1976 United States Senate election in Montana
← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →
 
Nominee John Melcher Stanley Burger
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 206,232 115,213
Percentage 64.16% 35.84%
County results
Melcher:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Burger:      50-60%
U.S. senator before election

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Melcher
Democratic

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The 1976 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1976. Rather than seek a fifth term, incumbent United States Senator Mike Mansfield, a Democrat, opted to retire, creating an open seat. United States Congressman John Melcher, who had represented Montana's 2nd congressional district from 1969 to 1977, won the Democratic nomination and defeated Stanley C. Burger, the Republican nominee, by a wide margin in the general election. This was the first open seat election in Montana since 1960 and the first open seat election in Montana for the Class 1 Senate seat since 1922.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Melcher 89,413 88.52
Democratic Ray E. Gulick 11,593 11.48
Total votes 101,006 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanley C. Burger 32,313 40.41
Republican Dave Drum 27,257 34.09
Republican Jack Tierney 15,129 18.92
Republican Larry L. Gilbert 5,258 6.58
Total votes 79,957 100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1976[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Melcher 206,232 64.16% +3.62%
Republican Stanley C. Burger 115,213 35.84% -3.62%
Majority 91,019 28.32% +7.24%
Turnout 321,445
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ 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 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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