Montana House of Representatives District 77
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| Census Topic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,507 |
| Gender |
51.4% Male 48.6% Female |
| Race |
92.6% White 0.1% Black 0.4% Asian 1.6% Native American 0% Pacific Islander |
| Ethnicity | 2.8% Hispanic |
| Median household income | $44,046 |
| High school graduation rate | 91.1% |
| College graduation rate | 23.7% |
Montana House of Representatives District 77 is represented by Sara Novak (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Montana state representatives represented an average of 10,842 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 9,894 residents.
About the office[edit]
Members of the Montana House of Representatives are subject to term limits and may not serve more than four two-year terms. 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.[1][2]
Qualifications[edit]
To be eligible to serve in the Montana House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[3]
- "[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[edit]
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $100.46/legislative day | $126.12/day; For additional expenses, legislators will receive a primary $3,000 stipend and a secondary amount between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the size of a legislator's district. |
Term limits[edit]
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Montana House of Representatives has been a term-limited state house since Montana voters approved CI-64 in 1992. CI-64 created Section 8 of Article IV of the Montana Constitution, which says that state representatives cannot serve eight or more years in any 16-year period.[4]
Vacancies[edit]
If there is a vacancy in the Montana State Legislature, the board of county commissioners that represent the vacant seat must select a replacement. The secretary of state must notify the board of county 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 Legislature is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list.[5] Any person selected to fill a House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.[6]
See sources: Montana Const. Art. 5, Sec 7 and Montana Code Ann. §5-2-402
District map[edit]
Redistricting[edit]
2020-2022[edit]
New state legislative district maps have not yet been enacted. The Montana state constitution provides that the state's redistricting commission must submit legislative maps to the Montana State Legislature so the legislature can provide non-binding recommendations about the maps before they are enacted. In 2021, the legislature adjourned on April 29, before U.S. Census data was delivered. The legislature's next session takes place in 2023.[7]
How does redistricting in Montana work? Montana uses a non-politician commission for congressional and state legislative redistricting. This commission comprises five members. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature select one member a piece. These four members then select a fifth to serve as the commission's chair. If the first four commissioners are unable to agree on an appointment, the Montana Supreme Court may select the fifth member.[8]
The Montana Constitution requires that no commissioner be a public official. State statutes require that two of the first four commissioners "must be selected from certain counties (roughly, in the Montana Rockies to the west) and two must be selected from the rest of the state (to the east)."[8]
The state's Districting and Apportionment Commission must complete congressional redistricting within 90 days of receiving federal census data. It must prepare a legislative redistricting plan "by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature's recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature's recommendations, it is not required to do so."[9]
The state constitution requires that districts be both contiguous and compact.[8]
| “ | The ... commission has stated that it may gauge compactness by looking to a district's general appearance, and the degree to which it fosters "functional compactness" through "travel and transportation, communication, and geography." The commission has similarly determined that it will, in drawing legislative districts, consider the boundary lines of political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, school districts, Indian reservations, neighborhood commissions, and others); follow geographic boundaries; and consider keeping intact communities of interest (based on "Indian reservations, urban[, suburban, or rural] interests, . . . neighborhoods, trade areas, geographic location, communication and transportation networks, media markets, social, cultural and economic interests, or occupations and lifestyles").[10] | ” |
| —All About Redistricting | ||
Elections[edit]
2022[edit]
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Sara Novak and John Fitzpatrick ran in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate |
||
|
|
Sara Novak (D) | |
|
|
John Fitzpatrick (R) | |
|
||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Incumbent Sara Novak advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Sara Novak |
100.0
|
1,502 |
|
Total votes: 1,502 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
John Fitzpatrick advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
John Fitzpatrick |
100.0
|
1,513 |
|
Total votes: 1,513 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
2020[edit]
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Sara Novak defeated Heather Blom in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Sara Novak (D) |
52.8
|
3,057 |
|
|
Heather Blom (R) |
47.2
|
2,730 | |
|
Total votes: 5,787 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Sara Novak advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Sara Novak |
100.0
|
2,004 |
|
Total votes: 2,004 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Heather Blom advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Heather Blom |
100.0
|
1,544 |
|
Total votes: 1,544 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
2018[edit]
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Mark Sweeney defeated Heather Blom and Dick Motta in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Mark Sweeney (D) |
59.6
|
2,980 |
|
|
Heather Blom (R) |
35.8
|
1,789 | |
|
|
Dick Motta (L) |
4.7
|
234 | |
|
Total votes: 5,003 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Mark Sweeney advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Mark Sweeney |
100.0
|
1,617 |
|
Total votes: 1,617 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77
Heather Blom advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Heather Blom |
100.0
|
1,052 |
|
Total votes: 1,052 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
||||
2016[edit]
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives 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 Kathy Swanson defeated Kerry Graybeal in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 general election.[11][12]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 77 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kathy Swanson Incumbent |
57.35% | 2,977 | |
| Republican | Kerry Graybeal | 42.65% | 2,214 | |
| Total Votes | 5,191 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Kathy Swanson ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 Democratic primary.[13][14]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 77 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Kathy Swanson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Kerry Graybeal ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 Republican primary.[15][16]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 77 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Kerry Graybeal (unopposed) | |
2014[edit]
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Incumbent Kathy Swanson was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. Incumbent Kirk Wagoner (D) ran in District 75. James Davis (R) filed to run, but was removed from the ballot before the primary.[17][18]
2012[edit]
Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives 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. Kirk Wagoner (R) defeated Adam Lythgoe (D) in the general election. Wagoner defeated incumbent Alan L. Hale in the Republican primary. Lythgoe was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[19][20][21]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kirk Wagoner |
56.8% | 3,184 | |
| Democratic | Adam Lythgoe | 43.2% | 2,418 | |
| Total Votes | 5,602 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kirk B. Wagoner Incumbent |
51.2% | 865 |
| Alan B. Hale | 48.8% | 824 |
| Total Votes | 1,689 | |
Campaign contributions[edit]
From 2012 to 2018, candidates for Montana House of Representatives District 77 raised a total of $36,676. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $4,075 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Montana House of Representatives District 77 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2018 | $13,204 | 3 | $4,401 |
| 2016 | $4,835 | 2 | $2,418 |
| 2014 | $2,543 | 1 | $2,543 |
| 2012 | $16,094 | 3 | $5,365 |
| Total | $36,676 | 9 | $4,075 |
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ Confirmed via email with the Montana State Legislature on 8/6/2011
- ↑ Montana Constitution, "Article V, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 5, Section 4," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 4, Section 8," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-402 (3) (a)-(c))
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-405 (1)-(2))
- ↑ Montana State Legislature, "Constitution of Montana -- Article V -- THE LEGISLATURE," accessed June 2, 2022
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 All About Redistricting, "Montana," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ Montana State Legislature, "Districting and Apportionment Commission," accessed October 6, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Elections Candidate Information," accessed October 23, 2013
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislatve Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
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