1996 Montana gubernatorial election

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 2021, this is last time a Republican candidate carried every county in the state.

1996 Montana gubernatorial election

November 5, 1996

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

Democratic Party primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chet Blaylock	55,120	74.61
	Democratic	Bob Kelleher	18,761	25.39
Total votes			73,881	100.00

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

Republican primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Marc Racicot (incumbent)	92,644	76.37
	Republican	Rob Natelson	28,672	23.63
Total votes			121,316	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1996[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Marc Racicot (incumbent)	320,768	79.17%	+27.82%
	Democratic	Judy Jacobson	84,407	20.83%	-27.82%
Majority			236,361	58.34%	+55.64%
Turnout			405,175
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Dems Select Jacobson To Run For Governor". The Spokesman-Review. October 29, 1996. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
2. "1996 Statewide Primary Canvass - June 4, 2000" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-28. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
3. "1996 Statewide General Canvass - November 5, 1996" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.