# 1976 Montana gubernatorial election

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The 1976 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Governor of Montana Thomas Lee Judge, who was first elected in 1972, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary unopposed, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Bob Woodahl, the Attorney General of Montana and the Republican nominee. Ultimately, Judge defeated Woodahl by a landslide to win his second and final term as governor.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Thomas Lee Judge, incumbent Governor of Montana

### Results

Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thomas Lee Judge (incumbent) | 79,596 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,596 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Bob Woodahl, Attorney General of Montana
* Jack McDonald, State Senator

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Woodahl | 47,629 | 56.67 |
| | Republican | Jack McDonald | 36,420 | 43.33 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,049 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1976 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Thomas Lee Judge (incumbent) | 195,420 | 61.70% | +7.58% |
| | Republican | Bob Woodahl | 115,848 | 36.58% | −9.30% |
| | Independent | Charlie Mahoney | 5,452 | 1.72% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 79,572 | 25.12% | +16.88% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 316,720 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |