2024 Montana Attorney General election

The 2024 Montana Attorney General election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the attorney general of the state of Montana. It coincided with the concurrent presidential election, as well as various state and local elections, including for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor of Montana. Incumbent attorney general Austin Knudsen was re-elected to a second term, defeating Democratic challenger Ben Alke.[1] Primary elections took place on June 4, 2024.[2]

2024 Montana Attorney General election

← 2020 November 5, 2024 2028 →
 
Nominee Austin Knudsen Ben Alke
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 344,381 231,350
Percentage 59.8% 40.2%

County results
[citation needed]
Knudsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100%
Alke:      50–60%      60–70%

Attorney General before election

Austin Knudsen
Republican

Elected Attorney General

Austin Knudsen
Republican

Republican primary

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During a fundraiser on May 11, 2024, Knudsen said that he asked Logan Olson to contest the primary as a dummy candidate, for the purpose of allowing Knudsen's campaign to raise more money in accordance with state campaign finance laws. Olson denied these claims. The director of the Montana Democratic Party lodged an ethics complaint following this disclosure.[3]

Candidates

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Nominee

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Eliminated in primary

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Results

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Primary results by county:
  Knudsen
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   >90%
Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Austin Knudsen (incumbent) 148,458 82.20%
Republican Logan Olson 32,141 17.80%
Total votes 180,599 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee

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  • Ben Alke, attorney[7]

Results

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Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Alke 93,295 100.00%
Total votes 93,295 100.00%

General election

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] Safe R July 25, 2024

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Austin
Knudsen (R)
Ben
Alke (D)
Other Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[A] September 29 - October 1, 2024 500 (LV) ± 4.34% 53% 35% 2%[b] 11%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[A] June 11–13, 2024 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 55% 33% 12%

Results

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2024 Montana Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Austin Knudsen (incumbent)
Democratic Ben Alke
Total votes

Notes

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  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Won't Vote" with 1%; "Refused" with 1%
Partisan clients
  1. ^ a b Poll sponsored by the Montana Republican Party

References

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  1. ^ "Montana Attorney General Election Results 2024". The New York Times. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Hanson, Amy Beth (May 17, 2024). "Montana's attorney general said he recruited token primary opponent to increase campaign fundraising". Associated Press. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (November 7, 2023). "Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announces 2024 re-election bid". Montana Free Press. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  5. ^ "FEDERAL PRIMARY 2024 Candidate List". prodcandidatefiling.mt.gov. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Montana Secretary of State". electionresults.mt.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren (October 2, 2023). "Bozeman attorney Ben Alke launches campaign for attorney general". Montana Free Press. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Jacobson, Louis (July 25, 2024). "2024's Races for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor: An Update". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
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Official campaign websites