The 2008 Montana gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of Montana. Incumbent governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat who was elected to his first four-year term in 2004, was elected to a second term with 65.5% of the vote, despite John McCain narrowly carrying the state during the concurrent presidential election. Incumbent lieutenant governor John Bohlinger, a Republican who was once again Schweitzer's running mate, was reelected to a second term. The Republican nominee was Roy Brown, a member of the Montana Senate. Brown's running mate was businessman Steve Daines, a future member of both chambers of Congress.
Democratic primary
Candidates Brian Schweitzer, incumbent governor of Montana, 2000 U.S. Senate nominee and rancher John Bohlinger, incumbent lieutenant governor of Montana and former Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives and Montana Senate William Fischer, small businessman involved in the logging industry in Lakeside, Montana Steve White, small business owner in the telecommunications industry in Kalispell, Montana Don Pogreba, Shelby native, English and debate teacher at Helena High School Jason Neiffer, Great Falls native, history teacher at Capital High School
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Roy Brown, businessman, member of the Montana Senate and former Majority Leader of the Montana House of Representatives Steve Daines, businessman Larry H. Steele, 2007 candidate for Mayor of Great Falls and 2006 candidate for the Montana House of Representatives Harold Luce
Primary results
Libertarian primary
Candidates Stan Jones, business consultant and United States Air Force veteran Michael Baker
General election
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 16, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2008Real Clear PoliticsNovember 4, 2008
Polling Poll source Dates administered BrianSchweitzer (D) RoyBrown (R) StanJones (L)Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 2, 2008 62% 36% –Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 1, 2008 56% 41% –The Mellman Group (D)The Mellman Group (D) September 16–18, 2008 63% 24% –Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 29, 2008 56% 32% 3%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 30, 2008 61% 32% 3%Mason Dixon/Lee NewspapersMason Dixon/Lee Newspapers May 19–21, 2008 55% 30% –Mason Dixon/Lee NewspapersMason Dixon/Lee Newspapers December 17–19, 2007 55% 30% –
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
References
External links Campaign contributions from Follow the Money Brown (R) vs Schweitzer (D-i) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com Roy Brown for Governor Brian Schweitzer for Governor