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John Bohlinger
John Bohlinger, Jr. (born April 21, 1936) was the Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. Bohlinger ran successfully as a Republican, on a ticket headed by Democrat Brian Schweitzer in 2004 and 2008.[1] He was succeeded by Democrat John E. Walsh on January 7, 2013.[2]
Bohlinger was also a 2014 Democratic candidate seeking election to the U.S. Senate from Montana. He was defeated by incumbent John Walsh in the Democratic primary on June 3, 2014.
Biography
John Bohlinger was born on April 21, 1936 in Bozeman, Montana. His family moved in 1941 to Billings, Montana where his parents, John and Aileen Bohlinger, ran Aileen's, a women's apparel store.
During his time at Billings Senior High School, Bohlinger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He then attended the University of Montana, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. After his sophomore year, the Marine Corps called him to service. After completing his service with the Marine Corps, he completed his university career, earning a bachelor of arts degree in business. For the next 33 years, Bohlinger worked in the family clothing business. He was the widower of the late Bette Cobetto, who died of cancer on January 9, 2006. He married Karen Seiler in Helena on January 12, 2008.
Education
- B.A., Business, University of Montana, 1959
Political career
Lieutenant Governor (2005-2013)
On the 2004 gubernatorial ticket, Bohlinger, a Republican, ran with Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat. Prior to this, there was no instance in Montana where the candidates on a gubernatorial ticket belonged to different parties. The ticket won and Bohlinger was inaugurated as Lieutenant Governor of Montana on January 3, 2005.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Schweitzer/Bohlinger ticket won re-election in the November 4, 2008 election.
Workers' compensation bill
Lt. Gov. Bohlinger chairs the Labor-Management Advisory Council (LMAC) and told members in December 2010 that Republican House leaders have said the bill does not go far enough and want to craft their own bill.
“It’s unfortunate that people with limited background have made that declaration,” Bohlinger, a Republican who serves with a Democratic governor, said.
At the time Bohlinger made these comments, the panel was working on the finishing touches on reforms to the workers’ compensation system that officials hope will save the state $131 million in rates.[3]
Montana legislature (1992-2004)
Bohlinger served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives and was then twice elected to the Montana State Senate. He resigned his Senate seat when he assumed the office of Lieutenant Governor.
Issues
Fundraiser for Walsh
Jon Tester and Max Baucus held a fundraiser in November 2013 for Democratic candidate John Walsh, who was running for Montana's U.S. Senate seat in 2014 before dropping out of the race due to a plagiarism scandal. Baucus was appointed U.S. Ambassador to China and did not seek re-election. The fundraiser featured Democrat Chuck Schumer from New York. This fundraiser angered Democrat John Bohlinger, who challenged Walsh in the primary. He said, "I am really troubled by the involvement of the Washington insiders in a Montana Democratic senatorial primary race. They should have no business of trying to influence an outcome of an election here." Bohlinger continued to blast D.C. donors saying, "I’ll be raising money, but it will be far lesser amounts than the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (of Washington, D.C.) will pour into Walsh’s campaign fund. Mine will be money that comes from Montanans. I’m really offended by the DSCC and their interest in this (primary)."[4]
Elections
2014
Bohlinger ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. Senate, representing Montana. Bohlinger sought the Democratic nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014, but lost to incumbent John Walsh.
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 John Walsh Incumbent |
64% | 48,665 | ||
| John Bohlinger | 22.6% | 17,187 | ||
| Dirk Adams | 13.3% | 10,139 | ||
| Total Votes | 75,991 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State - Official Primary Results |
||||
A poll released in November 2013 by Public Policy Polling showed that, regardless of the Democratic candidate, Daines was likely to win the seat in 2014. In a match-up against Democrat John Walsh, Daines led 52% to 35%. In a match-up against Bohlinger, Daines led 51% to 36%.[5]
2012
Bohinger did not run for re-election in 2012.
2008
On November 4, 2008, Bohlinger easily won re-election as Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Brian Schweitzer.[6]
| Governor/Lt. Governor of Montana, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Brian Schweitzer/John Bohlinger Incumbent |
65.5% | 318,670 | |
| Republican | Roy Brown/Steve Daines | 32.5% | 158,268 | |
| Libertarian | Stan Jones/Michael Baker | 2% | 9,796 | |
| Total Votes | 486,734 | |||
2004
On November 2, 2004, Bohlinger won election as Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Brian Schweitzer.[7]
| Governor/Lt. Governor of Montana, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Brian Schweitzer/John Bohlinger |
50.4% | 225,016 | |
| Republican | Bob Brown/Dave Lewis | 46% | 205,313 | |
| Green | Bob Kelleher/Colleen Little Thunder | 1.9% | 8,393 | |
| Libertarian | Stanley Jones/Mike Kaszula | 1.7% | 7,424 | |
| Total Votes | 446,146 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "John + Bohlinger + Montana + Senate"
See also
External links
- Bohlinger Biography
- Schweitzer Bohlinger Official campaign site
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Governor's Office, "Biography: Lt. Governor John Bohlinger," accessed September 15, 2012
- ↑ The Billings-Gazette, "Bullock sworn in as 24th governor of Montana," January 7, 2013
- ↑ "Workers’ comp bill changes course in hopes of beating opposition," Montana Watchdog, December 15, 2010
- ↑ Missoulian.com, "Bohlinger criticizes Baucus, Tester for early backing of Walsh in U.S. Senate race," accessed November 12, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "Montana Senate race 2014 poll: Steve Daines in driver’s seat," accessed November 21, 2013
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2008 Statewide General Election Results," accessed December 10, 2011
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2004 Statewide General Election Results," accessed December 17, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Montana Lieutenant Governor January 2005 – January 2013 |
Succeeded by John E. Walsh (D) |
| |||||||||||||
