- United States Senate election in Montana, 2006
-
United States Senate election in Montana, 2006 
2000 ← November 7, 2006 → 2012 
Nominee Jon Tester Conrad Burns Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 199,845 196,283 Percentage 49.2% 48.29%
County results
U.S. Senator before election
Elected U.S. Senator
Elections in Montana 
Federal governmentPresidential Elections 2000 · 2004 · 2008
Presidential Primaries U. S. Senate elections U. S. House elections 2006 · 2008 · 2010 · 2012
State governmentGubernatorial elections The 2006 United States Senate election in Montana was held November 7, 2006. The filing deadline was March 23; the primary was held on June 6. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Conrad Burns was running for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Democrat Jon Tester.
Contents
Background
Burns was first elected as a United States Senator from Montana in 1988, when he defeated Democratic incumbent John Melcher in a close race, 51% to 48%. Burns was re-elected 62.4% to 37.6%, over Jack Mudd in the so called Republican Revolution year of 1994. In 2000, Burns faced the well-financed Brian Schweitzer whom he beat 50.6% to 47.2%.
In 2000, George W. Bush carried Montana 58% to 33% in the race for President, but Burns won by 3.4%. Since the direct election of Senators began in 1913, Burns is only the second Republican Montana has elected to the U.S. Senate. Also, for thirty-two straight years, 1952 to 1984, Montana elected only Democratic Senators.
Burns' involvement in the Jack Abramoff scandal made him vulnerable[citation needed]. A SurveyUSA poll released in March 2006 found that 38% of Montanans approved of him, while 52% disapproved of him.[1] Polls against leading Democratic candidates had him below his challengers[citation needed].
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jon Tester, President of the Montana State Senate
- John Morrison, Montana State Auditor
- Paul Richards, Montana State Representative
- Robert Candee, farmer
- Ken Marcure, activist
Campaign
On May 31, 2006, Richards, citing the closeness of the race, and his own position (third) in the polls, withdrew from the race, and threw his support to Tester.[2]Morrison started off strong in the race for the Democratic nomination for Senator, collecting $1.05 million as of the start of 2006, including $409,241 in the last three months of 2005.[3] but Morrison’s advantages in fundraising and name identification did not translate into a lead in the polls.[4] Later, the race was called a "deadlock,"[5] but Tester continued to gather momentum.
Results
Democratic primary results[6] Party Candidate Votes Percentage Democratic Jon Tester 65,757 60.77% Democratic John Morrison 38,394 35.48% Democratic Paul Richards 1,636 1.51% Democratic Robert Candee 1,471 1.36% Democratic Kenneth Marcure 940 0.87% Totals 108,198 100.00% Republican primary
Candidates
- Conrad Burns, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Bob Keenan, Montana State Senator
- Bob Kelleher, perennial candidate
- Daniel Lloyd Neste Huffman, businessman
Results
Republican primary results[7] Party Candidate Votes Percentage Republican Conrad Burns (inc.) 70,434 72.26% Republican Bob Keenan 21,754 22.32% Republican Bob Kelleher 4,082 4.19% Republican Daniel Loyd Neste Huffman 1,203 1.23% Totals 97,473 100.00% General election
Candidates
- Conrad Burns (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
- Stan Jones (L), activist
- Jon Tester (D), State Senator
Campaign
The race was expected to be close, due to Burns' previous narrow winning margins and recent political scandal involving him personally; Republican incumbents everywhere were facing more challenging races in 2006 due to the waning popularity of Congress and the leadership of President George W. Bush. In July 2006, the Rasmussen report viewed Burns as the "second most vulnerable Senator seeking re-election this year (Pennsylvania’s Rick Santorum was still the most vulnerable)."[8]
Senator Conrad Burns of Montana faced a strong challenge from Brian Schweitzer in 2000, being re-elected by 3.4% in a state that went for Bush twice by margins of over 20%[citation needed]. This, combined with the increasing strength of the state Democratic party[citation needed] and accusations of ethical issues related to the Jack Abramoff scandal[citation needed], made this a highly competitive race.
On July 27, Burns was forced to apologize after he confronted out of state firefighters who were preparing to leave Montana after helping contain a summer forest fire and directly questioned their competence and skill; Burns was strongly criticized.[9]
On August 31, in a letter faxed to the office of Montana governor Brian Schweitzer, Burns urged the governor, a Democrat, to declare a fire state of emergency and activate the Montana Army National Guard for firefighting. Schweitzer had already declared such a state of emergency on July 11 — thus, activating the Montana Army National Guard. He issued a second declaration on August 11. James Pendleton, a Burns spokesman, said the senator was "pretty sure" Schweitzer had already issued such a disaster declaration, but just wanted to make sure. "The genesis of the letter was just to make sure that all the bases were covered," Pendleton said. "This is not a political football. It’s just a cover-the-bases letter and certainly casts no aspersions on the governor."[10]
Polling
Source Date Tester (D) Burns (R) Jones (L) OnPoint Polling and Research November 6, 2006 49% 44% USA Today/Gallup November 4, 2006 50% 41% Rasmussen November 3, 2006 50% 46% Mason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchy November 3, 2006 47% 47% 1% Reuters/Zogby October 31, 2006 47% 46% 2% Rasmussen October 29, 2006 51% 47% Harstad Strategic (D) October 25, 2006 48% 42% Mason-Dixon/McClatchy-MSNBC October 24, 2006 46% 43% Montana State University-Billings October 19, 2006 46% 35% Rasmussen October 18, 2006 48% 46% Rasmussen October 11, 2006 49% 42% Reuters/Zogby October 5, 2006 46% 42% Mason-Dixon October 1, 2006 47% 40% 3% Rasmussen September 20, 2006 50% 43% Rasmussen September 13, 2006 52% 43% Gallup September 5, 2006 48% 45% Lake Research (D) August 10, 2006 44% 37% Rasmussen August 10, 2006 47% 47% Rasmussen July 11, 2006 50% 43% Lake Research (D) June 20-26, 2006 43% 42% Mason Dixon May 28, 2006 45% 42% Rasmussen May 16, 2006 48% 44% Ayres McHenry & Associates (R) May 2, 2006 48% 42% Rasmussen April 15, 2006 44% 47% Rasmussen March 20, 2006 46% 43% Rasmussen February 13, 2006 46% 46% Rasmussen January 11, 2006 45% 45% Mason Dixon December 24, 2005 35% 49% Rasmussen September 8, 2005 38% 51% Mason Dixon May, 2005 26% 50% Results
United States Senate election in Montana, 2006[11] Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Jon Tester 199,845 49.16% +1.92% Republican Conrad Burns (incumbent) 196,283 48.29% -2.27% Libertarian Stan Jones 10,377 2.55% Majority 3,562 0.88% -2.44% Turnout 406,505 Democratic gain from Republican Swing Due to errors with polling machines the Montana count was delayed well into Wednesday 8 November. The race was too close to call throughout the night and many pundits predicted the need for a recount. After a very close election, on November 9, incumbent Conrad Burns conceded defeat.[12]
Just before 11:00 AM (MST) on November 8, Jon Tester was declared Senator-elect for Montana in USA Today.[13] At 2:27 PM EST on November 8, CNN projected that Jon Tester would win the race. [14]
Under Montana law, if the margin of defeat is more than 0.25% but less than 0.5%, the losing candidate can request a recount if they pay for it themselves.[15] However, this election did not qualify for a recount because the margin was larger than 0.5%. Burns conceded the race on November 9, and congratulated Tester on his victory.[16]
The race was the closest Senate election of 2006 in terms of absolute vote difference[citation needed]; the closest race by percentage difference was the Virginia senate election[citation needed].
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References
- ^ SurveyUSA News Poll #8541
- ^ BillingsGazette.com :: Richards: Tester is best choice
- ^ BillingsGazette.com :: Burns' fundraising nears $5 million; Morrison's hits $1 million
- ^ Politics Home Page : Roll Call
- ^ helenair.com
- ^ http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2006/elections/primary/2006_State_Primary.pdf
- ^ http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2006/elections/primary/2006_State_Primary.pdf
- ^ Rasmussen Reports: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election
- ^ Conrad Burns Issues Apology for Altercation with Firefighters | Missoula | New West Network
- ^ helenair.com
- ^ 2006 Election Statistics
- ^ "Sen. Burns Concedes Montana Race". NPR. 2006-11-09. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6270464.
- ^ "Democrat challenger takes Montana". USA Today. November 8, 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/MT/2006-11-08-montana-senate_x.htm. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.senate/index.html.[dead link]
- ^ 13-16-211. Recounts allowed if bond posted to cover all costs
- ^ "Montana's Burns concedes Senate race". USA Today. November 9, 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/2006-11-09-burns-tester_x.htm. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
External links
- Jon Tester's official campaign site
- Conrad Burns' official campaign site
- "Montana Senator in Fight of Political Life," Associated Press, October 15, 2006
- Robert 'Bob' Candee's official campaign site
- Stan Jones' official campaign site
- Bob Keenan's official campaign site
- John Morrison's official campaign site
- Paul Richards' official campaign site
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee page on this election
Preceded by
2002
Max BaucusMontana U.S. Senate elections
2006Succeeded by
2008Categories:- United States Senate elections, 2006
- United States Senate elections in Montana
- Montana elections, 2006
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