Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Scott Sales
Scott Sales (Republican Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 35. He assumed office on January 7, 2013. He left office on January 4, 2021.
Sales (Republican Party) ran for election to the Montana House of Representatives to represent District 68. He lost in the Republican primary on June 4, 2024.
Sales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Sales served as the state Senate president in 2017. He is believed to be the second person in state history to have served as both state House speaker and state Senate president.[1]
Biography
Scott Sales was born in Douglas, Wyoming. He earned a bachelor's degree from Boise State University in 1982. His career experience includes working in sales.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Montana House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 68
Incumbent Caleb Hinkle defeated Alexander Colafrancesco in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 68 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Caleb Hinkle (R) | 74.1 | 4,283 |
| Alexander Colafrancesco (D) | 25.9 | 1,500 | ||
| Total votes: 5,783 | |||
 = 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 House of Representatives District 68
Alexander Colafrancesco advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 68 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Alexander Colafrancesco | 100.0 | 506 | |
| Total votes: 506 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives District 68
Incumbent Caleb Hinkle defeated incumbent Jennifer Carlson and Scott Sales in the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 68 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Caleb Hinkle | 49.2 | 1,001 |
 | Jennifer Carlson | 34.4 | 699 | |
 | Scott Sales | 16.4 | 333 | |
| Total votes: 2,033 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Sales in this election.
2020
State executive election
See also: Montana Secretary of State election, 2020
Montana Secretary of State election, 2020 (June 2 Republican primary)
Montana Secretary of State election, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for Montana Secretary of State
Christi Jacobsen defeated Bryce Bennett in the general election for Montana Secretary of State on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Christi Jacobsen (R) | 59.6 | 352,939 |
 | Bryce Bennett (D) | 40.4 | 239,617 | |
| Total votes: 592,556 | |||
| = 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 Secretary of State
Bryce Bennett advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana Secretary of State on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bryce Bennett | 100.0 | 130,181 |
| Total votes: 130,181 | |||
| = 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 Secretary of State
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Montana Secretary of State on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Christi Jacobsen | 29.4 | 57,941 |
| Scott Sales | 25.3 | 49,759 | |
 | Brad Johnson | 23.1 | 45,526 | |
 | Forrest Mandeville | 10.3 | 20,318 | |
 | Bowen Greenwood | 7.1 | 14,080 | |
| Kurt Johnson | 4.7 | 9,316 | ||
| Total votes: 196,940 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
State legislative election
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2020
Scott Sales was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
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 Scott Sales ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 35 general election.[3][4]
| Montana State Senate, District 35 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Scott Sales Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||
Mary Meyer ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 35 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| Montana State Senate, District 35 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Mary Meyer (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Scott Sales ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 35 Republican primary.[7][8]
| Montana State Senate, District 35 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Scott Sales Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2012
Sales won election in the 2012 election for Montana State Senate, District 34. Sales defeated Debra Brown and Kurt Bushnell in the June 5 primary election and defeated Michael B. Comstock (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Sales |
64.3% | 7,994 | |
| Democratic | Michael Comstock | 35.7% | 4,444 | |
| Total Votes | 12,438 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Scott Sales |
62.4% | 2,379 |
| Kurt Bushnell | 27.6% | 1,053 |
| Debra Brown | 9.9% | 378 |
| Total Votes | 3,810 | |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Scott Sales won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 68, receiving 2,644 votes.
Sales raised $11,690 for his campaign.[11]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 68 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Scott Sales (R)
|
2,644 | |||
| Robert Brastrup (D) | 1,666 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Scott Sales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sales' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
- Property Taxes - My opponents did nothing meaningful to provide property tax relief in the 2023 legislature. If elected I will work to return the Homestead Exemption and the 6 year reappraisal cycle.
- Secure Borders - We are witnessing and invasion of illegal aliens that are adding to our housing, healthcare, education and crime problems. If elected I will bring legislation that will authorize the Governor to return the illegals to the border, similar to Texas law.
- Free speech - A free exchange of ideas should not be subject to a body of politically correct thought. I'm opposed to DEI and ESG and believe in merit based outcomes.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Scott Sales did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Sales was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sales served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Highways and Transportation |
| • Judiciary, Chair |
| • Local Government |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sales served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation |
| • Judiciary, Vice Chair |
| • Rules |
| • State Administration |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sales served on the following committees:[12]
| Montana committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Fish, Wildlife, and Parks |
| • Rules |
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.
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]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
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]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sales and his wife, Sandra, have three children.[15]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "Bozeman’s Scott Sales wins Montana Senate presidency," November 14, 2016
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 30, 2024
- ↑ 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, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Sales, Scott," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "House Committees, 2009," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Scott Sales' Biography," accessed March 8, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana State Senate District 35 2013-2021 |
Succeeded by Walt Sales (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 68 2003-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
