1968 Montana gubernatorial election
November 5, 1968
Turnout86.40%Increase0.60[1]
 
Nominee Forrest H. Anderson Tim Babcock
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 150,481 116,432
Percentage 54.11% 41.87%
County results
Anderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Babcock:      40-50%      50-60%
Governor before election

Tim Babcock
Republican

 Elected Governor

Forrest H. Anderson
Democratic

The 1968 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Governor of Montana Tim Babcock, who became Governor upon the death of previous Governor Donald Grant Nutter and was elected in 1964, ran for re-election. He faced serious competition in the Republican primary from his Lieutenant Governor, but managed to comfortably win renomination. Advancing to the general election, Babcock faced Forrest H. Anderson, the Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee, and independent candidate Wayne Montgomery of the New Reform Party. Ultimately, Anderson managed to defeat Babcock by a solid margin, winning his first and only term as governor. As of 2023, this is the last time an incumbent Governor of Montana lost re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Forrest H. Anderson 39,057 38.36
Democratic Eugene H. Mahoney 35,562 34.93
Democratic LeRoy H. Anderson 16,476 16.18
Democratic Willard E. Fraser 8,525 8.37
Democratic Hanford K. Gallup 1,149 1.13
Democratic Merrill K. Riddick 1,052 1.03
Total votes 101,821 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Babcock (incumbent) 50,369 55.10
Republican Ted James 36,664 40.11
Republican Warren A. McMillan 2,994 3.28
Republican J. Wellington Fauver 1,392 1.52
Total votes 91,419 100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1968[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Forrest H. Anderson 150,481 54.11% +5.40%
Republican Tim Babcock (incumbent) 116,432 41.87% -9.43%
New Reform Party Wayne Montgomery 11,199 4.03%
Majority 34,049 12.24% +9.66%
Turnout 278,112
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 4, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Official Montana General Election Results, November 5, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
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