Almost Blue - Montana Has Shed Its Red

Posted By: Madame Fleur

Nov. 11, 2008

Montanans are notorious ticket-splitters and this year was no exception.

Starting from the top…..my prediction for Obama taking the state was a bit ambitious.  President-elect Obama won 47.1% of the state’s vote, however, making him the recipient of the most statewide Democratic votes in a Presidential contest since LBJ.  Given the nearly 20-point victory of George W. Bush over both John Kerry and Al Gore in the last two Presidential races, I’d say Obama’s hard work in the state left a strong impression on voters.  Thank you Barack!!

Many Montanans who didn’t vote for Obama still voted for statewide Democrats, signaling a readiness for a more progressive agenda in the state.  For starters, Governor Brian Schweitzer and Senator Max Baucus were both decisively re-elected.  Narrow Democratic victories awarded Democrats Linda McCulloch the position of Secretary of State and Steve Bullock that of Attorney General.

The new Superintendent of Schools, Denise Juneau, made history as the first American Indian woman to win an executive statewide office.  True to her Democratic priorities, Monica Lindeen won State Auditor on a platform of state health care expansion.  Additionally, Democrats gained 2 additional seats on the Public Service Commission and now control all 5 seats on the state Land Board.  Hooray!!

So where’s the split, you ask?  Even with the seeming progressive mandate implied by these strong Democratic victories, Montana Democrats lost major seats in the state Legislature.  Republicans won a 27-23 majority in the state Senate, unraveling the Democratic majority held for the last four years.  Losses in the state house have ended the Democrats' majority there, as well; the split is now 50-50. 

Republicans have been vocal about what their victory means for the state:

“The Senate gets the last bite at the apple when it comes to the state budget, and that gives Republicans a fair amount of power at the Legislature this time around,” said Erik Iverson, chairman of the state Republican Party. “Being able to have control of the Senate and keep our fifty seats in the House is pretty gratifying for Republicans.”

Echoing the nonpartisan message Obama emphasized in his victory speech last Tuesday, Governer Brian Schweitzer remains hopeful that a desire for progress and improvement will ensure Leglislative progress in the state.

“I’ll be looking for legislative leaders that are looking for solutions,” Schweitzer said.

Split-ticket or not, this year’s election in Montana was huge for Democrats.  With the election of Schweitzer and Tester a few years ago, and the popularity of Obama, it appears this historically Red state is no longer decidedly Red.  In fact, at present, it’s purple.