Election Name: | 1960 United States Senate election in Montana |
Country: | Montana |
Flag Year: | 1905 |
Type: | presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1954 United States Senate election in Montana |
Previous Year: | 1954 |
Next Election: | 1966 United States Senate election in Montana |
Next Year: | 1966 |
Election Date: | November 8, 1960 |
Image1: | File:Lee Metcalf.jpg |
Nominee1: | Lee Metcalf |
Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 140,331 |
Percentage1: | 50.73% |
Nominee2: | Orvin B. Fjare |
Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 136,281 |
Percentage2: | 49.27% |
Map Size: | 300px |
U.S. Senator | |
Before Election: | James E. Murray |
Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
After Election: | Lee Metcalf |
After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
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.