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Montana State Senate District 12

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Montana State Senate District 12
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 2, 2023

Montana State Senate District 12 is represented by Wendy McKamey (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Montana state senators represented an average of 21,708 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 19,888 residents.

About the office

Members of the Montana State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits.[1] Senators may serve no more than two consecutive terms. Twenty-five of the fifty state senate seats are up for election each even-numbered year. Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.[2][3]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

According to Part V, Section 4, of the Montana Constitution, in order to be eligible to serve in the Montana State Senate, [4] "A candidate for the legislature shall be a resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election. For six months next preceding the general election, he shall be a resident of the county if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county."

According to the Montana Secretary of State, candidates must be U.S. citizens.[5]

Candidates must be registered voters in the state.[6][7]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[8]
SalaryPer diem
$104.86/legislative day$171/day

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Montana legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Montana Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Montana senators cannot serve more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years in any 16-year period.[9]

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.[1]


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Montana State Legislature, the board of county commissioners of the county that comprises the legislative district of the vacant seat must select a replacement. The secretary of state must notify the board of county commissioners and the state party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after being informed of the vacancy. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the secretary of state to provide a list of candidates to the board of county commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the legislature is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list.[10] Any person selected to fill a House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.[11]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Montana Const. Art. 5, Sec 7 and Montana Code Ann. §5-2-402


District map

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Montana

Montana uses a non-politician commission for congressional and state legislative redistricting. This commission comprises five members. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature select one member a piece. These four members then select a fifth to serve as the commission's chair. If the first four commissioners are unable to agree on an appointment, the Montana Supreme Court may select the fifth member.[12]

The Montana Constitution requires that no commissioner be a public official. State statutes require that two of the first four commissioners "must be selected from certain counties (roughly, in the Montana Rockies to the west) and two must be selected from the rest of the state (to the east)."[12]

The state's Districting and Apportionment Commission must complete congressional redistricting within 90 days of receiving federal census data. It must prepare a legislative redistricting plan "by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature's recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature's recommendations, it is not required to do so."[13]

The state constitution requires that districts be both contiguous and compact.[12]

The ... commission has stated that it may gauge compactness by looking to a district's general appearance, and the degree to which it fosters "functional compactness" through "travel and transportation, communication, and geography." The commission has similarly determined that it will, in drawing legislative districts, consider the boundary lines of political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, school districts, Indian reservations, neighborhood commissions, and others); follow geographic boundaries; and consider keeping intact communities of interest (based on "Indian reservations, urban[, suburban, or rural] interests, . . . neighborhoods, trade areas, geographic location, communication and transportation networks, media markets, social, cultural and economic interests, or occupations and lifestyles").[14]
—All About Redistricting

2020-2024

See also: Redistricting in Montana after the 2020 census

Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries after the 2020 census on February 22, 2023, when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission (MDAC) submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve the final plan on February 11, 2023. The two Democratic-appointed commissioners and the commission's chairperson—that the state supreme court appointed—voted to approve the plan. The two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it. These districts took effect for the 2024 elections.

The MDAC voted 3-2 to submit its final legislative district boundary proposal to the legislature on December 21, 2022. The commission's nonpartisan chairperson, Maylinn Smith, and two Democratic-appointed commissioners voted to approve the map, and the two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it.[15] The legislature provided recommendations on the plan via a joint House-Senate resolution on February 2, 2023. The MDAC incorporated some, but not all, of the legislature's proposed amendments into the final plan.

Montana was the last state to enact legislative redistricting plans after the 2020 census. The state constitution requires that the redistricting commission submit legislative maps to the legislature so they can provide non-binding recommendations before they are enacted. Montana's legislature only meets in odd-numbered years and adjourned in April 2021, before U.S. Census data was delivered to the states on August 12, 2021.[16]

Shaylee Ragar of Montana Public Radio wrote that "According to data compiled by Democrats on the commission, the map could give Republicans a 20-seat advantage in the House and an 8-seat advantage in the Senate. It projects Democrats picking up a few seats currently held by Republicans."[17] Arren Kimbel-Sannit wrote in the Montana Free Press that, "In sum, the new maps could cost Republicans several seats while still leaving them a sizable majority that at least suggests the GOP’s dominance in recent elections."[18]

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for Montana’s 2024 state legislative elections.

Montana State Senate District 12
until January 5, 2025

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Montana State Senate District 12
starting January 6, 2025

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2022

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 12

Wendy McKamey defeated Jacob Bachmeier in the general election for Montana State Senate District 12 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Wendy McKamey
Wendy McKamey (R)
 
56.0
 
3,358
Image of Jacob Bachmeier
Jacob Bachmeier (D) Candidate Connection
 
44.0
 
2,641

Total votes: 5,999
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 12

Jacob Bachmeier advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 12 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jacob Bachmeier
Jacob Bachmeier Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,175

Total votes: 1,175
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 12

Wendy McKamey defeated Desma Meissner in the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 12 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Wendy McKamey
Wendy McKamey
 
65.0
 
1,463
Desma Meissner
 
35.0
 
787

Total votes: 2,250
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Montana State Senate District 12

Incumbent Carlie Boland defeated Steven Galloway in the general election for Montana State Senate District 12 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Carlie Boland
Carlie Boland (D)
 
51.5
 
3,680
Image of Steven Galloway
Steven Galloway (R) Candidate Connection
 
48.5
 
3,472

Total votes: 7,152
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 12

Incumbent Carlie Boland advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 12 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Carlie Boland
Carlie Boland
 
100.0
 
2,322

Total votes: 2,322
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 12

Steven Galloway advanced from the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 12 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Steven Galloway
Steven Galloway Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,372

Total votes: 1,372
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Montana State Senate 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 major party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Mary Sheehy Moe was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Sheridan Buck was unopposed in the Republican primary. Moe defeated Buck in the general election. Incumbent Mitch Tropila (D), who was term-limited, ran for Montana House District 26.[19][20]

Montana State Senate, District 12 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMary Sheehy Moe Incumbent 53.7% 3,010
     Republican Sheridan Buck 46.3% 2,596
Total Votes 5,606

2010

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 15, 2010. Incumbent Mitch Tropila (D) was unopposed in the general election and the Democratic primary.[21][22][23]

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2022, candidates for Montana State Senate District 12 raised a total of $143,542. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $13,049 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Montana State Senate District 12
Year Amount Candidates Average
2022 $63,830 3 $21,277
2018 $18,574 2 $9,287
2014 $31,911 2 $15,956
2010 $4,569 1 $4,569
2006 $23,633 2 $11,817
2002 $1,025 1 $1,025
Total $143,542 11 $13,049


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 termlimits.org, "State Legislative Term Limits," accessed February 4, 2021 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "limits" defined multiple times with different content
  2. Confirmed via email with the Montana State Legislature on 8/6/2011
  3. Montana Constitution, "Article V, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
  4. Constitution of the State of Montana, "Article 5, Section 4," accessed May 22, 2025
  5. Montana Secretary of State, "2024 Offices, Qualifications, and Fees," accessed May 27, 2025
  6. "Montana Secretary of State, "Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy," accessed May 29, 2025
  7. "Montana Secretary of State, "Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy," accessed May 29, 2025
  8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  9. Montana State Constitution, "Article 4, Section 8," accessed February 9, 2021
  10. Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-402 (3) (a)-(c))
  11. Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-405 (1)-(2))
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 All About Redistricting, "Montana," accessed April 29, 2015
  13. Montana State Legislature, "Districting and Apportionment Commission," accessed October 6, 2021
  14. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  15. Daily Montanan, "Redistricting Commission votes to send map to the legislature for recommendations," December 21, 2022
  16. Montana State Legislature, "Constitution of Montana -- Article V -- THE LEGISLATURE," accessed June 2, 2022
  17. Montana Public Radio, "Redistricting commission adopts final legislative maps," February 13, 2023
  18. Montana Free Press, "Explaining the why and the where of Montana’s new legislative districts," February 13, 2023
  19. Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
  20. Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
  21. Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Elections Candidate Information," accessed October 23, 2013
  22. Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
  23. Montana Secretary of State, "2010 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014


Current members of the Montana State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Matt Regier
Majority Leader:Tom McGillvray
Senators
District 1
District 2
Dave Fern (D)
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
John Esp (R)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (18)