Closest U.S. Senate elections in Montana
The closest U.S. Senate election in Montana history was in 1942, a margin of 0.71 points. James E. Murray beat Wellington D. Rankin, 83,673 to 82,461. Next closest are 1954 (0.76 points) and 2006 (0.87 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Montana has held, special elections included, see the Montana U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Montana history?
The Montana Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1942, 0.71 points. James E. Murray beat Wellington D. Rankin, 83,673 to 82,461. The next closest were 1954 (0.76 points) and 2006 (0.87 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Montana’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Montana Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Montana election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1942 | James E. Murray D def. Wellington D. Rankin R | 83,673 – 82,461 | 0.71 points |
| 2 | 1954 | James E. Murray D def. Wesley A. D'Ewart R | 114,591 – 112,863 | 0.76 points |
| 3 | 2006 | Jon Tester D def. Conrad R. Burns R | 199,845 – 196,283 | 0.87 points |
| 4 | 1960 | Lee Metcalf D def. Orvin B. Fjare R | 140,331 – 136,281 | 1.5 points |
| 5 | 1952 | Mike Mansfield D def. Zales N. Ecton R | 133,109 – 127,360 | 2.2 points |
| 6 | 2000 | Conrad R. Burns R def. Brian Schweitzer D | 208,082 – 194,430 | 3.3 points |
| 7 | 2018 | Jon Tester D def. Matt Rosendale R | 253,876 – 235,963 | 3.5 points |
| 8 | 2012 | Jon Tester D def. Denny Rehberg R | 236,123 – 218,051 | 3.7 points |
| 9 | 1988 | Conrad R. Burns R def. John Melcher D | 189,445 – 175,809 | 3.7 points |
| 10 | 1972 | Lee Metcalf D def. Henry S. Hibbard R | 163,609 – 151,316 | 3.9 points |
| 11 | 1996 | Max Baucus D def. Dennis Rehberg R | 201,935 – 182,111 | 4.9 points |
| 12 | 1918 | Thomas J. Walsh D def. Oscar M. Lanstrum R | 46,160 – 40,229 | 5.3 points |
| 13 | 1966 | Lee Metcalf D def. Tim Babcock R | 138,166 – 121,697 | 6.3 points |
| 14 | 1928 | Burton K. Wheeler D def. Joseph M. Dixon R | 103,655 – 91,185 | 6.4 points |
| 15 | 2024 | Tim Sheehy R def. Jon Tester D | 319,682 – 276,305 | 7.1 points |
| 16 | 1916 | Henry L. Myers D def. Charles N. Pray R | 85,585 – 72,753 | 7.7 points |
| 17 | 1946 | Zales N. Ecton R def. Leif Erickson D | 101,901 – 86,476 | 8.1 points |
| 18 | 2020 | Steve Daines R def. Steve Bullock D | 333,174 – 272,463 | 10.0 points |
| 19 | 1924 | Thomas J. Walsh D def. Frank B. Linderman R | 89,681 – 72,000 | 10.4 points |
| 20 | 1978 | Max Baucus D def. Larry Williams R | 160,353 – 127,589 | 11.4 points |
| 21 | 1922 | Burton K. Wheeler D def. Carl W. Riddick R | 88,205 – 69,464 | 11.8 points |
| 22 | 1982 | John Melcher D def. Larry Williams R | 174,861 – 133,789 | 12.8 points |
| 23 | 1948 | James E. Murray D def. Tom J. Davis R | 125,193 – 94,458 | 13.9 points |
| 24 | 1984 | Max Baucus D def. Chuck Cozzens R | 215,704 – 154,308 | 16.2 points |
| 25 | 2014 | Steve Daines R def. Amanda Curtis D | 213,709 – 148,184 | 17.7 points |