Diane Sands
Diane Sands (Democratic Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 49. She assumed office on January 5, 2015. She left office on January 2, 2023.
Sands (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 49. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Sands served in the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 95 from 2007 to 2013. She previously served from 1997 through 1998.
Biography
Sands earned her B.A. from the University of Montana. Her professional experience includes working as a political consultant.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Sands was assigned to the following committees:
- Highways and Transportation Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Legislative Administration Committee, Vice Chair
- Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee
2019-2020
Sands was assigned to the following committees:
- Highways and Transportation Committee
- Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Legislative Administration Committee, Vice Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation |
| • Judiciary, Vice chair |
| • Legislative Administration |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sands served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Highways and Transportation |
| • Judiciary |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sands served on these committees:
- Judiciary, Vice Chair
- Legislative Administration
- Transportation
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sands served on these committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2022
Diane Sands was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2018
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Montana State Senate District 49
Incumbent Diane Sands defeated Chase Reynolds in the general election for Montana State Senate District 49 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Diane Sands (D) | 51.6 | 5,579 | |
| Chase Reynolds (R) | 48.4 | 5,236 | ||
| Total votes: 10,815 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Greg Strandberg (G)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 49
Incumbent Diane Sands advanced from the Democratic primary for Montana State Senate District 49 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Diane Sands | 100.0 | 2,756 | |
| Total votes: 2,756 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 49
Chase Reynolds advanced from the Republican primary for Montana State Senate District 49 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chase Reynolds | 100.0 | 1,963 | |
| Total votes: 1,963 | ||||
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Green primary election
Green primary for Montana State Senate District 49
Greg Strandberg advanced from the Green primary for Montana State Senate District 49 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Strandberg | 100.0 | 30 | |
| Total votes: 30 | ||||
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2014
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Diane Sands defeated Douglas Coffin in the Democratic primary. Dick Haines defeated Mike Hopkins in the Republican primary. According to election night returns, Sands defeated Haines by seven votes in the general election; the Montana Secretary of State's office marked the race for a possible recount. However, provisional ballots increased Sands' lead to 31 votes. A recount was carried out and did not affect the outcome, leaving Sands as the winner. Incumbent David Wanzenried (D) did not seek re-election due to term limits.[1][2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Diane Sands |
50.2% | 3,933 | |
| Republican | Dick Haines | 49.8% | 3,902 | |
| Total Votes | 7,835 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Diane Sands |
68.4% | 1,636 |
| Douglas Coffin | 31.6% | 756 |
| Total Votes | 2,392 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dick Haines |
58.2% | 930 |
| Mike Hopkins | 41.8% | 669 |
| Total Votes | 1,599 | |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Sands won election to the Montana House of Representatives. She did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary and no one has filed to run against her in the general election. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
2008
On November 4, 2008, Diane Sands won the seat to the Montana House of Representatives for District 95, receiving 3,144 votes.
Sands raised $5,240 for her campaign.[5]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 95 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Diane Sands (D)
|
3,144 | |||
| Kevin Blackler (R) | 1,710 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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2022
In 2022, the Montana State Legislature was not in session.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 29.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Montana State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ravalli Republic, "Democrats hold wins in Missoula legislative races after provisional ballot count," November 10, 2014
- ↑ KPAX, "2 undecided Missoula races settled after provisional ballots counted," November 12, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Election Canvass," accessed June 30, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Sands, Diane," accessed March 12, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana State Senate District 49 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Willis Curdy (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 95 2007-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
