1996 Montana gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1996 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1996 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Governor of Montana Marc Racicot, who was first elected in 1992, ran for re-election. After winning the Republican primary against a conservative activist, he moved on to the general election, where he was set to face Chet Blaylock, a former state senator and the Democratic nominee. However, on October 23, 1996, Blaylock died of a heart attack, and the Montana Democratic Party selected his running mate, State Senator Judy Jacobson, to replace him, and she therefore became both the gubernatorial nominee and the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee.^[2] Ultimately, Racicot defeated Jacobson in a landslide to win re-election to his second and final term as governor.

1996 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1992 November 5, 1996 2000 →
Turnout	70.60%8.30[1]
Nominee Marc Racicot Judy Jacobson (replacing Chet Blaylock) Party Republican Democratic Running mate Judy Martz Judy Jacobson Popular vote 320,768 84,407 Percentage 79.2% 20.8%
County results Racicot:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Governor before election Marc Racicot Republican Elected Governor Marc Racicot Republican

As of 2025, this is the last time that the winning gubernatorial nominee carried all counties in Montana. This election was the first time since 1956 and the last until 2024, that an incumbent Republican governor of Montana was re-elected.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Chet Blaylock, former state senator
• Bob Kelleher, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic Party primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chet Blaylock	55,120	74.61
	Democratic	Bob Kelleher	18,761	25.39
Total votes			73,881	100.00

Note: Following Blaylock's death, Judy Jacobson, his running mate, was selected to replace him on the ballot as the Democratic nominee.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Rob Natelson, conservative activist and constitutional law professor
• Marc Racicot, incumbent governor of Montana

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Marc Racicot (incumbent)	92,644	76.37
	Republican	Rob Natelson	28,672	23.63
Total votes			121,316	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1996^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Marc Racicot (incumbent)	320,768	79.17%	+27.82%
	Democratic	Judy Jacobson	84,407	20.83%	−27.82%
Majority			236,361	58.34%	+55.64%
Turnout			405,175
	Republican hold		Swing