The 2000 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Conrad Burns won re-election to a third term. This was the last time until 2024 where Republicans won the Class 1 Senate seat from Montana.

Brian Schweitzer, the Democratic Party nominee, would be elected governor four years later.

Democratic primary Candidates John Driscoll, former Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives Brian Schweitzer, farmer and former United States Department of Agriculture employee, future Governor of Montana

Results

Republican primary Candidates Conrad Burns, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Reform primary Candidates Sam Rankin

Results

Though Sam Rankin won the Reform Party's nomination for the United States Senate, he dropped out of the race over the summer and was replaced by Gary Lee.

General election Candidates Conrad Burns (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Gary Lee (Re) Brian Schweitzer (D), farmer and former United States Department of Agriculture employee

Campaign Burns, in a poll released September 21, was leading Schweitzer 48% to 39% that went down from 49% in November 1999. Schweitzer had his polls go up by 11 points.

Burns faced a surprisingly difficult reelection campaign in 2000. In February 1999, he announced that he would break his 1988 promise to only hold office for two terms, claiming "Circumstances have changed, and I have rethought my position."George Will, "...Terms Unlimited", The Washington Post, June 24, 1999 Later that same month, while giving a speech about U.S. dependence on foreign oil to the Montana Equipment Dealers Association, he referred to Arabs as "ragheads". Burns soon apologized, saying he "became too emotionally involved" during the speech.Al Kamen, "Burns's A List: African Americans, Arabs", The Washington Post, March 12, 1999.

Burns faced Brian Schweitzer, a rancher from Whitefish, Montana. While Burns attempted to link Schweitzer with presidential candidate Al Gore, whom Schweitzer never met, Schweitzer "effectively portrayed himself as nonpolitical".Michael Barone, The Almanac of American Politics 2004, National Journal Group. Schweitzer primarily challenged Burns on the issue of prescription drugs, organizing busloads of senior citizens to take trips to Canada and Mexico for cheaper medicine.William Booth, "Mont. Rancher Mounts Brawny Challenge; Crusty GOP Incumbent Finds Race Tightening Against an Equally Rough-Hewn Opponent", The Washington Post, October 31, 2000 Burns charged that Schweitzer favored "Canadian-style government controls" and claimed that senior citizens went to doctors to have "somebody to visit with. There's nothing wrong with them." Burns also faced trouble regarding deaths from asbestos in Libby, Montana. While he initially supported a bill to limit compensation in such cases, he withdrew his support for the bill, under public criticism, and added $11.5 million for the town to an appropriations bill.Al Kamen, "Town Getting $ 11 Million in Salve From Burns", The Washington Post, May 12, 2000.

Burns spent twice as much money as Schweitzer on the election and only defeated him by a slim margin, 51% to 47%, while the state voted 58% to 33% for Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush. Schweitzer went on to become governor in 2005.

Debates Complete video of debate, October 10, 2000 Complete video of debate, October 16, 2000 Complete video of debate, October 21, 2000

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Blaine (largest city: Chinooko) Cascade (largest city: Great Falls) Hill (largest city: Havre) Lewis and Clark (largest city: Helena) Rosebud (largest city: Colstrip) Big Horn (largest city: Hardin) Glacier (largest city: Cut Bank) Roosevelt (largest city: Wolf Point)

See also 2000 United States Senate elections

References

External links Official campaign websites (Archived) Conrad Burns (R) Brian Schweitzer (D)