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Mark Blasdel
Mark Blasdel (Republican Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. He assumed office in 2015. He left office on January 2, 2023.
Blasdel (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 4. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Blasdel has served as president pro tempore.
Blasdel served in the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 10 from 2007 to 2015. He served as Speaker in the 2013-2014 session.
Biography
Blasdel's professional experience includes working as a co-owner of Vista Restaurant and Bar.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Blasdel was assigned to the following committees:
- Fish and Game Committee
- Senate Local Government Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Taxation Committee
2019-2020
Blasdel was assigned to the following committees:
- Education and Cultural Resources Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Taxation Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education and Cultural Resources, Vice chair |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Blasdel served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education and Cultural Resources, Vice Chair |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Finance and Claims |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation |
| • General Government |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Blasdel served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Blasdel served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Taxation, Chair |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Blasdel served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education, Vice Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation |
Campaign themes
2014
Blasdel's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
| “ | Growing up on the family farm in Lower Valley and being raised in the family business, I have learned firsthand the value of a dollar and how to work to earn it. I will continue to believe that the taxpayers come first and that we must protect the Constitutional Rights, Freedoms and Liberties of each individual. My focus will continue to be on creating a business climate that is steady and consistent. One where entrepreneurs can make good business decisions that will help not only their businesses grow, but also allow their employees to prosper along with them each and every day.
Last session, the Montana State House passed over $250 million dollars in tax cuts to the Senate only to have most of them either vetoed by the Governor or stalled in the Senate. We can make these cuts happen. That’s why I want to serve you in the Senate. As your State Senator, I will base my decisions on these principles: 1. Is this legislation constitutional? |
” |
Corporate taxes
In August 2012, Blasdel wrote an opinion piece for the Montana Business Leadership Council opposing increasing taxes on the oil and gas industry, saying that it already paid a higher tax rate than other industries.[4]
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
2022
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2022
Mark Blasdel was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2018
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Montana State Senate District 4
Incumbent Mark Blasdel defeated Diane Taylor-Mahnke in the general election for Montana State Senate District 4 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Blasdel (R) | 64.5 | 5,626 |
| Diane Taylor-Mahnke (D) | 35.5 | 3,097 | ||
| Total votes: 8,723 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 4
Diane Taylor-Mahnke advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 4 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Diane Taylor-Mahnke | 100.0 | 1,237 | |
| Total votes: 1,237 | |||
| = 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 4
Incumbent Mark Blasdel advanced from the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 4 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Blasdel | 100.0 | 2,804 |
| Total votes: 2,804 | |||
| = 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. Elizabeth Cummings was unopposed in the Democratic primary, but withdrew afterwards; she was replaced by Diane Taylor.[5] Mark Blasdel defeated Tammi Fisher in the Republican primary. Blasdel defeated Taylor in the general election. Incumbent Jon Sonju (R) did not seek re-election.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Mark Blasdel |
68.3% | 3,960 | |
| Democratic | Diane Taylor | 31.7% | 1,836 | |
| Total Votes | 5,796 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark Blasdel |
66.7% | 1,751 |
| Tammy Fisher | 33.3% | 875 |
| Total Votes | 2,626 | |
2012
Blasdel won re-election in the 2012 election for Montana House of Representatives, District 10. Blasdel ran unopposed in the June 5 primary election and defeated Alexander William Schaeffer (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mark Blasdel Incumbent |
74.8% | 4,602 | |
| Democratic | Alexander Schaeffer | 25.2% | 1,550 | |
| Total Votes | 6,152 | |||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Blasdel won election to the Montana House of Representatives. He did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. Carla Augustad ran for the seat on the Democratic ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[10][11]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 10 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mark Blasdel (R)
|
3,536 | |||
| Carla Augustad (D) | 916 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mark Blasdel won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 10, receiving 4,412 votes.
Blasdel raised $5,099 for his campaign.[12]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mark Blasdel (R)
|
4,412 | |||
| Carla Augustad (D) | 1,632 | |||
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.
2022
In 2022, the Montana State Legislature was not in session.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 29.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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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. |
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana State Senate
- Montana Senate Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Mark Blasdel's Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Blasdel for Senate District 4, homepage, accessed May 13, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Montana Business Leadership Council, "Opinion: Differences in presidential candidate tax policies affect MT," accessed October 12, 2012
- ↑ The Daily Inter Lake, "Democrats switch Senate candidates," July 5, 2014
- ↑ 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, "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, "Blasdel, Mark," 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
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana State Senate District 4 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by John Fuller (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 10 2007-2015 |
Succeeded by - |
