Montana — 1988 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1988 Senate electionMontana · U.S. SenateBurnsR+3.7
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| Conrad Burns ✓Republican | 51.9% | 189,445 |
|---|---|---|
| John Melcher (i)Democrat | 48.1% | 175,809 |
1988Senate margin
D+60R+60
56 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (56 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| BEAVERHEAD, MT | Republican | R+43.7 |
| BIG HORN, MT | Democratic | D+9.9 |
| BLAINE, MT | Democratic | D+18.5 |
| BROADWATER, MT | Republican | R+29.9 |
| CARBON, MT | Republican | R+1.6 |
| CARTER, MT | Republican | R+24.0 |
| CASCADE, MT | Democratic | D+6.1 |
| CHOUTEAU, MT | Democratic | D+1.0 |
| CUSTER, MT | Republican | R+1.2 |
| DANIELS, MT | Republican | R+3.5 |
| DAWSON, MT | Republican | R+3.4 |
| DEER LODGE, MT | Democratic | D+31.3 |
| FALLON, MT | Republican | R+9.9 |
| FERGUS, MT | Republican | R+16.0 |
| FLATHEAD, MT | Republican | R+20.3 |
| GALLATIN, MT | Republican | R+18.9 |
| GARFIELD, MT | Republican | R+24.4 |
| GLACIER, MT | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| GOLDEN VALLEY, MT | Republican | R+16.5 |
| GRANITE, MT | Republican | R+33.5 |
| HILL, MT | Democratic | D+13.0 |
| JEFFERSON, MT | Republican | R+15.1 |
| JUDITH BASIN, MT | Republican | R+7.4 |
| LAKE, MT | Republican | R+7.0 |
| LEWIS AND CLARK, MT | Republican | R+2.6 |
| LIBERTY, MT | Republican | R+13.4 |
| LINCOLN, MT | Republican | R+10.8 |
| MADISON, MT | Republican | R+42.8 |
| MCCONE, MT | Republican | R+8.1 |
| MEAGHER, MT | Republican | R+30.6 |
| MINERAL, MT | Democratic | D+11.4 |
| MISSOULA, MT | Democratic | D+6.0 |
| MUSSELSHELL, MT | Republican | R+6.2 |
| PARK, MT | Republican | R+23.6 |
| PETROLEUM, MT | Republican | R+19.2 |
| PHILLIPS, MT | Republican | R+4.4 |
| PONDERA, MT | Republican | R+6.5 |
| POWDER RIVER, MT | Republican | R+19.6 |
| POWELL, MT | Republican | R+24.0 |
| PRAIRIE, MT | Republican | R+1.3 |
| RAVALLI, MT | Republican | R+25.2 |
| RICHLAND, MT | Republican | R+19.3 |
| ROOSEVELT, MT | Democratic | D+15.0 |
| ROSEBUD, MT | Democratic | D+22.2 |
| SANDERS, MT | Republican | R+6.4 |
| SHERIDAN, MT | Democratic | D+8.3 |
| SILVER BOW, MT | Democratic | D+31.5 |
| STILLWATER, MT | Republican | R+4.2 |
| SWEET GRASS, MT | Republican | R+33.1 |
| TETON, MT | Republican | R+6.8 |
| TOOLE, MT | Republican | R+7.9 |
| TREASURE, MT | Democratic | D+15.7 |
| VALLEY, MT | Republican | R+2.5 |
| WHEATLAND, MT | Republican | R+6.8 |
| WIBAUX, MT | Democratic | D+4.8 |
| YELLOWSTONE, MT | Republican | R+3.3 |
presidential baselinePresident 1988R+5.9Senate 1988R+3.7vs. baselineD+2.1
Montana's 1988 Senate race ran 2.1 points more Democratic than the presidential race on the same ballot.
Montana's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +28.3% |
| 1978 | +11.4% |
| 1982 | +12.8% |
| 1984 | +16.2% |
| 1988 | −3.7% |
| 1990 | +38.7% |
| 1994 | −24.7% |
| 1996 | +4.9% |
| 2000 | −3.3% |
| 2002 | +31.0% |
| 2006 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | +45.8% |
| 2012 | +3.7% |
| 2014 | −17.7% |
| 2018 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | −10.0% |
| 2024 | −7.1% |
Same ballot, 1988MT
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.