1978 United States Senate election in Montana
November 7, 1978
 
Nominee Max Baucus Larry R. Williams
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 160,353 127,589
Percentage 55.69% 44.31%
County results
Baucus:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Williams:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Paul G. Hatfield
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Max Baucus
Democratic

The 1978 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 7, 1978. Following the death of United States Senator Lee Metcalf on January 12, 1978, Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul G. Hatfield was appointed to serve for the remainder of Metcalf's term. Hatfield opted to run for a full term, but was overwhelmingly defeated in the Democratic primary by U.S. Representative Max Baucus of the 1st congressional district. Baucus advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by the Republican nominee, author Larry R. Williams. Baucus ended up defeating Williams by a solid margin to win his first term in the Senate, and, following Hatfield's resignation on December 12, 1978, he began serving his first term in the Senate.

Despite the death of Metcalf, this was not a special election, as one for the year 1978 was already planned as a normal Senate election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Max Baucus 87,085 65.25%
Democratic Paul G. Hatfield (incumbent) 25,789 19.32%
Democratic John Driscoll 18,184 13.62%
Democratic Steve Shugrue 2,404 1.80%
Total votes 133,462 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry R. Williams 35,479 61.66%
Republican Bill Osborne 16,436 28.57%
Republican Clancy Rich 5,622 9.77%
Total votes 57,537 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1978[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Max Baucus 160,353 55.69% +3.74%
Republican Larry R. Williams 127,589 44.31% -3.74%
Majority 32,764 11.38% +7.48%
Turnout 287,942
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 6, 1978". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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