1.64%
3. District 25, 3.27%
4. District 26, 5.1% gain
5. District 47, 9.28%

Incumbents defeated in the primary election

• Tom Richmond (R-District 28), defeated by Brad Molnar (R)

Incumbents defeated in the general election

• Margaret MacDonald (D-District 26), defeated by Chris Friedel (R)

Summary of results by State Senate District

State Senate District	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Party
Montana 2	Dee Brown		Rep	Carl Glimm		Rep
Montana 3	Keith Regier		Rep	Keith Regier		Rep
Montana 6	Albert Olszewski		Rep	Greg Hertz		Rep
Montana 7	Jennifer Fielder		Rep	Bob Brown		Rep
Montana 10	Steve Fitzpatrick		Rep	Steve Fitzpatrick		Rep
Montana 15	Ryan Osmundson		Rep	Ryan Osmundson		Rep
Montana 16	Frank Smith		Dem	Mike Fox		Dem
Montana 17	Mike Lang		Rep	Mike Lang		Rep
Montana 18	Steve Hinebauch		Rep	Steve Hinebauch		Rep
Montana 21	Jason Small		Rep	Jason Small		Rep
Montana 23	Roger Webb		Rep	Tom McGillvray		Rep
Montana 25	Jen Gross		Dem	Jen Gross		Dem
Montana 26	Margaret MacDonald		Dem	Chris Friedel		Rep
Montana 28	Tom Richmond*		Rep	Brad Molnar		Rep
Montana 31	Mike Phillips		Dem	Christopher Pope		Dem
Montana 35	Scott Sales		Rep	Walt Sales		Rep
Montana 36	Jeffrey Welborn		Rep	Jeffrey Welborn		Rep
Montana 37	Jon Sesso		Dem	Ryan Lynch		Dem
Montana 38	Edith McClafferty		Dem	Edith McClafferty		Dem
Montana 39	Gene Vuckovich		Dem	Mark Sweeney		Dem
Montana 40	Terry Gauthier		Rep	Terry Gauthier		Rep
Montana 44	Fred Thomas		Rep	Theresa Manzella		Rep
Montana 45	Dick Barrett		Dem	Ellie Boldman		Dem
Montana 46	Sue Malek		Dem	Shannon O'Brien		Dem
Montana 47	Dan Salomon		Rep	Daniel Salomon		Rep

Detailed results

Districts 2–25

District 2

Incumbent Republican Dee Brown has represented the 2nd district since 2013. Brown was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. State Representative Carl Glimm won the open seat.

Montana Senate 2nd district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Carl Glimm	8,760	68.30%
	Democratic	Kyle Waterman	4,066	31.70%
Total votes			12,826	100%
	Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Republican Keith Regier has represented the 3rd district since 2017.

Montana Senate 3rd district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Keith Regier (incumbent)	8,334	55.85%
	Democratic	Guthrie Quist	6,588	44.15%
Total votes			14,922	100%
	Republican hold

District 6

Incumbent Republican Albert Olszewski has represented the 6th district since 2017. Olszewski unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor. Term-limited state representative and state House Speaker Greg Hertz won the open seat.

Montana Senate 6th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Greg Hertz	10,305	100%
Total votes			10,305	100%
	Republican hold

District 7

Incumbent Republican Jennifer Fielder has represented the 7th district since 2013. Fielder was term-limited and ran successfully for a seat on the Montana Public Service Commission.

Montana Senate 7th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Brown	9,560	75.00%
	Democratic	Diane L. Magone	3,187	25.00%
Total votes			12,747	100%
	Republican hold

District 10

Incumbent Steve Fitzpatrick has represented the 10th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 10th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Fitzpatrick (incumbent)	10,018	100%
Total votes			10,018	100%
	Republican hold

District 15

Incumbent Republican Ryan Osmundson has represented the 15th district since 2017.

Montana Senate district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ryan Osmundson (incumbent)	9,511	100%
Total votes			9,511	100%
	Republican hold

District 16

Incumbent Democrat Frank Smith has represented the 16th district since 2017. Smith chose not to seek re-election, and he instead successfully ran for a seat in the Montana House.

Montana Senate 16th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Fox	5,718	100%
Total votes			5,718	100%
	Democratic hold

District 17

Incumbent Republican Mike Lang has represented the 17th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 17th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Lang (incumbent)	9,385	100%
Total votes			9,385	100%
	Republican hold

District 18

Incumbent Republican Steve Hinebauch has represented the 18th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 18th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Hinebauch (incumbent)	8,618	78.37%
	Democratic	Pat Mischel	2,378	21.63%
Total votes			10,996	100%
	Republican hold

District 21

Incumbent Republican Jason Small has represented the 21st district since 2017.

Montana Senate 21st district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Small (incumbent)	4,023	57.80%
	Democratic	Rae Peppers	2,937	42.20%
Total votes			6,960	100%
	Republican hold

District 23

Incumbent Republican Roger Webb has represented the 23rd district since 2013. Webb was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. Former state representative Tom McGillvray won the open seat.

Montana Senate 23rd district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom McGillvray	9,893	100%
Total votes			9,893	100%
	Republican hold

District 25

Incumbent Democrat Jen Gross has represented the 25th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 25th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jen Gross (incumbent)	4,146	51.45%
	Republican	Scott Price	3,912	48.55%
Total votes			8,058	100%
	Democratic hold

Districts 26–47

District 26

Incumbent Democrat Margaret MacDonald has represented the 26th district since 2017. She ran for re-election to a 2nd term, but was defeated by Republican Chris Friedel.

Montana Senate 26th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Friedel	4,823	52.55%
	Democratic	Margaret MacDonald (incumbent)	4,355	47.45%
Total votes			9,178	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 28

Incumbent Republican Tom Richmond has represented the 28th district since 2017. Former Public Service Commissioner and state representative Brad Molnar defeated Richmond in the Republican primary.

Montana Senate 28th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brad Molnar	8,659	100%
Total votes			8,659	100%
	Republican hold

District 31

Incumbent Democrat Mike Phillips has represented the 31st district since 2013. Phillips was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. State Representative Christopher Pope won the open seat.

Montana Senate 31st district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Christopher Pope	11,018	66.32%
	Republican	Nicolas Allevato	5,596	33.68%
Total votes			16,614	100%
	Democratic hold

District 35

Incumbent Republican Scott Sales has represented the 35th district and its predecessors since 2013. Sales was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election, he instead ran Secretary of State.

Montana Senate 35th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walt Sales	12,191	100%
Total votes			12,191	100%
	Republican hold

District 36

Incumbent Republican Jeffrey Welborn has represented the 36th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 36th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeffrey Welborn (incumbent)	10,526	79.55%
	Libertarian	John Lamb	2,706	20.45%
Total votes			13,232	100%
	Republican hold

District 37

Incumbent Democrat Minority Leader Jon Sesso has represented the 37th district since 2013. Sesso was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 37th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ryan Lynch	6,141	64.79%
	Republican	Aaron Meaders	3,337	35.21%
Total votes			9,478	100%
	Democratic hold

District 38

Incumbent Democrat Edith McClafferty has represented the 38th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 38th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edith McClafferty (incumbent)	6,643	50.22%
	Republican	Jim Butterbaugh	6,586	49.78%
Total votes			13,229	100%
	Democratic hold

District 39

Incumbent Democrat Gene Vuckovich has represented the 39th district since 2011. Vuckovich was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 39th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark Sweeney	4,450	44.42%
	Republican	Suzzann Nordwick	4,306	42.99%
	Independent	Gordon Pierson (write-in)	1,261	12.59%
Total votes			10,017	100%
	Democratic hold

District 40

Incumbent Republican Terry Gauthier has represented the 40th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 40th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terry Gauthier (incumbent)	8,504	60.47%
	Democratic	Catherine Scott	5,560	39.53%
Total votes			14,064	100%
	Republican hold

District 44

Incumbent Republican Majority Leader Fred Thomas has represented the 44th district since 2013. Thomas was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election. Representative Theresa Manzella won the open seat.

Montana Senate 44th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Theresa Manzella	9,485	67.22%
	Democratic	Margaret Gorski	4,626	32.78%
Total votes			14,111	100%
	Republican hold

District 45

Incumbent Democrat Dick Barrett has represented the 45th district and its predecessors since 2013. Barrett was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 45th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ellie Boldman	7,045	61.13%
	Republican	Susan Campbell Reneau	4,045	35.10%
	Libertarian	Nolen W. Skime	435	3.77%
Total votes			11,525	100%
	Democratic hold

District 46

Incumbent Democrat Sue Malek has represented the 46th district since 2013. Malek was term-limited and couldn't seek re-election.

Montana Senate 46th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shannon O'Brien	8,362	66.06%
	Republican	Niki Sardot	4,296	33.94%
Total votes			12,658	100%
	Democratic hold

District 47

Incumbent Republican Dan Salomon has represented the 47th district since 2017.

Montana Senate 47th district general election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dan Salomon (incumbent)	5,983	52.11%
	Democratic	Chase Porter Gray	4,918	42.83%
	Libertarian	Devin Braaten	581	5.06%
Total votes			11,482	100%
	Republican hold