1996 Montana gubernatorial election

1996 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1992 November 5, 1996 2000 →

Nominee Marc Racicot Judy Jacobson Party Republican Democratic Running mate Judy Martz Judy Jacobson Popular vote 320,768 84,407 Percentage 79.2% 20.8%

County results Racicot:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Marc Racicot Republican Elected Governor Marc Racicot Republican

Elections in Montana
Federal government Presidential elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2004 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 U. S. Senate elections 1890 1895 1899 1901 1905 1907 1911 1913 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1936 1940 1942 1946 1948 1952 1954 1958 1960 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 2026 U. S. House elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 Special elections Senate 1895 1901 1934 House 2nd 1945 2nd 1969 AL 2017
State government General elections 2010 2016 2020 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Secretary of State elections 2020 Attorney General elections 2020 State Senate elections 2020 State House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Ballot measures 2004 Initiative 96 2012 Referendum 121 2016 Initiative 182 2020 Initiative 190
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The 1996 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Governor of Montana Marc Racicot, who was first elected in 1992, ran for re-election. After winning the Republican primary against a conservative activist, he moved on to the general election, where he was set to face Chet Blaylock, a former State Senator and the Democratic nominee. However, on October 23, 1996, Blaylock died of a heart attack, and the Montana Democratic Party selected his running mate, State Senator Judy Jacobson, to replace him as the gubernatorial nominee, and she therefore appeared on the ballot as both the gubernatorial nominee and the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee.^[1] Ultimately, however, Racicot was able to defeat Jacobson in a landslide to win re-election to his second and final term as governor. As of 2022, this is last time a Republican candidate carried every county in the state.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Chet Blaylock, former State Senator
• Bob Kelleher, perennial candidate

Results[]

Note: Following Blaylock's death, Judy Jacobson, his running mate, was selected to replace him on the ballot as the Democratic nominee.^[1]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Marc Racicot, incumbent Governor of Montana
• Rob Natelson, conservative activist and constitutional law professor

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

References[]