United States presidential election in Montana, 2016
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 County results
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 Results by county showing number of votes by size and candidates by color | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Montana |
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The 2016 United States presidential election in Montana was won by Republican Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence, on November 8, 2016, with 56.2% of the vote, as part of the 2016 general election. Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine received 35.7% of the vote.[1] Montana assigns all of its three Electoral votes to the winner of the state's popular vote.
The Montana primary was on June 7, 2016, selecting nominees for the two major parties, as well as the Libertarian Party. Registered members of each party may only vote in their party's primary, while voters who are unaffiliated may choose any one primary in which to vote.
Trump's margin was 20.5 percentage points, exceeding Mitt Romney's 13.7 point win in 2012, and John McCain's 2.4 point win in 2008. Republicans have won Montana in every presidential election since 1996. Libertarian nominee and third-party candidate Gary Johnson received 5.6% of the vote.
Primary elections
Democratic primary
Four candidates appeared on the Democratic presidential primary ballot:
| Montana Democratic primary, June 7, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Popular vote | Estimated delegates | |||
| Count | Percentage | Pledged | Unpledged | Total | |
| Bernie Sanders | 65,156 | 51.56% | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| Hillary Clinton | 55,805 | 44.16% | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| No Preference | 5,415 | 4.28% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Uncommitted | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 126,376 | 100% | 21 | 6 | 27 |
| Source: The Green Papers, Montana Secretary of State - Official Primary Results | |||||
Republican primary
Twelve candidates appeared on the Republican presidential primary ballot:
- Jeb Bush (withdrawn)
- Ben Carson (withdrawn)
- Chris Christie (withdrawn)
- Ted Cruz (withdrawn)
- Carly Fiorina (withdrawn)
- Jim Gilmore (withdrawn)
- Mike Huckabee (withdrawn)
- John Kasich (withdrawn)
- Rand Paul (withdrawn)
- Marco Rubio (withdrawn)
- Rick Santorum (withdrawn)
- Donald Trump
| Montana Republican primary, June 7, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Actual delegate count | ||
| Bound | Unbound | Total | |||
 |
115,594 | 73.68% | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Ted Cruz (withdrawn) | 14,682 | 9.36% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Kasich (withdrawn) | 10,777 | 6.87% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No preference | 7,369 | 4.70% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marco Rubio (withdrawn) | 5,192 | 3.31% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeb Bush (withdrawn) | 3,274 | 2.09% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unprojected delegates: | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total: | 156,888 | 100.00% | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Source: The Green Papers | |||||
Results
Results by county
Preliminary general election results for president as of 14 December 2016 by county, excluding 2,623 write-in votes.[2]
| County | Candidate | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trump | Clinton | Johnson | Stein | De La Fuente | Total | ||
| Beaverhead | percent | 69.15% | 23.57% | 5.47% | 1.44% | 0.37% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,353 | 1,143 | 265 | 70 | 18 | 4,849 | |
| Big Horn | percent | 43.87% | 49.57% | 4.38% | 1.68% | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,853 | 2,094 | 185 | 71 | 21 | 4,224 | |
| Blaine | percent | 47.47% | 45.00% | 3.82% | 2.73% | 0.97% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,268 | 1,202 | 102 | 73 | 26 | 2,671 | |
| Broadwater | percent | 74.97% | 18.30% | 5.40% | 1.18% | 0.16% | 100.00% |
| votes | 2,348 | 573 | 169 | 37 | 5 | 3,132 | |
| Carbon | percent | 62.81% | 30.64% | 5.14% | 1.17% | 0.23% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,748 | 1,828 | 307 | 70 | 14 | 5,967 | |
| Carter | percent | 87.03% | 8.99% | 3.08% | 0.77% | 0.13% | 100.00% |
| votes | 678 | 70 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 779 | |
| Cascade | percent | 57.10% | 35.41% | 5.81% | 1.30% | 0.39% | 100.00% |
| votes | 19,632 | 12,175 | 1,996 | 446 | 135 | 34,384 | |
| Chouteau | percent | 64.85% | 28.27% | 5.06% | 1.43% | 0.39% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,679 | 732 | 131 | 37 | 10 | 2,589 | |
| Custer | percent | 70.53% | 22.68% | 5.82% | 0.68% | 0.29% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,657 | 1,176 | 302 | 35 | 15 | 5,185 | |
| Daniels | percent | 76.44% | 17.59% | 5.34% | 0.63% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| votes | 730 | 168 | 51 | 6 | 0 | 955 | |
| Dawson | percent | 76.66% | 18.17% | 4.25% | 0.76% | 0.16% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,320 | 787 | 184 | 33 | 7 | 4,331 | |
| Deer Lodge | percent | 42.04% | 49.07% | 6.58% | 1.76% | 0.55% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,763 | 2,058 | 276 | 74 | 23 | 4,194 | |
| Fallon | percent | 86.19% | 10.38% | 3.03% | 0.27% | 0.13% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,279 | 154 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 1,484 | |
| Fergus | percent | 73.10% | 20.58% | 5.17% | 0.89% | 0.26% | 100.00% |
| votes | 4,269 | 1,202 | 302 | 52 | 15 | 5,840 | |
| Flathead | percent | 65.04% | 28.59% | 4.73% | 1.41% | 0.23% | 100.00% |
| votes | 30,240 | 13,293 | 2,199 | 656 | 106 | 46,494 | |
| Gallatin | percent | 44.66% | 45.50% | 7.53% | 1.99% | 0.32% | 100.00% |
| votes | 23,802 | 24,246 | 4,015 | 1,061 | 168 | 53,292 | |
| Garfield | percent | 91.20% | 4.75% | 3.77% | 0.14% | 0.14% | 100.00% |
| votes | 653 | 34 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 716 | |
| Glacier | percent | 32.01% | 61.67% | 4.01% | 1.88% | 0.43% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,620 | 3,121 | 203 | 95 | 22 | 5,061 | |
| Golden Valley | percent | 77.49% | 15.07% | 6.16% | 0.64% | 0.64% | 100.00% |
| votes | 365 | 71 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 471 | |
| Granite | percent | 67.15% | 26.59% | 4.68% | 1.41% | 0.17% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,192 | 472 | 83 | 25 | 3 | 1,775 | |
| Hill | percent | 54.12% | 36.90% | 6.82% | 1.84% | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,478 | 2,371 | 438 | 118 | 21 | 6,426 | |
| Jefferson | percent | 62.64% | 29.96% | 5.91% | 1.12% | 0.36% | 100.00% |
| votes | 4,177 | 1,998 | 394 | 75 | 24 | 6,668 | |
| Judith Basin | percent | 72.61% | 19.57% | 6.58% | 1.00% | 0.25% | 100.00% |
| votes | 872 | 235 | 79 | 12 | 3 | 1,201 | |
| Lake | percent | 57.44% | 36.43% | 4.07% | 1.75% | 0.31% | 100.00% |
| votes | 7,530 | 4,776 | 534 | 229 | 41 | 13,110 | |
| Lewis and Clark | percent | 49.34% | 42.28% | 6.45% | 1.63% | 0.30% | 100.00% |
| votes | 16,895 | 14,478 | 2,210 | 559 | 103 | 34,245 | |
| Liberty | percent | 73.01% | 21.55% | 4.92% | 0.21% | 0.31% | 100.00% |
| votes | 698 | 206 | 47 | 2 | 3 | 956 | |
| Lincoln | percent | 72.48% | 21.98% | 4.27% | 1.03% | 0.24% | 100.00% |
| votes | 6,729 | 2,041 | 396 | 96 | 22 | 9,284 | |
| Madison | percent | 69.51% | 24.88% | 4.11% | 1.22% | 0.27% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,297 | 1,180 | 195 | 58 | 13 | 4,743 | |
| McCone | percent | 81.32% | 14.53% | 3.49% | 0.66% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| votes | 862 | 154 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 1,060 | |
| Meagher | percent | 74.77% | 19.79% | 4.21% | 1.03% | 0.21% | 100.00% |
| votes | 729 | 193 | 41 | 10 | 2 | 975 | |
| Mineral | percent | 66.40% | 25.91% | 5.39% | 1.75% | 0.55% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,330 | 519 | 108 | 35 | 11 | 2,003 | |
| Missoula | percent | 37.70% | 53.44% | 5.69% | 2.89% | 0.29% | 100.00% |
| votes | 22,250 | 31,543 | 3,357 | 1,704 | 172 | 59,026 | |
| Musselshell | percent | 81.42% | 13.74% | 3.89% | 0.75% | 0.21% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,967 | 332 | 94 | 18 | 5 | 2,416 | |
| Park | percent | 53.51% | 38.63% | 5.37% | 2.15% | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| votes | 4,980 | 3,595 | 500 | 200 | 31 | 9,306 | |
| Petroleum | percent | 86.34% | 9.32% | 3.73% | 0.31% | 0.31% | 100.00% |
| votes | 278 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 322 | |
| Phillips | percent | 79.73% | 14.72% | 4.58% | 0.88% | 0.09% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,723 | 318 | 99 | 19 | 2 | 2,161 | |
| Pondera | percent | 66.24% | 27.17% | 4.97% | 1.25% | 0.37% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,799 | 738 | 135 | 34 | 10 | 2,716 | |
| Powder River | percent | 84.11% | 12.08% | 3.71% | 0.10% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| votes | 884 | 127 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 1,051 | |
| Powell | percent | 72.62% | 19.72% | 5.83% | 1.47% | 0.36% | 100.00% |
| votes | 2,029 | 551 | 163 | 41 | 10 | 2,794 | |
| Prairie | percent | 80.70% | 14.51% | 4.35% | 0.15% | 0.29% | 100.00% |
| votes | 556 | 100 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 689 | |
| Ravalli | percent | 66.28% | 27.85% | 4.44% | 1.17% | 0.27% | 100.00% |
| votes | 14,810 | 6,223 | 992 | 261 | 60 | 22,346 | |
| Richland | percent | 80.63% | 13.84% | 4.93% | 0.47% | 0.12% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,908 | 671 | 239 | 23 | 6 | 4,847 | |
| Roosevelt | percent | 49.26% | 42.76% | 4.93% | 2.60% | 0.44% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,797 | 1,560 | 180 | 95 | 16 | 3,648 | |
| Rosebud | percent | 65.49% | 28.69% | 4.42% | 0.96% | 0.44% | 100.00% |
| votes | 2,253 | 987 | 152 | 33 | 15 | 3,440 | |
| Sanders | percent | 72.52% | 20.61% | 5.06% | 1.59% | 0.22% | 100.00% |
| votes | 4,286 | 1,218 | 299 | 94 | 13 | 5,910 | |
| Sheridan | percent | 67.74% | 26.04% | 5.02% | 1.09% | 0.11% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,241 | 477 | 92 | 20 | 2 | 1,832 | |
| Silver Bow | percent | 38.79% | 52.43% | 6.43% | 1.78% | 0.57% | 100.00% |
| votes | 6,376 | 8,619 | 1,057 | 293 | 94 | 16,439 | |
| Stillwater | percent | 75.24% | 18.66% | 5.16% | 0.72% | 0.23% | 100.00% |
| votes | 3,661 | 908 | 251 | 35 | 11 | 4,866 | |
| Sweet Grass | percent | 75.95% | 19.14% | 3.67% | 1.10% | 0.14% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,595 | 402 | 77 | 23 | 3 | 2,100 | |
| Teton | percent | 68.26% | 25.42% | 5.10% | 0.85% | 0.38% | 100.00% |
| votes | 2,170 | 808 | 162 | 27 | 12 | 3,179 | |
| Toole | percent | 73.74% | 19.80% | 4.73% | 1.43% | 0.30% | 100.00% |
| votes | 1,497 | 402 | 96 | 29 | 6 | 2,030 | |
| Treasure | percent | 79.23% | 13.32% | 5.87% | 1.35% | 0.23% | 100.00% |
| votes | 351 | 59 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 443 | |
| Valley | percent | 69.61% | 22.86% | 6.04% | 1.14% | 0.36% | 100.00% |
| votes | 2,698 | 886 | 234 | 44 | 14 | 3,876 | |
| Wheatland | percent | 74.36% | 18.96% | 4.56% | 1.48% | 0.64% | 100.00% |
| votes | 702 | 179 | 43 | 14 | 6 | 944 | |
| Wibaux | percent | 86.22% | 10.24% | 3.35% | 0.00% | 0.19% | 100.00% |
| votes | 463 | 55 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 537 | |
| Yellowstone | percent | 59.70% | 32.35% | 6.30% | 1.31% | 0.35% | 100.00% |
| votes | 40,920 | 22,171 | 4,316 | 898 | 239 | 68,544 | |
| Total | percent* | 56.47% | 35.94% | 5.67% | 1.61% | 0.32% | 100.00% |
| votes* | 279,240 | 177,709 | 28,037 | 7,970 | 1,570 | 494,526* | |
* Excludes 2,623 write-in votes
Analysis
Like every Republican nominee since 1996, Donald Trump carried Montana's three electoral votes. He won by a large margin, and he swept most of the plains counties in eastern Montana, traditionally the most conservative part of the state, by staggering margins sometimes exceeding 60 points. The eastern part of the state has benefitted from the recent energy boom in neighboring North Dakota, and its populace is suspect of the environmental movement championed by Democrats in recent elections.
Counties in the western part of the state are also traditionally Republican, with a ranching-based economy heavily dependent on the raising and production of cattle and hay, particularly in the counties bordering Idaho such as Beaverhead County and Ravalli County. However, an influx of retirees from the West Coast have made the western region more competitive in recent elections.[3]
The only significant counties won by Clinton were Missoula County where the city of Missoula is located, and Big Horn County and Glacier County, which are both majority Native American. While sweeping most of the rural, majority white conservative counties of the state, Trump also won in Lewis and Clark County where the capital city of Helena is located, in neighboring Cascade County where Great Falls is located, and in Yellowstone County where the city of Billings is located.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Montana Election Results 2016 – The New York Times". Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ 2016 Statewide General Election Canvass (PDF) Montana Secretary Of State Linda McCulloch. Accessed December 14, 2016.
- ↑ Cohen, Micah (2012-06-21). "Presidential Geography: Montana". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
- ↑ "Montana Election Results 2016". Retrieved 2016-11-26.
External links
- RNC 2016 Republican Nominating Process
- Green papers for 2016 primaries, caucuses, and conventions
- 2016 Presidential primaries, ElectionProjection.com
