Montana's forty-fourth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Fred Thomas.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 20,107 civilians reside within Montana's forty-fourth 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.

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 Fred Thomas defeated James Olsen in the Montana State Senate District 44 general election.

Montana State Senate, District 44 General Election, 2016

James Olsen defeated Lee Tickell in the Montana State Senate District 44 Democratic primary.

Montana State Senate, District 44 Democratic Primary, 2016

Incumbent Fred Thomas ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 44 Republican primary.

2010

Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 15, 2010. Bob Lake (R) defeated Pam Erickson (D) and Dan Cox (L) in the general election. Lake defeated Art Baker in the Republican primary. Erickson was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cox was unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

Montana State Senate, District 44, General Election, 2010

Montana State Senate, District 44 Republican Primary, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Montana State Senate District 44 raised a total of $92,532. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $8,412 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Montana State Senate District 44