Montana State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
Montana Senate District 20
A district of about 14,000 people, 22% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+41.3 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Sue Vinton (R) · won70.6%
- Linda Auch (D)29.4%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 50 seats
Every Montana State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
17 races since 1968; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2024 | |||
| 2024 | Sue Vinton (R) | Linda Auch (D) | 41.2 |
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2022 | Barry Usher (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2018 | Duane Ankney (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2014 | Duane Ankney (R) | Hod Odonnell (D) | 62.5 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2010 | Frederick Moore (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2006 | Keith Bales (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 2002 | Duane Grimes (R) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1998 | Duane Grimes (R) | Leonard Wortman (D) | 10.6 |
| 1994 | Mike Foster (R) | Sam Samson (D) | 14.4 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1990 | Steve Doherty (D) | Jesse A. Ohara (R) | 16.7 |
| 1986 | Michael A. Walker (D) | Gary Lee (R) | 7.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Bill Thomas (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1976 | Bill Thomas (D) | Sal Leigland (R) | 15.4 |
| 1974 | Michael T. Greely (D) | M. F. Keller (R) | 0.4 |
| 1972 | Neil J. Lynch (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1970 | W. Gordon McOmber (D)Flip | Earl M. Berthelson (R) | 0.3 |
| 1968 | John Lyon (R) | W. Gordon McOmber (D) | 12.9 |
Primaries: 2014 Republican primary
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 20
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 20's area in each.
- U.S. House
- MT-2 100%
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+40.4 | No race | R+37.0 | R+41.0 |
| U.S. Senate | No race | R+13.6 | R+28.4 | R+28.5 |
| Governor | R+4.6 | No race | No race | R+40.5 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 50 seats. Small marks are other seats in Montana. The black marker is District 20.
Lower than 96% of seats.
Higher than 94% of seats.
Higher than 84% of seats.
Lower than 76% of seats.
Lower than 100% of seats.
Denser than 71% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 2229% college gradsR+31.1Held RDistrict 44
29% college gradsR+42.3Not up in 2026District 27
35% college gradsR+44.8Not up in 2026District 34
36% college gradsR+34.1Held R
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET