Election Recap:

MTmedPAC had a very productive general election with 20 of the 23 legislative candidates it supported winning their perspective races, good for an 87% success rate. That includes MMA member Al Olszewski, M.D., of Kalispell, being elected to represent House District 11. Another MMA member, Mark Driscoll, M.D., of Butte, had a good showing but lost his election bid in House District 74.

Overall, the makeup of the Senate and House chambers did not change much, with Republicans holding a 29-21 advantage in the Senate and control of the House by a 59-41 margin. The margin in the Senate is the same as it was last session, while Democrats picked up two seats in the House when compared to 2013. Currently there is only one race that could face a recount. Democrat defeated Republican Dick Haines in Senate District 49 (Missoula) by seven votes, and if the margin remains that small following the counting of provisional ballots on Monday, then a recount will occur. A few other races may face a recount following the counting of provisional ballots.

In statewide races, Steve Daines (R) defeated (D) by a 58-40 margin, winning the U.S. Senate race. It marks the first time in 100 years that a Republican will hold that seat. In the race to fill the open U.S. House seat formally held by Daines, (R) defeated John Lewis (D) by a 55-40 margin, filling Montana’s only seat in the House of Representatives.

For complete election results, please click here. New and returning state legislators will have orientations and trainings in the next two months ahead of the 64th session of the , which will convene on Jan. 5, 2015, in Helena.

House Leadership Speaker of the House: Austin Knudsen (Culbertson) Speaker Pro Tempore: Lee Randall (Broadus) Majority Leader: (Kalispell) Majority Whips: Jerry Bennett (Libby), Alan Doane (Bloomfield), (Polson) and Sarah Laszloffy (Laurel) Minority Leader: (Helena) Minority Caucus Chair: Carolyn Pease-Lopez (Billings) Minority Whips: Margie MacDonald (Billings) (Missoula) and Jenny Eck (Helena)

Senate Leadership President of the Senate: Debby Barrett (Dillon) President Pro Tempore: Eric Moore (Miles City) Majority Leader: Matt Rosendale (Glendive) Majority Whips: Edward Buttrey (Great Falls) and (Billings) Minority Leader: Jon Sesso (Butte) Minority Whips: Robyn Driscoll (Billings) and Tom Facey (Missoula)