Montana State House District 81
Tue, Nov 3 · Represented by Mary Caferro Democratic · Member list as of Oct 28
No published poll names both candidates.Last result · 2024 general (different candidates): Mary Caferro (D) 55.5, Dustin Scott (R) 44.5
- Last election
- Mary Caferro (Democratic) won by 11.0 points, 2024
- On the 2026 ballot
- 2 candidates
Side by side
Left column: EllisRight column: Looney
- Donor-based spectrum
- LiberalCentristConservativeEllisNo published score for Looney
- Races
- Won 4 of 4
- None listed
- Years since first win
- 8
- Not available
How these are counted
The spectrum is a published research score, not our rating. How this works. Wins and losses count the races in our results files, the same as each profile.
More about this race
Candidates on the ballot
Open seat
The current holder, Mary Caferro, is not on the candidate list.
- Janet EllisDemocratic
- John J Looney SrRepublican
Party nominees only, not the certified ballot.
Source: candidatefiling.mt.gov, dated Oct 28
All State House districts
- Democratic
- Republican
- Independent
- Nonpartisan
- More than one party
- No member listed
Map settings
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History (26 elections for this seat)
- Votes for listed candidates
- 6,299
- Election day
- November 5, 2024
- District map
- Older district map (2022 to 2024)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2024, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticMary CaferroWon Democratic 3,49855.5% RepublicanDustin Scott Republican 2,80144.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 4,882
- Election day
- November 8, 2022
- District map
- Older district map (2014 to 2022)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2022, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticMelissa RomanoWon Democratic 2,82757.9% RepublicanJill Sark Republican 2,05542.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 6,254
- Election day
- November 3, 2020
- District map
- Older district map (2014 to 2020)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2020, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticMary CaferroWon(incumbent) Democratic 3,47855.6% RepublicanBob Leach Republican 2,77644.4% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,794
- Election day
- November 6, 2018
- District map
- Older district map (2014 to 2018)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2018, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticMary CaferroWon Democratic 3,794100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,933
- Election day
- November 8, 2016
- District map
- Older district map (2014 to 2016)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2016, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJanet EllisWon(incumbent) Democratic 3,933100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,774
- Election day
- November 4, 2014
- District map
- Older district map (2014)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2014, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticJanet EllisWon Democratic 2,20758.5% RepublicanMichael H. Pardis Republican 1,56741.5% - Votes for listed candidates
- 4,012
- Election day
- November 6, 2012
- District map
- Older district map (2004 to 2013)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2012, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticGalen HollenbaughWon(incumbent) Democratic 2,91972.8% RepublicanRonald Lassle Republican 1,09327.2% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,118
- Election day
- November 2, 2010
- District map
- Older district map (2004 to 2013)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2010, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticGalen HollenbaughWon(incumbent) Democratic 2,11567.8% RepublicanJames D. Stewart Republican 1,00332.2% - Votes for listed candidates
- 4,113
- Election day
- November 4, 2008
- District map
- Older district map (2004 to 2013)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2008, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticGalen HollenbaughWon Democratic 2,87069.8% RepublicanTod Glenn Republican 1,24330.2% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,819
- Election day
- November 7, 2006
- District map
- Older district map (2004 to 2013)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2006, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticChristine KaufmannWon(incumbent) Democratic 2,79973.3% RepublicanJason Blaine Thornock Republican 1,02026.7% - Votes for listed candidates
- 4,233
- Election day
- November 2, 2004
- District map
- Older district map (2004 to 2013)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2004, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share DemocraticChristine KaufmannWon(incumbent) Democratic 3,00070.9% RepublicanRobert Leach Republican 1,23329.1% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,343
- Election day
- November 5, 2002
- District map
- Older district map (1994 to 2003)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2002, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanRick MaedjeWon Republican 2,07562.1% IndependentPete Zarnowski Independent 1,26837.9% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,784
- Election day
- November 7, 2000
- District map
- Older district map (1994 to 2003)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 2000, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanAubyn CurtissWon(incumbent) Republican 3,13182.7% DemocraticJerome F. Johnson Democratic 65317.3% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,489
- Election day
- November 3, 1998
- District map
- Older district map (1994 to 2003)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1998, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanAubyn CurtissWon(incumbent) Republican 2,29465.8% DemocraticAllen R. Vanhorn Democratic 1,19534.3% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,225
- Election day
- November 5, 1996
- District map
- Older district map (1994 to 2003)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1996, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanAubyn CurtissWon(incumbent) Republican 3,225100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,604
- Election day
- November 8, 1994
- District map
- Older district map (1994 to 2003)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1994, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanAubyn CurtissWon Republican 2,00155.5% DemocraticTerry Utter Democratic 1,46740.7% IndependentDaniel G. Waters Independent 1363.8% - Votes for listed candidates
- 5,190
- Election day
- November 3, 1992
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1993)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1992, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanShiell W. AndersonWon Republican 3,55068.4% DemocraticJerrold K. Fries Democratic 1,64031.6% - Votes for listed candidates
- 4,473
- Election day
- November 6, 1990
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1993)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1990, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanOrval S. EllisonWon(incumbent) Republican 2,68660.0% DemocraticJanice E. Couinter Democratic 1,78740.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,829
- Election day
- November 8, 1988
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1993)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1988, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanOrval S. EllisonWon(incumbent) Republican 3,829100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,177
- Election day
- November 4, 1986
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1993)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1986, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanOrval S. EllisonWon(incumbent) Republican 3,177100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,826
- Election day
- November 6, 1984
- District map
- Older district map (1984 to 1993)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1984, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanOrval S. EllisonWon(incumbent) Republican 3,826100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,213
- Election day
- November 2, 1982
- District map
- Older district map (1974 to 1983)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1982, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanKerry KeyserWon(incumbent) Republican 3,213100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 3,446
- Election day
- November 4, 1980
- District map
- Older district map (1974 to 1983)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1980, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanKerry KeyserWon(incumbent) Republican 3,446100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 2,642
- Election day
- November 7, 1978
- District map
- Older district map (1974 to 1983)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1978, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanKerry KeyserWon Republican 2,642100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 5,120
- Election day
- November 2, 1976
- District map
- Older district map (1974 to 1983)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1976, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanFrank W. HazelbaderWon Republican 5,120100.0% - Votes for listed candidates
- 2,263
- Election day
- November 4, 1974
- District map
- Older district map (1974 to 1983)
Montana House of Representatives District 81, 1974 to 2024, 1974, every candidate Candidate Party Votes and share Share RepublicanJohn H. AndersonWon Republican 2,263100.0%
- 2024: MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns; not an official source
- 1974 to 2022: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), retrieved Oct 28, 2026. Compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns; not an official source
Last contest in this district on file: 2024.
Download and cite
Cite this page
Election Wrld. (2026). Montana State House District 81, election results 1974 to 2024. https://www.electionwrld.com/mt/house/81. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
Embed this seat
<iframe src="https://www.electionwrld.com/embed/mt/house/81" title="Montana House of Representatives District 81" width="100%" height="400" style="border:0;max-width:640px" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:13px">Data: <a href="https://www.electionwrld.com">Election Wrld</a>, CC BY 4.0</p>Sources
Sources: Census TIGERweb Legislative MapServer (120th CDs layer 0, 119th CDs layer 4, 2026 SLD upper layer 1 and lower layer 2) (US Census Bureau, public domain), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open Civic Data division identifiers (census_autogenerated us_sldl/us_sldu and openstates state files); also (sld-recent.json): Open Civic Data division identifiers (country-us) (CC0 (repository); also (sld-recent.json): CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026; Open States people (current) CSVs (CC0-1.0 (Open States people data)), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Open States volunteers and staff (rosters from state legislature sites) from official returns, not an official source; MEDSL 2024 official precinct returns (individual_states zips) (Not stated in the GitHub repository (an earlier label said "MIT (repo)", which the repository does not support). MEDSL's Harvard Dataverse records are CC0 1.0, but these GitHub files were not checksum-matched to the Dataverse files, so CC0 is not claimed for them.), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL) from official returns, not an official source; State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse) (CC0 1.0), retrieved Oct 28, 2026, compiled by Carl Klarner (Harvard Dataverse) from official returns, not an official source.
District id: ocd-division/country:us/state:mt/sldl:81
DataState data (JSON)Sources: State Legislative Election Returns, 1967-2022 (Carl Klarner, Harvard Dataverse), DIME (ODC-BY), MEDSL 2024 official precinct returnsData as of Oct 28, 2026