2008 United States Senate election in Montana
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The 2008 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Max Baucus won re-election to a sixth term. As of 2024, this is the last time the Democrats won the Class 2 Senate seat from Montana and the last time a Democrat carried every county in the state.
Background
Montana generally gives its presidential electors to Republican candidates, but historically has elected several prominent Democrats to the United States Senate, including Thomas Walsh, Burton K. Wheeler, Mike Mansfield, and Lee Metcalf. Between 1913 and 2015, only two Republicans served as U.S. Senator from Montana, Zales Ecton and Conrad Burns. In 2004, the state elected Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, reversing a 16-year trend of electing Republicans to the Governorship. In the 2006 elections, the Republican Party took over the state House of Representatives in Montana, the only pick-up of a state legislature for the Republicans.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Max Baucus, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Max Baucus (incumbent) | 165,050 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 165,050 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Kirk Bushman, businessman
- Bob Kelleher, attorney and perennial candidate
- Michael Lange, State Representative
- Patty Lovaas, accountant
- Anton Pearson, rancher
- Garnett Shay, engineer
Campaign
All Republican candidates trailed Baucus badly in polls. Garnett Shay had legal problems, preventing him from running an effective campaign.[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bob Kelleher | 26,936 | 36.32% | |
| Republican | Michael Lange | 17,044 | 22.98% | |
| Republican | Kirk Bushman | 15,507 | 20.91% | |
| Republican | Patty Lovaas | 7,632 | 10.29% | |
| Republican | Anton Pearson | 4,257 | 5.74% | |
| Republican | Garnett Shay | 2,788 | 3.76% | |
| Total votes | 74,164 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Max Baucus (D), incumbent five-term U.S. Senator.
- Bob Kelleher (R)
Campaign
Senator Baucus defeated Kelleher as a Democratic incumbent running in a year that was very successful for his party in general. The Montana Senate race was somewhat unusual, in that it was perhaps the only race that year in which the Republican candidate was more liberal than the Democratic one. Kelleher, a perennial candidate and eccentric figure in Montana politics, took many positions that were highly unorthodox by GOP standards, such as favoring more liberal drug control policies, supporting universal healthcare and affirmative action, and favoring fair trade restrictions. He was, at the time, an 85-year-old attorney and perennial candidate who has run for office on several different party tickets. Kelleher was pro-life, advocated a Parliamentary system of government for the United States, and supported nationalization of the American oil and gas industry and a single-payer health care system.[4] He received no support from the Montana Republican Party.[5]
Polling
| Poll Source | Dates administered | Max Baucus (D) |
Bob Kelleher (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | September 7, 2008 | 64% | 31% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 2, 2008 | 71% | 26% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Max Baucus (incumbent) | 348,289 | 72.92% | +10.18% | |
| Republican | Bob Kelleher | 129,369 | 27.08% | −4.65% | |
| Majority | 218,920 | 45.84% | +14.84% | ||
| Turnout | 477,658 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/records_show_baucus_challenger_has_outstanding_warrant_in_indiana/2848/
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/05/news/local/news03.txt
- ^ Johnson, Chuck. "Frequent candidate Kelleher dies at 88".
- ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm
External links
- 2008 Election Information from the Montana Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Montana at Project Vote Smart
- Montana, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
- Montana U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- Montana U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Kelleher (R) vs Baucus (D-i) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2008 full National coverage from The Missoulian
- Official campaign websites (Archived)