Montana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2012

The Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012.

Both Montana's current governor, Brian Schweitzer, and his lieutenant governor, John Bohlinger were prevented by term limits from seeking another term in office, leaving both seats open.

In Montana, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on a single ticket. In 2012, 11 sets of candidates entered the race: two Democrats, seven Republicans, one Libertarian and one set of independent candidates. The field was whittled down to four after the two major parties selected their candidates in the June 5th primary:

Steve Bullock and John E. Walsh (D)
Rick Hill and Jon Sonju (R)
Ron Vandevender and Marc Mulcahy (L)
Bill Coate and Joni Oja

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Election Results

General

Governor/Lieutenant Governor of Montana General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Steve Bullock and John E. Walsh	48.9%	236,450
	Republican	Rick Hill and Jon Sonju	47.3%	228,879
	Libertarian	Ron Vandevender and Marc Mulcahy	3.8%	18,160
Total Votes				483,489
Election results via Montana Secretary of State

According to the website Daily Kos, this race was one of nine top-ballot 2012 races that contained Libertarian candidates who received more total votes than was the difference between the Democratic winner and the GOP runner-up. In this case, Ron Vandevender took in over 9,000 more votes than the number that separated Bullock and Hill.

Primary

Governor/Lt. Governor of Montana, Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Steve Bullock & John E. Walsh	86.6%	76,738
Heather Margolis & Steve Nelsen	13.4%	11,823
Total Votes		88,561
Election results via Montana Secretary of State.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Montana, Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Rick Hill & Jon Sonju	34.4%	46,802
Corey Stapleton & Bob Keenan	18.1%	24,661
Ken Miller & Bill Gallagher	18%	24,496
Jim O'Hara & Scott Swingley	12.2%	16,653
Neil Livingstone & Ryan Zinke	8.8%	12,038
Jim Lynch & Al Olszewski	6.1%	8,323
Bob Fanning & Joel Boniek	2.3%	3,087
Total Votes		136,060
Election results via Montana Secretary of State.

Background

2013 → ← 2011

2012 State Executive Official Elections

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News • Calendar

Key dates

• Administrative deadlines are at close of business (5:00) unless otherwise noted.

Deadline	Event
Jan. 12 - Mar. 12	Candidate filing period
May 7	Voter registration for primary election
June 4, Noon	Requests received for absentee ballot for primary election
June 5	Primary election
Aug. 13	Deadline for candidates to withdrawal general election candidacy
Aug. 23	Secretary of State certifies candidates on ballot
Nov. 5	Requests received for absentee ballot for general election
Nov. 6	General election
Dec. 3	Official results certified

Race tracking

2011 Race Rankings - Montana Governor
Race Tracker		Race Rating
The Cook Political Report		Toss-up
Governing Politics		Lean Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball		Leans Republican
Rasmussen Reports Gubernatorial Scorecard		No prediction yet
The Rothenberg Political Report		Pure Toss-up
Overall Call

Candidates

General election candidates

Steve Bullock and John E. Walsh (D)
Rick Hill and Jon Sonju (R)
Ron Vandevender and Marc Mulcahy (L)
Bill Coate and Joni Oja

Primary election candidates

Despite early speculation, there were a few surprises when the dust had settled after the candidate filing period came to an end on March 12, 2012.

• The Democratic field was initially expected to be a three-person showdown, but state Senator Larry Jent dropped out of the race on March 8, 2012 saying he hadn't raised enough money to compete with Bullock, who, according to early polling, was a heavy favorite with 70% of the primary vote to Jent's 6% (24% of voters were undecided).
• On the Republican side, gubernatorial hopeful Bob Fanning announced in early January his running mate would be Chuck Baldwin. But Baldwin left the campaign in mid-February due to a lack of both money and a "quality organization" and Fanning picked up a new running mate, former state Rep. Joel Boniek.

Democratic primary candidates

• Steve Bullock & John E. Walsh a
• Heather Margolis & Steve Nelsen

Republican primary candidates

• Bob Fanning & Joel Boniek
• Rick Hill & Jon Sonju a
• Neil Livingstone & Ryan Zinke
• Jim Lynch & Al Olszewski
• Ken Miller & Bill Gallagher
• Jim O'Hara & Scott Swingley
• Corey Stapleton & Bob Keenan

Libertarian candidates

• Ron Vandevender & Marc Mulcahy

Independent candidates

• Bill Coate & Joni Oja

Former candidates

• Larry Jent, a state Senator
• Drew Turiano, a real estate investor and former science fiction author, initially indicated his intention to run for Governor of Montana, but in January 2012 announced he would, instead, seek the Republican nomination for Montana Secretary of State in the 2012 election.
• David Wanzenried, a state Senator, was considering a run for the Democratic nomination
• Jeff Essmann, a state Senator, declared his intent to run, but withdrew from the race before the candidate filing deadline, citing a lack of funds and a desire for a united Republican Party
• Chuck Baldwin appeared to be the lieutenant governor candidate on Bob Fanning's ticket but Fanning filed with Joel Boniek instead.

Endorsements

Six of the nine gubernatorial candidates provided The Billings Gazette with a list of five individuals, groups or a combination that had endorsed them.

Democrats

Steve Bullock

• Gov. Brian Schweitzer
• Montana AFL-CIO
• MEA-MFT
• Planned Parenthood
• Montana Conservation Voters

Republicans

Neil Livingstone

• Glen Swope, President of the Montana Federation of Pachyderm Clubs
• Rep. Mike Miller
• Gregg Trude, Executive Director of Right to Life of Montana
• Sen. Edward Buttrey
• Paul Vallely, Major General, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Jim Lynch

• Julie Peterson
• George Ingahm
• Rodney Garcia
• Chuck Klefner
• Mitch Stanley

Ken Miller

• Mark Agather, Northwest Montana Patriots Association
• Trude
• Jeff Laszloffy, President of Montana Family Foundation, Laurel
• Duarie Mitchell, former owner and founder of Mitchell Oil Service, Sidney
• Kerry White, President of Citizens for Balanced Use

Corey Stapleton

• Nick Wolter, CEO of Billings, Clinic
• Ron Marlenee, former US Representative
• Dennis Hicks and George Torp, founders of Montana Alliance for Constitutionalism
• Ron Sexton, former Chancellor of Montana State University Billings

Jim O'Hara

• Kent Wasson, farmer, rancher, entrepreneur
• Dave Brown, CEO of Source Giant Springs Water Co.
• Jim Taylor,CEO of Taylor's Family Auto Group
• Bruce Hould, farmer and rancher
• Rick Cook, clerk and recorded in Chouteau County

Polls

General election polls

Without Coate or Vandevender

Governor of Montana
Poll	Steve Bullock	Rick Hill	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Pharos Research Group (October 26-28, 2012)	47.1%	44.4%	8.5%	+/-3.5	799
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

With Coate and Vandevender

Governor of Montana
Poll	Steve Bullock	Rick Hill	Ron Vandevender	Bill Coate	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (October 8-10, 2012)	42%	43%	4%	4%	7%	+/-3.6	737
Public Policy Polling (September 10-11, 2012)	44%	39%	4%	4%	9%	+/-3.8	656
AVERAGES	43%	41%	4%	4%	8%	+/-3.7	696.5
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

With Vandevender

Governor of Montana
Poll	Steve Bullock	Rick Hill	Ron Vandevender	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Mason-Dixon Polling and Research ( October 29-31, 2012)	46%	49%	2%	3%	+/-4.0	625
Mason-Dixon Polling and Research (September 17-19, 2012)	44%	43%	2%	11%	+/-4.0	625
AVERAGES	45%	46%	2%	7%	+/-4	625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Steve Bullock as Democratic candidate

Steve Bullock vs. Jeff Essmann
Poll	Steve Bullock	Jeff Essmann	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	42%	30%	28%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Steve Bullock vs. Rick Hill
Poll	Steve Bullock	Rick Hill	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	38%	39%	23%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Steve Bullock vs. Neil Livingstone
Poll	Steve Bullock	Neil Livingstone	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	41%	29%	30%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Steve Bullock vs. Ken Miller
Poll	Steve Bullock	Ken Miller	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	40%	31%	29%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Larry Jent as Democratic candidate

Larry Jent vs. Jeff Essmann
Poll	Larry Jent	Jeff Essmann	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	26%	30%	44%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Larry Jent vs. Rick Hill
Poll	Larry Jent	Rick Hill	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	26%	39%	35%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Larry Jent vs. Neil Livingstone
Poll	Larry Jent	Neil Livingstone	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	26%	30%	44%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Larry Jent vs. Ken Miller
Poll	Larry Jent	Ken Miller	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (November 28-30, 2011)	25%	33%	42%	+/-2.4	1,625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

Debates

The candidates for governor met several times, though not always as a full field.

9 candidates; both parties

On February 27, the Cascade County Farm Bureau sponsored a forum for 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat, Larry Jent. The candidates addressed a range of issues, including the threat of brucellosis to the state's cattle population, combination schools in rural communities, and the Keystone XL pipeline. Each candidate was also given the opportunity to make their case to the voters.

GOP candidates

Five of the seven GOP gubernatorial candidates met in Whitefish on May 2. Key issues in the debate included lowering property taxes, utilizing more of the state's natural resources, making the state's legal and regulatory climate less adversarial and finding new funding sources for public education.

At the beginning of the debate the candidates were asked, in turn, to highlight the strengths of their campaign and refute issues that have been brought to light throughout the campaign.

• Jim Lynch touted his record of saving the state $9.7 million, as Director of the Montana Department of Transportation, by reducing the number of employees and overtime hours. He argued it is attitude - not taxes and regulations - that is impeding growth, and explained he would jump start the state's economy by using similar existing savings in state government.
• Neil Livingstone, who has been accused of being more federally-focused, translated his management of "nine-figure companies around the world" into experience, objectivity and vision for Montana. He encouraged drilling, mining and logging as solutions to "turn Montana's economy around," and vowed to create a "legal and regulatory environment that allows Montana to prosper again."
• Ken Miller pledged to end both the business employment tax and corporate income tax. He proposed a "loser-pay" law intended to limit the number of lawsuits brought in the state and expedite the issuance of environmental permits and said he would "push for an amendment to the portion of Montana's constitution that states everyone is entitled to a clean and healthy environment, because it invites broad judicial interpretation."
• Corey Stapleton suggested the problem of delayed development of Montana's oil and coal production is rooted in the gubernatorial appointments made to board and commissions charged with oversight. He suggested Montana should look to revenue from natural resource development to create $220 million of permanent property tax relief and fund public education.
• Like Stapleton, Rick Hill advocated for a reduction in local property taxes, pointing to Wyoming's success in funding public education with coal tax revenues. He also criticized "trial lawyers and environmentalists" who he felt were behind a statewide regulatory structure that was stymieing Montana's economic growth.

Campaign finance

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices administers campaign finance law and maintains all records online.

Due dates for primary election:

• May 21: Pre-primary report #1
• May 31: Pre-primary report #2
• June 25: Post-primary report

Due dates for general election:

• October 22: Pre-general election report #1
• November 1: Pre-general election report #2
• November 26: Post-general election report

Candidates

Steve Bullock

Steve Bullock Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
Pre-primary report #1	May 19, 2012	$394,985.03	$72,910.01	$(47,915.10)	$419,979.94
Pre-primary report #2	May 31, 2012	$419,669.94	$34,633.00	$(7,440.44)	$446,862.50
Post-primary report	June 25, 2012	$446,562.50	$97,539.12	$(24,115.81)	$519,985.81
			Running totals
			$205,082.13	$(79,471.35)

Rick Hill

Rick Hill Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
Pre-primary report #1	May 20, 2012	$220,936.86	$43,894.02	$(165,182.23)	$99,648.65
Pre-primary report #2	May 31, 2012	$95,748.65	$25,497.00	$(75,529.58)	$45,716.07
Post-primary report	June 25, 2012	$45,716.07	$31,258.69	$(59,808.78)	$17,165.98
			Running totals
			$100,649.71	$(300,520.59)

Ron Vandevender

Ron Vandevender Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
Pre-primary report #1	May 21, 2012	$5.72	$30.00	$(25.95)	$9.77
Pre-primary report #2	May 30, 2012	$9.77	$41.00	$(40.95)	$9.82
Post-primary report	June 25, 2012	$9.82	$0.00	$(0.00)	$9.82
			Running totals
			$71	$(66.9)

Campaign media and news

News

• Election preview: No challengers for Montana's incumbent state executive officials March 13
• Election preview: No primary challengers for Montana's incumbent state executives June 4

Campaign sites

Democrats:

• Steve Bullock
• Larry Jent

Republicans:

• Bob Fanning
• Rick Hill
• Neil Livingstone
• Jim Lynch
• Ken Miller
• Jim O'Hara
• Corey Stapleton

Libertarian:

• Ron Vandevender

Independent:

• Ronald Lassle

Campaign advertisements

Steve Bullock

Rick Hill

Montana Jobs, Education, and Technology (JET) PAC
Complicated

Republican Governors Association
Climate

Costing You Jobs

AFSCME MT
Order

See also

• Governor of Montana
• Lieutenant Governor of Montana
• Montana state executive official elections, 2012
• Montana down ballot state executive elections, 2012
• State executive official elections, 2012

External links

Suggest a link

• Official candidate list
• "Internet Archive Wayback Machine copy of montanagovernor2012.com". http://web.archive.org/web/20120226185819/http://montanagovernor2012.com/.