1956 Montana gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1956 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1956 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent governor of Montana J. Hugo Aronson, who was first elected Governor in 1952, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Arnold Olsen, the Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee. Despite the fact that then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower won the state in a landslide that year in the presidential election, Aronson only narrowly defeated Arnold to win his second and final term as governor.

1956 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1952 November 6, 1956 1960 →
Turnout	83.20%2.50[1]
Nominee J. Hugo Aronson Arnold Olsen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 138,878 131,488 Percentage 51.37% 48.63%
County results Aronson:      50–60%      60–70% Olsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election J. Hugo Aronson Republican Elected Governor J. Hugo Aronson Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Arnold Olsen, Attorney General of Montana
• John W. Bonner, former governor of Montana
• Danny O'Neill, livestock man
• J. M. Nickey

Results

Democratic Party primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Arnold Olsen	55,269	44.94
	Democratic	John W. Bonner	51,306	41.72
	Democratic	Danny O'Neill	14,777	12.01
	Democratic	J. M. Nickey	1,639	1.33
Total votes			122,991	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• J. Hugo Aronson, incumbent governor of Montana

Results

Republican Primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	J. Hugo Aronson (incumbent)	50,444	100.00
Total votes			50,444	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1956^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Hugo Aronson (incumbent)	138,878	51.37%	+0.41%
	Democratic	Arnold Olsen	131,488	48.63%	−0.41%
Majority			7,390	2.73%	+0.82%
Turnout			270,366
	Republican hold		Swing