2024 Montana Senate election explained

The 2024 Montana Senate election was held on November 5, 2024, alongside the 2024 United States elections.^[1]

This was the first election under new legislative lines adopted by an independent, bipartisan commission in 2023.^[2]

Although Republicans maintained their majority, Democrats won new seats and ended Republicans veto-proof supermajority.

Retirements

Fifteen incumbents did not seek re-election.

Democrats

1. District 16: Mike Fox retired to run for State House.
2. District 25: Jen Gross was term-limited.
3. District 37: Ryan Lynch retired.
4. District 38: Edith McClafferty was term-limited.
5. District 46: Shannon O'Brien retired to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Republicans

1. District 3: Keith Regier was term-limited.
2. District 7: Greg Hinkle retired.
3. District 10: Steve Fitzpatrick was term-limited (run for State House).
4. District 17: Mike Lang was term-limited.
5. District 18: Steve Hinebauch was term-limited.
6. District 21: Jason Small was term-limited.
7. District 28: Brad Molnar retired to run for Public Service Commission.
8. District 35: Walt Sales retired.
9. District 36: Jeffrey Welborn was term-limited (ran for Public Service Commission).
10. District 47: Daniel Salomon was term-limited.

Incumbents defeated

In primary election

One incumbent senator, a Republican, was defeated in the June 4 primary election.^[3]

Republicans

1. District 26: Chris Friedel lost renomination to Vince Ricci.

Results summary

Summary of the November 5, 2024 Montana Senate election results

Party		Votes		Seats
			%		+/−	%
	Republican	184,066	64.24	32	-2	62.00
	Democratic	97,474	34.02	18	+2	38.00
	Libertarian	3,722	1.30	0	0	0.00
	Write-in	1,261	0.44	0	0	0.00
Total		612,309	100.00	50	±0	100.00
Registered voters		802,206	100.00
Turnout		612,309	76.33
Source: Montana Elections Results, Montana Secretary of State

Close races

Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:

District 13, 3.33%

District 32, 4.6%

Summary of results by State Senate district

State Senate district	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Party
Montana 2	Carl Glimm		Rep	Dave Fern		Dem
Montana 3	Keith Regier		Rep	Carl Glimm		Rep
Montana 5	Mark Noland		Rep	Matt Reiger		Rep
Montana 7	Greg Hinkle		Rep	Greg Hertz		Rep
Montana 13	Jeremy Trebas		Rep	Josh Kassmier		Rep
Montana 15	Dan Bartel		Rep	Gregg Hunter		Rep
Montana 16	Mike Fox		Dem	Jonathan Windy Boy		Dem
Montana 17	Mike Lang		Rep	Bob Phalen		Rep
Montana 20	Barry Usher		Rep	Sue Vinton		Rep
Montana 21	Jason Small		Rep	Gayle George Lammers		Rep
Montana 24	Kathy Kelker		Rep	Mike Yakawich		Rep
Montana 26	Chris Friedel		Dem	Tom McGillvray		Rep
Montana 27	Cary Smith		Rep	Vince Ricci		Rep
Montana 30	John Esp		Rep	Cora Neumann		Dem
Montana 33	Christopher Pope		Dem	Christopher Pope		Dem
Montana 35	Walt Sales		Rep	Tony Tezak		Rep
Montana 36	Jeffrey Welborn		Rep	Darlean Newman		Rep
Montana 37	Ryan Lynch		Dem	Derek J. Harvey		Dem
Montana 38	Edith McClafferty		Dem	Becky Beard		Rep
Montana 39	Terry Vermeire		Rep	E. Wylie Galt		Rep
Montana 40	Terry Gauthier		Rep	Laura Smith		Dem
Montana 44	Fred Thomas		Rep	Theresa Manzelaa		Rep
Montana 45	Dick Barrett		Dem	Denley Loge		Rep
Montana 46	Sue Malek		Dem	Jacinda Morigeau		Dem
Montana 47	Dan Salomon		Rep	Ellie Hill Boldman		Dem

Detailed results

^{[5] [6]}

District 2

Incumbent Republican Carl Glimm had represented the 2nd district since 2021. Due to redistricting, Glimm decided to run in the 3rd district.

District 3

Incumbent Republican Keith Regier had represented the 3rd district since 2017. Regier was term-limited and could not seek re-election.

District 5

Incumbent Republican Mark Noland had represented the 6th district since 2023.

District 7

Incumbent Republican Greg Hinkle had represented the 7th district since 2024. He is now retiring.

District 13

The Secretary of State does not specify who received the other 2% of the vote or how many votes for candidates other than Kassmier there were.

District 30

Incumbent Republican John Esp had represented the 30th district since 2019.

District 47

See also

• List of Montana state legislatures

Notes and References

1. Web site: Montana State Senate elections, 2024. May 23, 2024. Ballotpedia. en.
2. Web site: Arren Kimbel-Sannit. 13 February 2023. Explaining the why and the where of Montana’s new legislative districts. Montana Free Press.
3. News: Ambarian. Jonathon. Legislative shake-up as incumbents lose primaries following Montana redistricting. June 6, 2024. KTVH-DT. June 10, 2024.
4. Web site: 24 MT Forecast . 2024-07-11 . projects.cnalysis.com.
5. Web site: 20 February 2024 . 2024 Candidate Filing List: Legislative . March 27, 2024 . Christi Jacobsen, Montana Secretary of State.
6. Web site: Montana Secretary of State . 2024-11-13 . electionresults.mt.gov.