Margaret MacDonald
Margaret MacDonald (Democratic Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 26. She assumed office in 2017. She left office on January 4, 2021.
MacDonald (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 26. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
MacDonald is a former Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 51 from 2009 to 2017. Starting in the 2011-2012 session, MacDonald served as a Minority Whip until she left office.[1]
MacDonald did not seek re-election to the Montana House of Representatives in 2016 because she was term-limited.
Biography
MacDonald's professional experience includes working as the director at the Montana Office of Community Service, executive director at the Montana Association of Churches, staff director at the Northern Plains Resource Council, and staff member at the Northern Plains Resource Council.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
MacDonald was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Local Government Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Vice chair |
| • Ethics |
| • Judiciary |
| • Local Government |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Vice Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Ethics, Vice Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Montana State Senate District 26
Chris Friedel defeated incumbent Margaret MacDonald in the general election for Montana State Senate District 26 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Friedel (R)  | 52.5 | 4,823 |
 | Margaret MacDonald (D) | 47.5 | 4,355 | |
| Total votes: 9,178 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 26
Incumbent Margaret MacDonald advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 26 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret MacDonald | 100.0 | 2,225 |
| Total votes: 2,225 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 26
Chris Friedel defeated Rodney Garcia in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 26 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Friedel | 57.0 | 1,538 |
| Rodney Garcia | 43.0 | 1,160 | ||
| Total votes: 2,698 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Larry Schuster (R)
2016
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016. Incumbent Elsie Arntzen (R) did not seek re-election.
Margie MacDonald defeated Donald Roberts in the Montana State Senate District 26 general election.[2][3]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Margie MacDonald |
50.14% | 7,658 | |
| Republican | Donald Roberts | 49.86% | 7,614 | |
| Total Votes | 15,272 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Margie MacDonald ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 26 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Margie MacDonald (unopposed) | |
Donald Roberts defeated Joshua Kotter and Rodney Garcia in the Montana State Senate District 26 Republican primary.[6][7]
| Montana State Senate, District 26 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Donald Roberts |
50.46% | 1,147 | |
| Republican | Joshua Kotter | 26.57% | 604 | |
| Republican | Rodney Garcia | 22.97% | 522 | |
| Total Votes | 2,273 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
2014
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. District 54 incumbent Margie MacDonald was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Tony O'Donnell defeated Landan Cheney in the Republican primary. MacDonald defeated O'Donnell in the general election. Incumbent Kelly McCarthy (D) ran in District 49.[8][9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Margie MacDonald Incumbent |
50.2% | 1,323 | |
| Republican | Tony O'Donnell | 49.8% | 1,311 | |
| Total Votes | 2,634 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tony O'Donnell |
69.3% | 614 |
| Landan Cheney | 30.7% | 272 |
| Total Votes | 886 | |
2012
MacDonald won re-election in the 2012 election for Montana House of Representatives, District 54. MacDonald ran unopposed in the June 5 primary election and defeated David Lewis (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Margaret MacDonald Incumbent |
58.7% | 1,931 | |
| Republican | David Lewis | 41.3% | 1,359 | |
| Total Votes | 3,290 | |||
2010
On November 2, 2010, MacDonald won election to the Montana House of Representatives. She did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. Dennis Lenz ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[13][14]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 54 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Margaret MacDonald (D)
|
1,208 | |||
| Dennis Lenz (R) | 1,164 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Margaret MacDonald won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 54, receiving 1,749 votes.
MacDonald raised $19,411 for her campaign.[15]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 54 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Margaret MacDonald (D)
|
1,749 | |||
| Debra Bonogofsky (D) | 1,641 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Margaret MacDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
MacDonald's website listed the following campaign themes:[16]
Providing Quality, Affordable Healthcare to all Montanans
I understand that health care costs are crushing Montana families and businesses. I supported the “Healthy Montana Kids” Initiative 155 which brings access to health care coverage to 30,000 Montana children who do not have it.
Investing in Good Teachers and Classrooms
I believe that good schools and good teachers lead to good, high paying jobs. In particular, I’ll champion affordable job training programs at our College of Technology. After years of shifting the cost of higher education onto students and their families—making it unaffordable for many—it is time to turn that around so all Montana kids can have access and opportunities for higher education.
Jobs and Energy
I know that the big oil companies are making enormous profits while high gas prices are busting our budgets. I believe we can build our own homegrown energy economy making affordable, renewable energy using Montana’s own sun, wind, and geothermal power for heat and electricity. We can invest in construction jobs weatherizing low income housing and building new energy star offices and homes. I am a leading champion of biodiesel that we can grow and process here in Montana. That helps our rural communities, creates new manufacturing jobs, and keeps our energy dollars circulating here, instead of exporting them to the Persian Gulf.
Protecting Hunting, Fishing Lands
I will continue to fight to protect Montana’s outdoor heritage and our access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreation. I’ll work together with landowners and sportsmen to boost successful programs such as Block Management, and I’ll oppose putting Montana’s public lands up for sale or charging fees to access our public lands and forests.
Fair Taxes for All Montanans
I know that during the 1990’s and early part of this decade, when Republicans ran Montana, they shifted the tax burdens from the largest and wealthiest businesses to homeowners and small businesses. I will work for a return to fair taxes for all Montanans.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Montana State Legislature was not in session.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
MacDonald and her husband John, have two children.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2010, 2008, 2006
Footnotes
- ↑ "Peterson, Milburn get top spots for 2011 legislative session," Montana Watchdog, November 17, 2010
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass," accessed November 16, 2015
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "Legislative Primary Canvass - June 08, 2010," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Margaret's 2008 campaign contributions," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ MacDonald for Billings, "Issues," accessed October 16, 2012
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Elsie Arntzen (R) |
Montana State Senate, District 26 2017-2021 |
Succeeded by Chris Friedel (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 51 2015–2017 |
Succeeded by Adam Rosendale (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 54 2009–2015 |
Succeeded by Jeff Essmann (R) |
