# 1988 United States Senate election in Montana

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The 1988 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent United States Senator John Melcher, who was first elected to the Senate in 1976 and was re-elected in 1982, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he faced Yellowstone County Commissioner Conrad Burns in the general election, and a grueling campaign followed. Ultimately, Melcher was narrowly defeated in his bid for re-election by Burns, who became the first Republican Senator from Montana in 36 years since Zales Ecton lost re-election in 1952.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* John Melcher, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Bob Kelleher, perennial candidate

### Results

Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Melcher (incumbent) | 88,457 | 74.54 |
| | Democratic | Bob Kelleher | 30,212 | 25.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 118,669 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Conrad Burns, Yellowstone County Commissioner
* Tom Faranda

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Conrad Burns | 63,330 | 84.71 |
| | Republican | Tom Faranda | 11,427 | 15.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,757 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1988 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Conrad Burns | 189,445 | 51.87% | +10.20% |
| | Democratic | John Melcher (incumbent) | 175,809 | 48.13% | −6.33% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,636 | 3.73% | −9.06% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 365,254 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | | |