PROFILPELAJAR.COM

1968 Montana gubernatorial election
Turnout	86.40%0.60
	County results; Anderson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Babcock: 40-50% 50-60%
Governor before election; Tim Babcock; Republican	Elected Governor ; Forrest H. Anderson; Democratic

The 1968 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Governor of Montana Tim Babcock, who became Governor upon the death of previous Governor Donald Grant Nutter and was elected in 1964, ran for re-election. He faced serious competition in the Republican primary from his Lieutenant Governor, but managed to comfortably win renomination. Advancing to the general election, Babcock faced Forrest H. Anderson, the Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee, and independent candidate Wayne Montgomery of the New Reform Party. Ultimately, Anderson managed to defeat Babcock by a solid margin, winning his first and only term as governor. As of 2023, this is the last time an incumbent Governor of Montana lost re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Forrest H. Anderson, Attorney General of Montana
Eugene H. Mahoney, State Senator
LeRoy H. Anderson, State Senator, former United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district
Willard E. Fraser, Mayor of Billings
Hanford K. Gallup, rancher
Merrill K. Riddick

Results

Democratic Party primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Forrest H. Anderson	39,057	38.36
	Democratic	Eugene H. Mahoney	35,562	34.93
	Democratic	LeRoy H. Anderson	16,476	16.18
	Democratic	Willard E. Fraser	8,525	8.37
	Democratic	Hanford K. Gallup	1,149	1.13
	Democratic	Merrill K. Riddick	1,052	1.03
Total votes			101,821	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Tim Babcock, incumbent Governor of Montana
Ted James, Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Warren A. McMillan
J. Wellington Fauver

Results

Republican Primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tim Babcock (incumbent)	50,369	55.10
	Republican	Ted James	36,664	40.11
	Republican	Warren A. McMillan	2,994	3.28
	Republican	J. Wellington Fauver	1,392	1.52
Total votes			91,419	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1968^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Forrest H. Anderson	150,481	54.11%	+5.40%
	Republican	Tim Babcock (incumbent)	116,432	41.87%	−9.43%
	New Reform Party	Wayne Montgomery	11,199	4.03%
Majority			34,049	12.24%	+9.66%
Turnout			278,112
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 4, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
^ "Official Montana General Election Results, November 5, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.

[1] "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.

[Primary_election_results-2] "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 4, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.

[3] "Official Montana General Election Results, November 5, 1968". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]