1960 United States Senate election in Montana
← 1954 November 8, 1960 1966 →
 
Nominee Lee Metcalf Orvin B. Fjare
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 140,331 136,281
Percentage 50.73% 49.27%
County results
Metcalf:      50–60%      60–70%
Fjare:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

James E. Murray
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Lee Metcalf
Democratic

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The 1960 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, and 1954, declined to seek re-election, creating an open seat. United States Congressman Lee Metcalf won out in a crowded Democratic primary and faced off against former United States Congressman Orvin B. Fjare, who won in a similarly-crowded Republican primary. Following a close general election, Metcalf narrowly defeated Fjare to win his first term in the Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lee Metcalf 45,339 35.16%
Democratic John W. Bonner 33,246 25.78%
Democratic LeRoy H. Anderson 26,152 20.28%
Democratic John W. Mahan 24,208 18.77%
Total votes 75,798 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Orvin B. Fjare 25,899 38.71%
Republican Sumner Gerard 17,932 26.80%
Republican Wayne Montgomery 13,527 20.22%
Republican James H. Morrow 5,261 7.86%
Republican Fred J. Martin 2,804 4.19%
Republican L. A. Wilson 1,482 2.22%
Total votes 66,905 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1960[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lee Metcalf 140,331 50.73% +0.35%
Republican Orvin B. Fjare 136,281 49.27% -0.35%
Majority 4,050 1.46% +0.70%
Turnout 276,612
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 7, 1960". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1960" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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