2020 Montana elections

A general election in the state of Montana was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, with the primary elections being held on June 2, 2020. Voters will elect one member to United States House of Representatives and all five state constitutional offices, among other elected offices.

2020 Montana Statewide Executive Offices elections

November 3, 2020
All 6 Statewide Executive Offices
Party Republican Democratic Last election 4 2 Seats won 6 0 Seat change 2 2

Governor

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton was elected in 2016 with 55.5% of the vote.[1] Stapleton has announced he would not seek re-election, instead running for the open U.S. House seat in Montana.[2]

Declared

• Bowen Greenwood, clerk for the Montana State Supreme Court[3]
• Christi Jacobsen, chief of staff to Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton[4]
• Brad Johnson, Montana Public Service Commissioner and former Montana Secretary of State (2005–2009)[5]
• Kurt Johnson[5]
• Forrest Mandeville, state representative[6]
• Scott Sales, president of the Montana State Senate[7]

Declined

• Corey Stapleton, incumbent Montana Secretary of State[2]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Christi Jacobsen	57,749	29%
	Republican	Scott Sales	49,596	25%
	Republican	Brad Johnson	45,388	23%
	Republican	Forrest Mandeville	20,258	10%
	Republican	Bowen Greenwood	14,036	7%
	Republican	Kurt Johnson	9,321	5%
Total votes			196,348	100%

Declared

• Bryce Bennett, state senator[8]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bryce Bennett	130,109	100%
Total votes			130,109	100%

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Christi Jacobsen (R)	Bryce Bennett (D)	Undecided
Bryce Bennett	Released August 20–26, 2020	–[lower-alpha 1]	± 4.4%	39%	36%	22%

Results

Montana Secretary of State election, 2020[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Christi Jacobsen	352,939	59.56%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Bryce Bennett	239,617	40.44%
Total votes			592,556	100.00%

Attorney General

Incumbent Republican Montana Attorney General Tim Fox was re-elected in 2016 with 67.7% of the vote.[1] Fox is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. Fox decided to run for the Governor of Montana election.[10]

Nominee

• Austin Knudsen, Roosevelt County Attorney, and former speaker of the Montana House of Representatives[11]

Eliminated in primary

• Jon Bennion, chief deputy Attorney General[12]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Austin Knudsen	116,113	60%
	Republican	Jon Bennion	78,161	40%
Total votes			194,274	100.0

Nominee

• Raph Graybill, chief legal counsel to Governor Steve Bullock[12]

Eliminated in primary

• Kimberly Dudik, state representative[13]

Withdrawn

• Jim Cossitt, bankruptcy attorney[14][15]

Declined

• John Morrison, former Montana State Auditor[16]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Raph Graybill	79,772	57%
	Democratic	Kimberly Dudik	59,963	43%
Total votes			139,735	100.0

Disqualified

• Roy Davis[17]

Results

Green primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Roy Davis	748	100.0%
Total votes			748	100.0%

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	Austin Knudsen (R)	Raph Graybill (D)	Other	Undecided
Change Research	October 29 – November 2, 2020	920 (LV)	± 3.5%	50%	44%	5%[lower-alpha 3]	2%
Raph Graybill[upper-alpha 1]	Released September 3, 2020	–[lower-alpha 4]	–	38%	38%	20%	–

Results

Montana Attorney General election, 2020

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Austin Knudsen	348,322	58.51%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Raph Graybill	247,025	41.49%
Total votes			595,347	100.00%

Montana State Senate

Montana State House

Public Service Commission

Three of five seats on the Montana Public Service Commission - Districts 2, 3 and 4 - are up for election on November 3, 2020, with party primaries scheduled for June 2.[18]

State Auditor

Incumbent Republican Montana State Auditor Matt Rosendale was elected in 2016 with 53.8% of the vote.[1] Rosendale announced he would not seek re-election, instead opting to run for the open U.S. House seat in Montana.[19]

Nominee

• Troy Downing, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[20]

Eliminated in primary

• Nelly Nicol, businesswoman[21]
• Scott Tuxbury, insurance underwriting firm owner[22]

Declined

• Matt Rosendale, incumbent Montana State Auditor (running for U.S. House)[19]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Troy Downing	97,053	50%
	Republican	Scott Tuxbury	58,085	30%
	Republican	Nelly Nicol	39,172	20%
Total votes			194,310	100.0

Nominee

• Shane Morigeau, state representative[23]

Eliminated in primary

• Mike Windsor, attorney[22]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shane Morigeau	78,374	61%
	Democratic	Mike Windsor	49,064	39%
Total votes			127,438	100.0

Results

Montana State Auditor election, 2020[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Troy Downing	326,742	55.32%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Shane Morigeau	232,634	39.39%
	Libertarian	Roger Roots	31,267	5.29%
Total votes			590,643	100.00%

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Republican Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen was elected in 2016 with 51.6% of the vote.[1]

Declared

• Elsie Arntzen, incumbent Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction[24]

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Elsie Arntzen (incumbent)	177,595	100%
Total votes			177,595	100%

Declared

• Melissa Romano, fourth grade teacher and nominee for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2016[25]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Melissa Romano	132,351	100%
Total votes			132,351	100%

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	Elsie Arntzen (R)	Melissa Romano (D)	Other / Undecided
Strategies 360/NBCMT	October 15–20, 2020	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	39%	41%	21%[lower-alpha 5]

Results

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2020[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Elsie Arntzen (incumbent)	310,111	52.19%	{{{change}}}
	Democratic	Melissa Romano	259,886	43.74%
	Libertarian	Kevin Leatherbarrow	24,202	4.07%
Total votes			594,199	100.00%

Supreme Court

The terms of Montana Supreme Court justices for Seats 5 and 6 expire at the end of 2020. A nonpartisan primary for the two seats is scheduled for June 2, and the nonpartisan election on November 3.[26]

Ballot measures

• Montana LR-130, Limit Local Government Authority to Regulate Firearms Measure[27]
• Montana C-46, Initiated Amendment Distribution Requirements Measure[28]
• Montana C-47, Initiated Statute and Referendum Distribution Requirements Amendment[29]
• Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment[30]
• Montana I-190, the Montana Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative

Polling

On Initiative 190

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	For Initiative 190	Against Initiative 190	Other	Undecided
Montana State University Billings	October 19–24, 2020	546 (LV)	± 4.2%	54%	38%	–	7%
Montana State University Bozeman	September 14 – October 2, 2020	1,607 (LV)	± 3.9%	49%	39%	2%[lower-alpha 6]	10%

On whether recreational marijuana should be legal

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	Yes	No	Undecided
University of Montana	February 12–22, 2020	498 (LV)	± 4.39%	54%	37%	9%
University of Montana	February 21 – March 1, 2019	293 (RV)	± 5.7%	51%	37%	12%

On Legislative Referendum 130

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[lower-alpha 2]	Margin of error	Yes (for the amendment)	No (against the amendment)	Undecided
Montana State University Billings	October 19–24, 2020	546 (LV)	± 4.2%	52%	36%	12%

Notes

1. Not yet released
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
3. "Don't recall" with 3%; Did not vote with 2%; Would not vote with 0%
4. Not yet released
5. Leatherbarrow (L) with 5%; Undecided with 16%
6. Would not vote with 2%

Partisan clients

1. Poll conducted for Graybill's campaign

References

1. "2016GeneralStatewideCanvass.pdf" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
2. Drake, Phil (June 15, 2019). "Stapleton announces run for U.S. House seat". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
3. Michiels, Holly K. (November 5, 2019). "Greenwood running for secretary of state". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
4. "Montana secretary of state aide files to run for boss's job". Helena Independent Record. October 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
5. Lutey, Tom (March 9, 2020). "Montana's PSC chairman running again for secretary of state". Billings Gazette.
6. "Rep. Forrest Mandeville running for Montana secretary of state". Helena Independent Record. Associated Press. July 31, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
7. Michiels, Holly K. (March 18, 2019). "State Senate president Scott Sales announces bid for secretary of state in 202". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
8. Michels, Holly K. (May 29, 2019). "State Sen. Bryce Bennett running for Montana secretary of state". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
9. "Montana Statewide Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
10. Dennison, Mike (January 24, 2019). "Attorney General Fox launches gubernatorial bid". KRTV. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
11. Drake, Phil (May 20, 2019). "Austin Knudsen enters race for attorney general". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
12. DeMarco, Margaret (May 8, 2019). "Great Falls native kicks off campaign for Montana Attorney General". KRTV Great Falls. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
13. Cates-Carney, Corin (December 17, 2018). "Rep Kimberly Dudik Announces Bid For Attorney General's Office". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
14. "KALISPELL ATTORNEY JOINS ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE". Daily Inter Lake. September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
15. Drake, Phil (October 8, 2019). "Cossitt drops from 2020 attorney general race". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
16. Dennison, Mike (October 23, 2019). "Montana 2020: Former state auditor considers bid for AG or Supreme Court". Missoula News Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
17. Dennison, Mike (August 19, 2020). "Green Party candidates to remain off Montana ballot this November". Missoula Current. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
18. "Montana Public Service Commission election, 2020". Ballotpedia.
19. Pathé, Simone (September 23, 2019). "On heels of Senate loss, Montana's Matt Rosendale running for Congress — again". Roll Call. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
20. Drake, Phil (June 26, 2019). "Downing running for state auditor in 2020". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
21. Drake, Phil (October 3, 2019). "Nicol enters 2020 race for Montana state auditor". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
22. "Here are the local, state and federal candidates on Helena-area ballots". Helena Independent Record. March 9, 2020.
23. Michels, Holly K. (June 30, 2019). "Missoula Democrat Shane Morigeau running for state auditor post". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
24. "State superintendent Elsie Arntzen announces campaign for second term". 8 KPAX. MTN News. June 12, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
25. Michels, Holly K. (April 30, 2019). "Romano to take another run at top education job in 2020". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
26. "Montana Supreme Court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.
27. "Montana LR-130, Limit Local Government Authority to Regulate Firearms Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia.
28. "Montana C-46, Initiated Amendment Distribution Requirements Measure (2020)". Ballotpedia.
29. "Montana C-47, Initiated Statute and Referendum Distribution Requirements Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia.
30. "Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia.

External links

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Montana", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "Montana: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of Montana". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• Montana at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites for Secretary of State

• Bryce Bennett (D) for Secretary of State
• Christi Jacobsen (R) for Secretary of State

Official campaign websites for Attorney General

• Raph Graybill (D) for Attorney General
• Austin Knudsen (R) for Attorney General

Official campaign websites for State Auditor

• Troy Downing (R) for Auditor
• Shane Morigeau (D) for Auditor

Official campaign websites for Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Elsie Arntzen (R) for Superintendent
• Melissa Romano (D) for Superintendent