The 2002 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Max Baucus won re-election to a fifth term.
This was one of the four Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that George W. Bush won in the 2000 presidential election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Max Baucus, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Melvin Hanson
- Brad Johnson, businessman
- John McDonald
- Mike Taylor, Montana State Senator
Results
General election
Candidates
- Max Baucus, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
- Stan Jones (Libertarian)
- Bob Kelleher, attorney (Green)
Withdrew
- Mike Taylor, State Senator (Republican) (withdrew October 10)
Campaign
The 2002 Montana elections drew national attention when Baucus's opponent, state senator Mike Taylor, accused Baucus of having implied that Taylor was gay in a campaign ad. The ad was paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, though designed by the Baucus campaign. The ad, which alleged that Taylor had embezzled funds from the cosmetology school he once owned, showed footage from the early 1980s of Taylor massaging another man's face while wearing a tight suit with an open shirt. Taylor dropped out of the race and Baucus won with 63 percent of the vote.
Debates
- Complete video of debate, September 16, 2002
Predictions
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
See also
- 2002 United States Senate elections
References
