1976 United States Senate election in Montana

1976 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →
 
Nominee John Melcher Stanley Burger
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 206,232 115,213
Percentage 64.16% 35.84%

County results
Melcher:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Burger:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Melcher
Democratic

The 1976 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1976. Rather than seek a fifth term, incumbent United States Senator Mike Mansfield, a Democrat, opted to retire, creating an open seat. United States Congressman John Melcher, who had represented Montana's 2nd congressional district from 1969 to 1977, won the Democratic nomination and defeated Stanley C. Burger, the Republican nominee, by a wide margin in the general election. This was the first open seat election in Montana since 1960 and the first open seat election in Montana for the Class 1 Senate seat since 1922.


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