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Montana, State House, District 31

Montana House of Representatives District 31
Current incumbentBridget Smith Democratic Party
Population9,837
Voting age67.4% age 18 and over

Montana's thirty-first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Bridget Smith.

As of the 2012 census, a total of 9,837 civilians reside within Montana's thirty-first 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.

2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png

This district is one of 710 state legislative districts that intersects with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.

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 31

Incumbent Bridget Smith (D) won election in the general election for Montana House of Representatives District 31 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Bridget Smith (D)
100
2,360

Total votes: 2,360
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 31

Incumbent Bridget Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana House of Representatives District 31 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Bridget Smith (D)
100
577

Total votes: 577
Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

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 Bridget Smith ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 31 general election.

Montana House of Representatives, District 31 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bridget Smith Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Montana Secretary of State

Incumbent Bridget Smith ran unopposed in the Montana House of Representatives District 31 Democratic primary.

Montana House of Representatives, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bridget Smith Incumbent (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. Bridget Smith (D) defeated write-in candidates Walter White Tail Feather and Bill Whitehead in the general election after defeating them in the Democratic primary.

Montana House of Representatives, District 31, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBridget Smith 86% 1,986
Independent Walter White Tail Feather (write-in) 8% 184
Independent Bill Whitehead (write-in) 6% 139
Total Votes 2,309

Montana House of Representatives, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBridget Smith 38.7% 237
Walter White Tail Feather 33.4% 205
Bill Whitehead 27.9% 171
Total Votes 613

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Montana House of Representatives District 31 raised a total of $39,655. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $2,203 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Montana House of Representatives District 31

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $1,840 1 $1,840
2014 $2,377 2 $1,189
2012 $802 3 $267
2010 $4,037 2 $2,019
2008 $1,780 1 $1,780
2006 $886 1 $886
2004 $5,950 2 $2,975
2002 $15,542 4 $3,886
2000 $6,441 2 $3,221
Total $39,655 18 $2,203