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List of governors of Montana

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The governor of Montana is the head of government of Montana[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[2] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Montana State Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and to grant pardons and reprieves.[6]

StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceMontana Governor's Residence
Termlength
  • Four years, renewable once (limited to eight years in a sixteen year period)
Constituting instrument
Montana Constitution of 1889
Quick facts Governor of Montana, Style ...
Governor of Montana
State seal
State flag
since January 4, 2021
Government of Montana
StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceMontana Governor's Residence
Term length
  • Four years, renewable once (limited to eight years in a sixteen year period)
Constituting instrument
Montana Constitution of 1889
Inaugural holderJoseph K. Toole
FormationNovember 8, 1889
(136 years ago) (1889-11-08)
SuccessionLine of succession
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Montana
Salary$108,167 (2022)[1]
Websitegovernor.mt.gov
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Montana has had twenty-four governors, consisting of nine Republicans and fifteen Democrats. The longest-serving governor was Joseph Toole, who served from 1889 to 1893 and again from 1901 until his resignation in 1908 with 11 years in office. He is the only governor to serve nonconsecutive terms. The shortest-serving governor was Elmer Holt, who served less than thirteen months when the previous governor died. The current governor is Republican Greg Gianforte, who took office on January 4, 2021.

List of governors

Territory of Montana

Montana Territory was organized from Idaho Territory on May 26, 1864.[7] During its 35-year history, it had nine governors appointed by the president of the United States, and three acting governors, all of whom had been appointed territorial secretary before becoming acting governor. The first, Thomas Francis Meagher, served as acting governor from 1865 until 1867.[8] The second, James Tufts, served in for one month in 1869,[9] and was succeeded by Wiley Scribner, who served 1869–1870.[10]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the Territory of Montana
No. Governor Term in office[a] Appointed by
1 Sidney Edgerton
(1818–1900)
[11]		 June 22, 1864[b]
–
July 13, 1866
(752 days; replaced)[c]		 Abraham Lincoln
2 Green Clay Smith
(1826–1895)
[15]		 July 13, 1866[d]
–
April 9, 1869
(1002 days; resigned)[e]		 Andrew Johnson
3 James Mitchell Ashley
(1824–1896)
[20]		 April 9, 1869[f]
–
December 17, 1869
(253 days; removed)[g]		 Ulysses S. Grant
4 Benjamin F. Potts
(1836–1887)
[25]		 July 13, 1870[h]
–
August 4, 1882
(4406 days; replaced)[i]		 Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Schuyler Crosby
(1839–1914)
[31]		 August 4, 1882[j]
–
November 11, 1884
(831 days; resigned)[k]		 Chester A. Arthur
6 B. Platt Carpenter
(1837–1921)
[34]		 December 22, 1884[l]
–
July 3, 1885
(194 days; removed)[m]		 Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser
(1833–1914)
[38]		 May 14, 1886[n]
–
January 13, 1887
(245 days; resigned)[o]		 Grover Cleveland
8 Preston Leslie
(1819–1907)
[41]		 January 13, 1887[p]
–
March 27, 1889
(805 days; replaced)		 Grover Cleveland
9 Benjamin F. White
(1838–1920)
[44]		 March 27, 1889[q]
–
November 8, 1889
(227 days; statehood)		 Benjamin Harrison
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State of Montana

Montana was admitted to the Union on November 8, 1889.[47]

The current Montana Constitution, ratified in 1972, calls for a 4-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in January following an election.[48] A 1992 amendment limits the governor to 8 years in any 16-year period.[49] The constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same ticket;[48] a provision which did not appear in the state's first constitution, ratified in 1889. In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor due to resignation, disqualification, or death, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term. If the governor is unable to perform his duties for any other reason, the lieutenant governor may become acting governor at the discretion of the state legislature.[50]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the State of Montana
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[r]
1   Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
[51][52]		 November 8, 1889[53]
–
January 2, 1893
(1152 days; retired)[51]		 Democratic[54] 1889   John E. Rickards[s]
2 John E. Rickards
(1848–1927)
[55][56]		 January 2, 1893[57]
–
January 4, 1897
(1464 days; retired)		 Republican[54] 1892 Alexander Campbell Botkin
3 Robert Burns Smith
(1854–1908)
[58][59]		 January 4, 1897[60]
–
January 7, 1901
(1464 days; retired)[58]		 Fusion[t] 1896 Archibald E. Spriggs[u]
4 Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
[51][52]		 January 7, 1901[62]
–
April 1, 1908
(2642 days; resigned)[v]		 Democratic[54] 1900 Frank G. Higgins
1904 Edwin L. Norris
5 Edwin L. Norris
(1865–1924)
[63][64]		 April 1, 1908[65]
–
January 6, 1913
(1742 days; retired)		 Democratic[54] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Benjamin F. White[s]
1908 William Allen[s]
6 Sam V. Stewart
(1872–1939)
[66][67]		 January 6, 1913[68]
–
January 3, 1921
(2920 days; retired)		 Democratic[54] 1912 W. W. McDowell
1916
7 Joseph M. Dixon
(1867–1934)
[69][70]		 January 3, 1921[71]
–
January 5, 1925
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[54] 1920 Nelson Story Jr.
8 John E. Erickson
(1863–1946)
[72][73]		 January 5, 1925[74]
–
March 13, 1933
(2990 days; resigned)[w]		 Democratic[54] 1924 W. S. McCormack[s]
1928 Frank A. Hazelbaker[s]
1932 Frank Henry Cooney
9 Frank Henry Cooney
(1872–1935)
[75][76]		 March 13, 1933[77]
–
December 15, 1935
(1008 days; died in office)		 Democratic[54] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Tom Kane[s]
Ernest T. Eaton[s]
Elmer Holt
10 Elmer Holt
(1884–1945)
[78][79]		 December 15, 1935[80]
–
January 4, 1937
(387 days;
lost nomination)[78]		 Democratic[54] Succeeded from
president of
the Senate		 William P. Pilgeram
11 Roy E. Ayers
(1882–1955)
[81][82]		 January 4, 1937[83]
–
January 6, 1941
(1464 days; lost election)		 Democratic[54] 1936 Hugh R. Adair
12 Sam C. Ford
(1882–1961)
[84][85]		 January 6, 1941[86]
–
January 3, 1949
(2920 days; lost election)		 Republican[54] 1940 Ernest T. Eaton
1944
13 John W. Bonner
(1902–1970)
[87][88]		 January 3, 1949[89]
–
January 5, 1953
(1464 days; lost election)		 Democratic[54] 1948 Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson
(1891–1978)
[90][91]		 January 5, 1953[92]
–
January 2, 1961
(2920 days; retired)		 Republican[54] 1952 George M. Gosman
1956 Paul C. Cannon[x]
15 Donald Grant Nutter
(1915–1962)
[93][94]		 January 2, 1961[95]
–
January 25, 1962
(389 days; died in office)		 Republican[54] 1960 Tim Babcock
16 Tim Babcock
(1919–2015)
[96][97]		 January 25, 1962[98]
–
January 6, 1969
(2539 days; lost election)		 Republican[54] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 David F. James[x]
1964 Ted James
17 Forrest H. Anderson
(1913–1989)
[99][100]		 January 6, 1969[101]
–
January 1, 1973
(1457 days; retired)[99]		 Democratic[54] 1968 Thomas Lee Judge
18 Thomas Lee Judge
(1934–2006)
[102][103]		 January 1, 1973[104]
–
January 5, 1981
(2927 days;
lost nomination)		 Democratic[54] 1972 Bill Christiansen
1976 Ted Schwinden
19 Ted Schwinden
(1925–2023)
[105]		 January 5, 1981[106]
–
January 2, 1989
(2920 days; retired)		 Democratic[105] 1980 George Turman
1984
Gordon McOmber
20 Stan Stephens
(1929–2021)
[107]		 January 2, 1989[108]
–
January 4, 1993
(1464 days; retired)		 Republican[107] 1988 Allen Kolstad
Denny Rehberg
21 Marc Racicot
(b. 1948)
[109]		 January 4, 1993[110]
–
January 2, 2001
(2921 days; term-limited)[y]		 Republican[109] 1992
1996 Judy Martz
22 Judy Martz
(1943–2017)
[112]		 January 2, 2001[113]
–
January 3, 2005
(1463 days; retired)		 Republican[112] 2000 Karl Ohs
23 Brian Schweitzer
(b. 1955)
[114]		 January 3, 2005[115]
–
January 7, 2013
(2927 days; term-limited)[y]		 Democratic[114] 2004 John Bohlinger[s]
2008
24 Steve Bullock
(b. 1966)
[116]		 January 7, 2013[117]
–
January 4, 2021
(2920 days; term-limited)[y]		 Democratic[116] 2012 John Walsh
Angela McLean
Mike Cooney
2016
25 Greg Gianforte
(b. 1961)
[118]		 January 4, 2021[119]
–
Incumbent[z]
(in office 2091 days)		 Republican[118] 2020 Kristen Juras
2024
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Timelines

Lifespan timeline

Governor Timeline

Electoral history (1952–)

More information Year, Democratic nominee ...
Year Democratic nominee Republican nominee Independent candidate Libertarian nominee Green nominee
Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # %
1952 John W. Bonner 129,369 49.04% J. Hugo Aronson 134,423 50.96% – – –
1956 Arnold Olsen 131,488 48.63% J. Hugo Aronson 138,878 51.37% – – –
1960 Paul C. Cannon 125,651 44.89% Donald G. Nutter 154,230 55.11% – – –
1964 Roland Renne 136,862 48.71% Tim Babcock 144,113 51.29% – – –
1968 Forrest H. Anderson 150,481 54.11% Tim Babcock 116,432 41.87% Wayne Montgomery
(New Reform)		 11,199 4.03% – –
1972 Thomas Lee Judge 172,523 54.12% Ed Smith 146,231 45.88% – – –
1976 Thomas Lee Judge 195,420 61.70% Bob Woodahl 115,848 36.58% Charlie Mahoney 5,452 1.72% – –
1980 Ted Schwinden 199,574 55.37% Jack Ramirez 160,892 44.63% – – –
1984 Ted Schwinden 266,578 70.34% Pat M. Goodover 100,070 26.41% – Larry Dodge 12,322 3.25% –
1988 Thomas Lee Judge 169,313 46.13% Stan Stephens 190,604 51.93% – William Dee Morris 7,104 1.94% –
1992 Dorothy Bradley 198,421 48.65% Marc Racicot 209,401 51.35% – – –
1996 Judy Jacobson 84,407 20.83% Marc Racicot 320,768 79.17% – – –
2000 Mark O'Keefe 193,131 47.08% Judy Martz 209,135 50.98% – Stan Jones 7,926 1.93% –
2004 Brian Schweitzer 225,016 50.44% Bob Brown 205,313 46.02% – Stan Jones 7,424 1.66% Bob Kelleher 8,393 1.88%
2008 Brian Schweitzer 318,670 65.47% Roy Brown 158,268 32.52% – Stan Jones 9,976 2.01% –
2012 Steve Bullock 236,450 48.90% Rick Hill 228,879 47.34% – Ron Vandevender 18,160 3.76% –
2016 Steve Bullock 255,933 50.25% Greg Gianforte 236,115 46.35% – Ted Dunlap 17,312 3.40% –
2020 Mike Cooney 250,860 41.56% Greg Gianforte 328,548 54.43% – Lyman Bishop 24,179 4.01% –
2024 Ryan Busse 232,644 38.62% Greg Gianforte 354,569 58.86% – Kaiser Leib 15,191 2.52% –
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
  2. [b]
    Edgerton was nominated on June 20, 1864,[12] confirmed by the Senate on June 22,[13] and arrived in the territory in July.[11]
  3. [c]
    Edgerton left for Washington, D.C., in September 1865 to secure funding, but failed; he never formally resigned, but never returned to the territory. Territorial Secretary Thomas Francis Meagher acted as governor in the interim.[11][14]
  4. [d]
    Smith was nominated on June 13, 1866;[16] confirmed by the Senate on July 13;[17] and arrived in the territory in October.[15]
  5. [e]
    Smith went east in July 1868 to secure funding, and never returned to the territory.[18] The nomination of his successor notes that he resigned, but with no further details.[19] Territorial Secretary James Tufts acted as governor in the interim.[15]
  6. [f]
    Ashley was nominated on April 5, 1869;[19] confirmed by the Senate on April 9;[21] and arrived in the territory that summer.[20]
  7. [g]
    Grant removed Ashley from office abruptly and nominated his successor on December 17, 1869; the office would remain vacant for six months, during which time Territorial Secretary Wiley Scribner acted as governor.[20] McMullin says Grant gave no reason, but contemporary news reports offer several reasons, ranging from general fitness for the job to accusations of criticizing Grant's policies.[22][23][24]
  8. [h]
    Potts was nominated on December 17, 1869;[26] confirmed by the Senate on July 13, 1870;[27] and arrived in the territory on August 29.[25] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on June 22, 1874,[28] and June 14, 1878.[29]
  9. [i]
    Crosby, Potts' successor, was confirmed by the Senate on August 4, 1882, and Potts continued to serve as governor until Crosby arrived on January 15, 1883.[25][30]
  10. [j]
    Crosby was nominated on July 26, 1882;[32] confirmed by the Senate on August 4;[33] and arrived in the territory on January 15, 1883.[30]
  11. [k]
    Crosby resigned, having been appointed First Assistant United States Postmaster General.[31]
  12. [l]
    Carpenter was nominated on December 16, 1884;[35] confirmed by the Senate on December 22;[36] and arrived in the territory in January 1885.[34]
  13. [m]
    Carpenter was removed when Democrat Grover Cleveland succeeded Republican President Chester A. Arthur.[34][37]
  14. [n]
    Hauser was nominated on December 10, 1885,[39] and confirmed by the Senate on May 14, 1886.[40]
  15. [o]
    Hauser resigned in December 1886 to tend to his business interests. Leslie, Hauser's successor, was confirmed on January 13, 1887, and Hauser continued to serve as governor until Leslie arrived on February 8.[38]
  16. [p]
    Leslie was nominated on December 15, 1886;[42] confirmed by the Senate on January 13, 1887;[43] and sworn in February 8.[41]
  17. [q]
    White was nominated on March 26, 1889,[45] and confirmed on March 27.[46]
  18. [r]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  19. [s]
    Represented the Republican Party
  20. [t]
    Smith represented both the Democratic and Populist parties,[58] with Glashan labeling him only as a Populist.[61]
  21. [u]
    Represented the Populist Party
  22. [v]
    Toole resigned due to health.[51]
  23. [w]
    Erickson resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.[72]
  24. [x]
    Represented the Democratic Party
  25. [y]
    Under a 1993 amendment to the constitution, governors are ineligible to serve more than 8 years in any 16 year period.[111]
  26. [z]
    Gianforte's second term began on January 6, 2025,[120] and will expire on January 1, 2029; he will be term-limited.

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