Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

Montana, State House, District 77

Montana House of Representatives District 77
Current incumbentMark Sweeney Democratic Party
Population10,058
Voting age81.7% age 18 and over

Montana's seventy-seventh state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Mark Sweeney.

As of the 2012 census, a total of 10,058 civilians reside within Montana's seventy-seventh state house district. Montana state representatives represent an average of 9,894 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 9,022 residents.

About the office

Members of the Montana House of Representatives are subject to term limits and may not serve more than four two-year terms. Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Montana House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election
  • A resident of the county for six months preceding the general election if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$92.46/day$114/day

Term limits

The Montana legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Montana Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Montana representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Board of County Commissioners that represent the vacant seat must select a replacement. The Secretary of State must notify the Board of Commissioners and the county central committee of the political party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after the vacancy happened. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the Secretary of State to provide a list of candidates to the Board of County Commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the Senate is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline is March 9, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Montana House of Representatives District 77

Mark Sweeney (D) defeated Heather Blom (R) and Dick Motta (L) in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mark Sweeney (D)
59.6
2,980

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Heather Blom (R)
35.8
1,789

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Dick Motta (L)
4.7
234

Total votes: 5,003
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77

Mark Sweeney advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Mark Sweeney (D)
100
1,617

Total votes: 1,617
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77

Heather Blom advanced from the Republican primary for Montana House of Representatives District 77 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Heather Blom (R)
100
1,052

Total votes: 1,052

2016

Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016.

Incumbent Kathy Swanson defeated Kerry Graybeal in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 general election.

Montana House of Representatives, District 77 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kathy Swanson Incumbent 57.35% 2,977
Republican Kerry Graybeal 42.65% 2,214
Total Votes 5,191
Source: Montana Secretary of State

Incumbent Kathy Swanson ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 Democratic primary.

Montana House of Representatives, District 77 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kathy Swanson Incumbent (unopposed)

Kerry Graybeal ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 77 Republican primary.

Montana House of Representatives, District 77 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kerry Graybeal (unopposed)


2012

Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 12, 2012. Kirk Wagoner (R) defeated Adam Lythgoe (D) in the general election. Wagoner defeated incumbent Alan L. Hale in the Republican primary. Lythgoe was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Montana House of Representatives, District 77, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngKirk Wagoner 56.8% 3,184
Democratic Adam Lythgoe 43.2% 2,418
Total Votes 5,602

Montana House of Representatives, District 77 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKirk B. Wagoner Incumbent 51.2% 865
Alan B. Hale 48.8% 824
Total Votes 1,689

Campaign contributions

From 2012 to 2016, candidates for Montana House of Representatives District 77 raised a total of $23,472. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $3,912 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Montana House of Representatives District 77

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $4,835 2 $2,418
2014 $2,543 1 $2,543
2012 * $16,094 3 $5,365
Total $23,472 6 $3,912
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.