Montana 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Montana.

Senate

2012 Legislative Election Results
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Montana State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Montana State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Montana State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state Senate before and after the election:

Montana State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	22	23
	Republican Party	27	27
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		50	50

What You'll See on This Page

This page displays the following lists of candidates:

• Incumbents who ran on November 6
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 26 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who were on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Gene Vuckovich
2. Bruce Tutvedt
3. Brad Hamlett
4. Debby Barrett
5. Cliff Larsen
6. Christine Kaufmann
7. Rick Ripley
8. Jonathan Windy Boy
9. John Brenden
10. Taylor Brown
11. Gary Branae
12. Jim Keane
13. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
14. Steve Vick

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list displays newly-elected members of the Montana State Senate:

Democratic

1. Sue Malek
2. Dick Barrett
3. Jon Sesso
4. Mike Phillips
5. Robyn Driscoll
6. Greg Jergeson

Republican

1. Janna Taylor
2. Elsie Arntzen
3. Jennifer Fielder
4. Roger Webb
5. Fred Thomas
6. Scott Sales
7. Dee Brown
8. Matt Rosendale

Open Seat Winners

The following displays a list of candidates who won election in seats where there was no incumbent:

Democratic

1. Greg Jergeson
2. Mike Phillips
3. Robyn Driscoll
4. Jon Sesso
5. Sue Malek
6. Dick Barrett

Republican

1. Jennifer Fielder
2. Dee Brown
3. Scott Sales
4. Roger Webb
5. Fred Thomas

Candidates who won election

The following is a list of all candidates elected to the Montana State Senate:

Democratic

1. Gene Vuckovich
2. Sue Malek
3. Dick Barrett
4. Jon Sesso
5. Mike Phillips
6. Robyn Driscoll
7. Brad Hamlett
8. Cliff Larsen
9. Christine Kaufmann
10. Jonathan Windy Boy
11. Jim Keane
12. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
13. Greg Jergeson

Republican

1. Janna Taylor
2. Elsie Arntzen
3. Bruce Tutvedt
4. Debby Barrett
5. Rick Ripley
6. John Brenden
7. Taylor Brown
8. Jennifer Fielder
9. Roger Webb
10. Fred Thomas
11. Scott Sales
12. Dee Brown
13. Matt Rosendale
14. Steve Vick

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates did not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
2. Jim Keane
3. Jonathan Windy Boy

Republican

1. Janna Taylor
2. Matt Rosendale

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who ran in 2012:

1. John Marshall (Montana)
2. Rob McCoy (Montana)
3. Shannon Hanson
4. Cheryl Wolfe

House

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Montana State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Montana House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Montana House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state House before and after the election:

Montana House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	32	37
	Republican Party	68	63
Total		100	100

What You'll See on This Page

This page displays the following lists of candidates:

• Incumbents who ran on November 6
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 100 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who were on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Champ Edmunds
2. Carolyn Squires
3. Ellie Boldman
4. Edward Greef
5. Bryce Bennett
6. Ron Ehli
7. Patrick Connell
8. Mike Miller (Montana)
9. Galen Hollenbaugh
10. Liz Bangerter
11. Steve Gibson
12. Kathy Swanson
13. Edith McClafferty
14. Jeffrey Welborn
15. Chuck Hunter (Montana)
16. Max Yates
17. Pat Noonan
18. Gordon Vance
19. Ted Washburn
20. Kathleen Williams
21. Kelly Flynn
22. Tom Burnett
23. Dan Skattum
24. David Howard (Montana legislator)
25. Joanne Blyton
26. Krayton Kerns
27. Cary Smith
28. Gerald Bennett
29. Mike Cuffe
30. Jerry O'Neil
31. Keith Regier
32. Randy Brodehl
33. Steve Lavin
34. Scott Reichner
35. Mark Blasdel
36. Pat Ingraham
37. Daniel Salomon
38. Joe Read
39. Lila Evans
40. Christy Clark (Montana)
41. Steve Fitzpatrick
42. Jesse O'Hara
43. Jean Price
44. Carlie Boland
45. Brian Hoven
46. Robert Mehlhoff
47. Cleve Loney
48. Rob Cook
49. Roy Hollandsworth
50. Ryan Osmundson
51. Kris Hansen
52. Wendy Warburton
53. Austin Knudsen
54. Lee Randall
55. Bill McChesney
56. Carolyn Pease-Lopez
57. Sterling Small
58. Duane Ankney
59. Jonathan McNiven
60. Tom Berry
61. Douglas Kary
62. Margaret MacDonald
63. Mary McNally
64. Virginia Court
65. Bill Harris (Montana)

Incumbents defeated

The following displays a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

• Max Yates
• Tom Burnett
• Dan Skattum
• Joe Read
• Lila Evans
• Cleve Loney
• Sterling Small

Primary election

• Alan Hale
• Robert Wagner, Montana Representative
• Tony Belcourt

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following displays a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

• Franke Wilmer
• Frosty Calf Boss Ribs
• Lea Whitford
• Tom Jacobson
• Rae Peppers
• Reilly Neill
• Ryan Lynch
• Mike Lang (Montana)
• Ray Shaw
• Kirk Wagoner

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following lists the newly-elected members of the Montana House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Franke Wilmer
2. Jennifer Pomnichowski
3. Frosty Calf Boss Ribs
4. Ed Lieser
5. Lea Whitford
6. Kimberly Dudik
7. Bridget Smith
8. Tom Jacobson
9. Rae Peppers
10. Kelly McCarthy
11. Reilly Neill
12. Tom Woods (Montana)
13. Ryan Lynch
14. Amanda Curtis
15. Jenny Eck
16. Douglas Coffin
17. Tom Steenberg
18. Nancy Wilson
19. Jenifer Gursky
20. Casey Schreiner
21. Gordon Pierson

Republican

1. David Moore (Montana)
2. Carl Glimm
3. Greg Hertz
4. Nicholas Schwaderer
5. David Halvorson
6. Alan Doane
7. Clayton Fiscus
8. Daniel Zolnikov
9. Dennis Lenz
10. Dave Hagstrom
11. Don Jones (Former Montana state representative)
12. Sarah Laszloffy
13. Alan Redfield
14. Wylie Galt
15. Nancy Ballance
16. Roger Hagan
17. Mike Lang (Montana)
18. Kerry White (Montana)
19. Ray Shaw
20. Kirk Wagoner

Open Seat Winners

The following lists candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Ed Lieser
2. Douglas Coffin
3. Casey Schreiner
4. Bridget Smith
5. Kelly McCarthy
6. Tom Woods (Montana)
7. Jennifer Pomnichowski
8. Amanda Curtis
9. Jenny Eck
10. Tom Steenberg
11. Nancy Wilson
12. Jenifer Gursky
13. Kimberly Dudik
14. Gordon Pierson

Republican

1. Carl Glimm
2. Nicholas Schwaderer
3. Roger Hagan
4. Alan Doane
5. David Halvorson
6. Clayton Fiscus
7. Daniel Zolnikov
8. Dennis Lenz
9. Dave Hagstrom
10. Don Jones (Former Montana state representative)
11. Sarah Laszloffy
12. Alan Redfield
13. Kerry White (Montana)
14. Wylie Galt
15. Nancy Ballance
16. David Moore (Montana)
17. Greg Hertz

Candidates who won election

The following lists all candidates elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Carolyn Squires
2. Ellie Boldman
3. Bryce Bennett
4. Galen Hollenbaugh
5. Kathy Swanson
6. Edith McClafferty
7. Chuck Hunter (Montana)
8. Pat Noonan
9. Kathleen Williams
10. Franke Wilmer
11. Jennifer Pomnichowski
12. Frosty Calf Boss Ribs
13. Jean Price
14. Carlie Boland
15. Robert Mehlhoff
16. Bill McChesney
17. Carolyn Pease-Lopez
18. Margaret MacDonald
19. Mary McNally
20. Virginia Court
21. Ed Lieser
22. Lea Whitford
23. Kimberly Dudik
24. Bridget Smith
25. Tom Jacobson
26. Rae Peppers
27. Kelly McCarthy
28. Reilly Neill
29. Tom Woods (Montana)
30. Ryan Lynch
31. Amanda Curtis
32. Jenny Eck
33. Douglas Coffin
34. Tom Steenberg
35. Nancy Wilson
36. Jenifer Gursky
37. Casey Schreiner
38. Gordon Pierson

Republican

1. Champ Edmunds
2. Edward Greef
3. David Moore (Montana)
4. Ron Ehli
5. Patrick Connell
6. Mike Miller (Montana)
7. Liz Bangerter
8. Steve Gibson
9. Jeffrey Welborn
10. Gordon Vance
11. Ted Washburn
12. Kelly Flynn
13. David Howard (Montana legislator)
14. Joanne Blyton
15. Krayton Kerns
16. Cary Smith
17. Gerald Bennett
18. Mike Cuffe
19. Jerry O'Neil
20. Keith Regier
21. Randy Brodehl
22. Steve Lavin
23. Scott Reichner
24. Mark Blasdel
25. Pat Ingraham
26. Daniel Salomon
27. Christy Clark (Montana)
28. Steve Fitzpatrick
29. Jesse O'Hara
30. Brian Hoven
31. Rob Cook
32. Roy Hollandsworth
33. Ryan Osmundson
34. Kris Hansen
35. Wendy Warburton
36. Austin Knudsen
37. Lee Randall
38. Duane Ankney
39. Jonathan McNiven
40. Tom Berry
41. Douglas Kary
42. Carl Glimm
43. Greg Hertz
44. Nicholas Schwaderer
45. David Halvorson
46. Alan Doane
47. Clayton Fiscus
48. Daniel Zolnikov
49. Dennis Lenz
50. Dave Hagstrom
51. Don Jones (Former Montana state representative)
52. Sarah Laszloffy
53. Alan Redfield
54. Wylie Galt
55. Nancy Ballance
56. Roger Hagan
57. Mike Lang (Montana)
58. Kerry White (Montana)
59. Ray Shaw
60. Kirk Wagoner
61. Bill Harris (Montana)

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates did not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Bridget Smith
2. Amanda Curtis
3. Robert Mehlhoff
4. Bill McChesney
5. Carolyn Pease-Lopez
6. Clarena Brockie

Republican

1. David Halvorson
2. Clayton Fiscus
3. Don Jones (Former Montana state representative)
4. Alan Redfield
5. Ted Washburn
6. Lee Randall
7. Roy Hollandsworth
8. Rob Cook
9. Austin Knudsen
10. Gerald Bennett
11. Kelly Flynn
12. Gordon Vance
13. Mike Cuffe
14. Ryan Osmundson
15. Bill Harris (Montana)

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who ran in 2012:

1. Gary Marbut
2. Jessie Nichols
3. Tim Martin
4. Scott Vandevender
5. Stephen Rodriguez
6. Andy Elwell
7. Toby Martin
8. Phillip O. Grassley
9. Jim Gingery
10. Donald J. Lepinsky
11. Karen Fisher (Montana)
12. Kim Miller (Montana)

National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbents defeated in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	36	59	3	1	41	56	1	1