1976 Montana gubernatorial election
← 1972 November 2, 1976 1980 →
Turnout74.60%Decrease10.00[1]
 
Nominee Thomas Lee Judge Bob Woodahl
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Ted Schwinden Antoinette Fraser Rosell
Popular vote 195,420 115,848
Percentage 61.7% 36.6%
County results; blue counties were won by Schwinden, red by Woodahl, and green by Mahoney.
Governor before election

Thomas Lee Judge
Democratic

Elected Governor

Thomas Lee Judge
Democratic

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The 1976 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Governor of Montana Thomas Lee Judge, who was first elected in 1972, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary unopposed, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Bob Woodahl, the Attorney General of Montana and the Republican nominee. Ultimately, Judge defeated Woodahl by a landslide to win his second and final term as governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge (incumbent) 79,596 100.00
Total votes 79,596 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Woodahl 47,629 56.67
Republican Jack McDonald 36,420 43.33
Total votes 84,049 100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1976[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Thomas Lee Judge (incumbent) 195,420 61.70% +7.58%
Republican Bob Woodahl 115,848 36.58% -9.30%
Independent Charlie Mahoney 5,452 1.72%
Majority 79,572 25.12% +16.88%
Turnout 316,720
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 1, 1976". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Report of the Official Canvass of the Votes Cast at the General Election Held in the State of Montana, November 2, 1976". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
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