Montana's sixteenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Frank Smith.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 19,637 civilians reside within Montana's sixteenth state senate district. Montana state senators represent an average of 19,788 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 18,044 residents.

About the office

Members of the Montana State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. Senators may serve no more than two consecutive terms. Twenty-five of the fifty state senate seats are up for election each even-numbered year. Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Montana State Senate, a candidate must be:

• A resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election
• A resident of the county for six months preceding the general election if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county.

Salaries

Term limits

The Montana legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Montana Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Montana senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Board of County Commissioners that represent the vacant seat must select a replacement. The Secretary of State must notify the Board of Commissioners and the county central committee of the political party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after the vacancy happened. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the Secretary of State to provide a list of candidates to the Board of County Commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the Senate is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.

2016 pivot county

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Montana State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline is March 9, 2020.

2016

Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016. Incumbent Jonathan Windy Boy (D) did not seek re-election because of term-limits.

Frank Smith defeated Bruce Meyers in the Montana State Senate District 16 general election.

Montana State Senate, District 16 General Election, 2016

Frank Smith defeated LeAnn Montes and Bobbi Favel in the Montana State Senate District 16 Democratic primary.

Montana State Senate, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2016

Bruce Meyers ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 16 Republican primary.

2012

Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 12, 2012. Incumbent Jonathan Windy Boy (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Frank J. Smith in the Democratic primary.

Montana State Senate, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Montana State Senate District 16 raised a total of $70,888. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $5,907 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Montana State Senate District 16