Bill Christiansen
American politician
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Edward William Christiansen Jr. (February 24, 1914 – March 28, 2000) was an American politician who served as a state representative and lieutenant governor in Montana.
February 24, 1914
Bill Christiansen | |
|---|---|
| 25th Lieutenant Governor of Montana | |
| In office January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Governor | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Preceded by | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Succeeded by | Ted Schwinden |
| Minority leader of the Montana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1971 – January 1, 1973 | |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1965–1973 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward William Christiansen Jr. February 24, 1914 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2000 (aged 86) Helena, Montana, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Hattie James |
| Parents |
|
| Education | North Dakota State University |
Life
On February 24, 1914, Edward William Christiansen Jr. was born to Edward William Christiansen and Mabel C. Cork in Fargo, North Dakota.[1] After graduating from North Dakota State University he married Hattie James on December 27, 1947, and moved to Hardin, Montana.[2]
In 1964, he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives after defeating Republican Sam Denny and also served as one of Montana's presidential delegates to the 1964 Democratic National Convention.[3][4] In 1971, the Democratic caucus in the House elected him as the House Minority Leader.[5]
Although he was initially interested in running for governor in the 1972 election, he later chose to run for lieutenant governor after incumbent Lieutenant Governor Thomas Lee Judge announced that he would run for the governorship.[6] Christiansen won the lieutenant gubernatorial election, but announced in 1976 that he wouldn't seek reelection and rejected a draft movement that attempted to have him primary Governor Thomas Lee Judge.[7][8] During the 1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries he endorsed Senator Ted Kennedy.[9]
On March 28, 2000, Christiansen died in Helena, Montana.[10]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Christiansen | 2,552 | 62.37% | |
| Republican | Sam Denny | 1,540 | 37.63% | |
| Total votes | 4,092 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Christiansen | 174,656 | 57.07% | +2.97% | |
| Republican | Harold Hanson | 131,403 | 42.93% | −2.97% | |
| Total votes | 306,059 | 100.00% | |||