Montana State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
Montana Senate District 44
A district of about 24,000 people, 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+42.3 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Theresa Manzella (R) · won71.9%
- Cade Scatolini (D)28.1%
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
14 races since 1974; 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 | Theresa Manzella (R) | Cade Scatolini (D) | 43.7 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Theresa Manzella (R) | Margaret Gorski (D) | 34.4 |
| 2016 | Fred Thomas (R) | James R. Olsen (D) | 40.1 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2010 | Bob Lake (R) | Pam Erickson (D) | 30.1 |
| 2006 | Rick Laible (R) | Deb Essen (D) | 24.5 |
| 2002 | Jerry W. Black (R) | Rich Clough (D) | 15.5 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 1998 | E. P. Ekegren (R) | Gerald M. Smith (D) | 20.8 |
| 1994 | Gary Aklestad (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1992 | Thomas F. Keating (R) | Kathy Kelker (D) | 10.7 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Thomas F. Keating (R) | Daryl A. Crane (D) | 49.4 |
| 1984 | Thomas F. Keating (R)Flip | Beverly Bladow (D) | 30.4 |
| 1982 | John J. D. Lynch (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1978 | John E. Healy (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1974 | John E. Healy (D) | — | Unopposed |
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 44
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 44's area in each.
- U.S. House
- MT-1 100%
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+39.2 | No race | R+37.9 |
| U.S. Senate | No race | R+20.5 | R+32.4 |
| Governor | R+15.9 | No race | No race |
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 44.
Lower than 59% of seats.
Higher than 69% of seats.
Higher than 78% of seats.
Higher than 73% of seats.
Higher than 76% of seats.
Less dense than 51% 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 2735% college gradsR+44.8Not up in 2026District 7
27% college gradsR+40.2Not up in 2026District 13
29% college gradsR+42.8Not up in 2026District 22
29% college gradsR+31.1Held 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