1978 United States Senate election in Montana
The 1978 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 7, 1978. Following the death of United States Senator Lee Metcalf on January 12, 1978, Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul G. Hatfield was appointed to serve for the remainder of Metcalf's term. Hatfield opted to run for re-election, but was overwhelmingly defeated in the Democratic primary by United States Congressman Max Baucus of the 1st congressional district. Baucus advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Larry R. Williams, an author and the Republican nominee. Baucus ended up defeating Williams by a solid margin to win his first term in the Senate, and, following Hatfield's resignation on December 12, 1978, he began serving his first term in the Senate.
Mike Taylor (Montana politician)
Born in Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana, Taylor grew up in Judith Basin County, Montana. He owned a hair cutting shop and was a rancher. Taylor lived in Proctor, Montana, From 1997 to 2005, Taylor served in the Montana State Senate and was a Republican. In 2002, Taylor ran for the United States Senate from Montana opposing the incumbent Max Baucus. Taylor withdrew from the race because of a smear campaign. He then re-entered the campaign and lost the election to Baucus.