1978 Montana House of Representatives election

← 1976 November 7, 1978 (1978-11-07) 1980 →
All 100 seats in theMontana House of Representatives 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Rep Leader John Brian Driscoll (retired) Bob Marks Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat 91st-Hamilton 80th-Clancy Last election 57 43 Seats after 55 45 Seat change 2 2
Speaker before election John Brian Driscoll[1][2] Democratic ElectedSpeaker Harold E. Gerke[3] Democratic

The1978Montana House of Representatives election took place on November 7, 1978, with the primary election held on June 6, 1978.Montana voters elected all 100 members of theMontana House of Representatives to serve two-year terms.^[4] The election coincided withUnited States national elections and Montana state elections, includingU.S. Senate,U.S. House, andMontana Senate.^[5][6]

Following theprevious election in 1976,Democrats held a 57-to-43-seat majority overRepublicans.^[7][8][9]Democrats maintained their majority in the legislature with 55 seats, while Republicans were elected in 45 seats—giving Republicans a net gain of two seats.^[7][5][6] The newly elected members served in the 46th Montana State Legislature, during which Democrat Harold E. Gerke was elected Speaker of the Montana House.^[3]

1. District 8: Edna A. Gunderson
2. District 35: Jack Gunderson
3. District 37: Patrick L. Ryan
4. District 61: Gary L. Colburn
5. District 77:Dorothy M. Bradley
6. District 87:John "J.D." Lynch
7. District 91:John Brian Driscoll
8. District 94: Gary Niles Kimble
9. District 96: Bob Palmer

1. District 9: David Aageson
2. District 48: Fred O. Barrett
3. District 79: Dale H. Davis
4. District 92: Elmer D. Severson

1. District 24: Harry Hansen
2. District 85: James T. Mular
3. District 86:Jim Courtney

1. District 14: Leo Kennerly Jr.
2. District 15: Russell Baeth
3. District 16: Ora J. Halvorson
4. District 29:Peter M. "Mike" Meloy
5. District 32: JoEllen Estenson
6. District 40: John F. Kenny

1. District 18: Lee Tower
2. District 19: Clyde A. Turner
3. District 43: Warren O'Keefe
4. District 72:Jean McLane
5. District 74: Edith E. Cox

Italics denote an open seat held by the incumbent party;bold text denotes a gain for a party.^[4][5][6]