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List of governors of Montana

From Justapedia - Reading time: 13 min

Governor of Montana
File:Montana-StateSeal.svg
State seal
Incumbent
Greg Gianforte
since January 4, 2021
StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceMontana Governor's Residence
Term lengthFour years, renewable once (limited to eight years in a sixteen year period)
Constituting instrumentMontana Constitution of 1889
Inaugural holderJoseph K. Toole
FormationNovember 8, 1889
(136 years ago) (1889-11-08)
SuccessionEvery four years, unless re-elected.
Salary$108,167 (2013)[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

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]

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.[7] The governor is term-limited to 8 years in any 16-year period.[8] 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;[7] 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.[9] The 1889 constitution made the lieutenant governor president of the state senate,[10] but this provision was removed in the 1972 constitution.

Montana has had 24 governors (ten of whom were actually born within state boundaries), consisting of 9 Republicans and 15 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 13 months when the previous governor died. The current governor is Republican Greg Gianforte, who took office on January 4, 2021.

Qualifications[edit | edit source]

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of Montana must meet the following qualifications:[11]

  • Be at least 25 years of age or older at the time of election
  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • have resided within the state at least two years at his or her election

Governors[edit | edit source]

Prior to the creation of Montana Territory (1864–1889), numerous areas of what is now Montana were areas of Oregon Territory (1848–1859), Washington Territory (1853–1863), Idaho Territory (1863–1864), and Dakota Territory (1861–1864).

Governors of the Territory of Montana[edit | edit source]

NOTE: Term dates are for the full, official term of office, see notes column for clarification of dates when men served as governor.

  Republican (6)       Democratic (3)

No. Governor Term in office Party Appointed by Notes
1 File:SEdgerton.jpg   Sidney Edgerton
    April 3, 1833 – November 27, 1899   
(aged 66) 		June 22, 1864
–
July 12, 1866 		Republican Abraham Lincoln Left for Washington, DC in September 1865 to settle federal accounts, obtain federal funding, and obtain reimbursement for personal funds spent on behalf of Montana's government. Resigned after funding issue remained unresolved.[12]
— File:Meagher4s.jpg   Thomas Francis Meagher (acting)
    3 August 1823 – 1 July 1867   
(aged 43) 		September 1865
–
October 3, 1866 		Democratic — As Secretary of the Territory, he acted as governor in place of Gov. Edgerton while he was out of the Territory. He also acted in place of Gov. Smith until he arrived to assume his duties.[13][14][15][16]
2 File:Green Clay Smith - Brady-Handy.jpg   Green Clay Smith
    July 4, 1826 – June 29, 1895   
(aged 68) 		October 3, 1866
–
April 9, 1869 		Democratic Andrew Johnson Left Montana in July 1868 to settle federal accounts and obtain federal funds following Thomas F. Meagher's death; remained in Washington, DC. He was ordained as a Baptist minister and became a temperance activist. Officially resigned in April 1869.[17][18]
— File:James Tufts (Montana Governor).jpg   James Tufts (acting)
    September 19, 1829 – August 18, 1884   
(aged 54) 		March 1869
–
April 9, 1869 		Republican — Acted as governor from July 1868, when Green Clay Smith left for Washington, DC to April 1869 when James M. Ashley arrived.[19]
3 File:James Mitchell Ashley - Brady-Handy.jpg   James Mitchell Ashley
    November 14, 1824 – September 16, 1896   
(aged 71) 		April 9, 1869
–
July 12, 1870 		Republican Ulysses S. Grant Refusal to include Democrats in appointments made him unpopular; opponents then accused him of criticizing Grant administration policies, resulting in Grant removing him.[20][21]
— Wiley S. Scribner (Governor of Montana Territory).jpg   Wiley Scribner (acting)
    September 6, 1840 – September 28, 1889   
(aged 49) 		December 1869
–
August 1870 		Republican — Acted as governor until arrival of Benjamin F. Potts.[22]
4 File:Benjamin F Potts.jpg   Benjamin F. Potts
    January 29, 1836 – June 17, 1887   
(aged 51) 		July 13, 1870
–
January 14, 1883 		Republican Ulysses S. Grant Term expired, July 1882. Potts remained in office until successor J. Schuyler Crosby arrived in Montana in January 1883.[23][24]
5 File:John Schuyler Crosby.jpg   John Schuyler Crosby
    September 19, 1839 – August 8, 1914   
(aged 74) 		January 15, 1883
–
December 15, 1884 		Republican Chester A. Arthur Resigned to accept appointment as First Assistant Postmaster General.[25]
6 File:Benjamin Platt Carpenter (Montana Territorial Governor).jpg   B. Platt Carpenter
    May 14, 1837 – December 24, 1921   
(aged 84) 		December 16, 1884
–
July 13, 1885 		Republican Chester A. Arthur Replaced when Democrat Grover Cleveland succeeded Republican President Chester A. Arthur.[26]
7 File:Samuel Thomas Hauser.gif   Samuel Thomas Hauser
    January 10, 1833 – November 10, 1914   
(aged 81) 		July 14, 1885
–
February 7, 1887 		Democratic Grover Cleveland Resigned in order to concentrate on management of business and banking interests.[27]
8 File:PHLeslie.jpg   Preston Leslie
    March 8, 1819 – February 7, 1907   
(aged 87) 		February 8, 1887
–
April 8, 1889 		Democratic Grover Cleveland Pro-temperance stance and policy disagreements with Republicans in territorial legislature caused legislators to request his replacement. Later served as Montana's U.S. Attorney and president of the state bar association.[28][29]
9 File:Benjamin Franklin White (Montana Territory Governor).jpg   Benjamin F. White
    December 3, 1838 – December 4, 1920   
(aged 82) 		April 9, 1889
–
November 8, 1889 		Republican Benjamin Harrison Term ended when Montana attained statehood. Later served as Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives and a member of the Montana Senate.[30]

Governors of the State of Montana[edit | edit source]

  Republican (15)       Democratic (10)

No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 File:JosephKToole.JPG   Joseph Toole[31]
    May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929   
(aged 77) 		November 8, 1889
–
January 1, 1893 		Democratic 1889   John E. Rickards
2 File:John E Rickards.jpg   John E. Rickards
    July 23, 1848 – December 26, 1927   
(aged 79) 		January 2, 1893
–
January 3, 1897 		Republican 1892 Alexander C. Botkin
3 File:Robert Burns Smith (Montana Governor).jpg   Robert Burns Smith
    December 29, 1854 – November 16, 1908   
(aged 53) 		January 4, 1897
–
January 7, 1901 		Democratic 1896   A. E. Spriggs
4 File:JosephKToole.JPG Joseph Toole
    May 12, 1851 – March 11, 1929   
(aged 77) 		January 7, 1901
–
April 1, 1908
(resigned)[32] 		Democratic 1900   Frank G. Higgins
1904 Edwin L. Norris
5 File:Edwin L. Norris (Montana Governor).jpg Edwin L. Norris
    August 15, 1865 – April 25, 1924   
(aged 58) 		April 1, 1908
–
January 5, 1913 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		  Benjamin F. White
1908 William R. Allen
6 File:Sam V. Stewart.jpg Sam V. Stewart
    August 2, 1872 – September 15, 1939   
(aged 67) 		January 6, 1913
–
January 2, 1921 		Democratic 1912   W.W. McDowell
1916
7 File:Joseph M. Dixon.jpg   Joseph M. Dixon[33]
    July 31, 1867 – May 22, 1934   
(aged 66) 		January 3, 1921
–
January 4, 1925 		Republican 1920   Nelson Story, Jr.
8 File:John Erickson.jpg   John E. Erickson
    March 14, 1863 – May 25, 1946   
(aged 83) 		January 4, 1925
–
March 13, 1933
(resigned)[34] 		Democratic 1924 W. S. McCormack
1928 Frank A. Hazelbaker
1932   Frank Henry Cooney
9 File:Frank Henry Cooney.jpg Frank Henry Cooney
    December 31, 1872 – December 15, 1935   
(aged 62) 		March 13, 1933
–
December 15, 1935 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		  Tom Kane
Ernest T. Eaton
  Elmer Holt
10 File:No image.svg Elmer Holt
    October 14, 1884 – March 1, 1945   
(aged 60) 		December 15, 1935
–
January 4, 1937 		Democratic Succeeded from
President of
the Senate 		William P. Pilgeram
11 File:Roy E. Ayers.jpg Roy E. Ayers
    November 9, 1882 – May 23, 1955   
(aged 72) 		January 4, 1937
–
January 6, 1941 		Democratic 1936 Hugh R. Adair
12 File:Sam C. Ford.jpg   Sam C. Ford
    November 7, 1882 – November 25, 1961   
(aged 79) 		January 6, 1941
–
January 3, 1949 		Republican 1940   Ernest T. Eaton
1944
13 File:John W. Bonner.jpg   John W. Bonner
    July 16, 1902 – March 28, 1970   
(aged 67) 		January 3, 1949
–
January 5, 1953 		Democratic 1948   Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson.jpg   J. Hugo Aronson[35]
    September 1, 1891 – February 25, 1978   
(aged 86) 		January 5, 1953
–
January 2, 1961 		Republican 1952   George M. Gosman
1956   Paul C. Cannon
15 Donald G. Nutter.jpg Donald Grant Nutter
    November 28, 1915 – January 25, 1962   
(aged 46) 		January 2, 1961
–
January 25, 1962
(died in office) 		Republican 1960   Tim M. Babcock
16 File:Tim Babcock.jpg Tim Babcock
    October 27, 1919 – April 7, 2015   
(aged 95) 		January 25, 1962
–
January 6, 1969 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		  David F. James
1964   Ted James
17 File:No image.svg   Forrest H. Anderson
    January 30, 1913 – July 20, 1989   
(aged 76) 		January 6, 1969
–
January 1, 1973 		Democratic 1968   Thomas Lee Judge
18 File:No image.svg Thomas Lee Judge
    October 12, 1934 – September 8, 2006   
(aged 71) 		January 1, 1973
–
January 5, 1981 		Democratic 1972 Bill Christiansen
1976 Ted Schwinden
19 File:No image.svg Ted Schwinden
    (1925-08-31) August 31, 1925 (age 100) 		January 5, 1981
–
January 2, 1989 		Democratic 1980 George Turman
1984
Gordon McOmber
20 File:No image.svg   Stan Stephens
    September 16, 1929 − April 3, 2021   
(aged 91) 		January 2, 1989
–
January 4, 1993 		Republican 1988   Allen Kolstad
Denny Rehberg
21 File:Marc Racicot 2008 (cropped).JPG Marc Racicot[36][37]
    (1948-07-24) July 24, 1948 (age 77) 		January 4, 1993
–
January 1, 2001 		Republican 1992
1996 Judy Martz
22 File:Judy Martz 2003 (cropped).jpg Judy Martz[38]
    July 28, 1943 – October 30, 2017   
(aged 74) 		January 1, 2001
–
January 3, 2005 		Republican 2000 Karl Ohs
23 File:Brian Schweitzer official photo.jpg   Brian Schweitzer
    (1955-09-04) September 4, 1955 (age 70) 		January 3, 2005
–
January 7, 2013 		Democratic 2004 John Bohlinger
2008
24 File:Steve Bullock.jpg Steve Bullock
    (1966-04-11) April 11, 1966 (age 59) 		January 7, 2013
–
January 4, 2021 		Democratic 2012   John Walsh
Angela McLean
2016 Mike Cooney
25 File:Greg Gianforte 2020.jpg   Greg Gianforte
    (1961-04-17) April 17, 1961 (age 64) 		January 4, 2021
–
Incumbent[39] 		Republican 2020   Kristen Juras

Succession[edit | edit source]

Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Montana

Other high offices held[edit | edit source]

This is a table of the equivalent or higher state and federal offices and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators represented Montana. * denotes cases where the governor resigned the governorship to accept the other office.

Other high offices held by Montanans
Governor Gubernatorial term Higher offices held
Joseph Toole 1889–1893
1901–1908 		Territorial Delegate
Joseph M. Dixon 1921–1925 U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator
John Edward Erickson 1925–1933 U.S. Senator*
Sam C. Ford 1941–1949 Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
Sam V. Stewart 1913-1921 Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
Roy E. Ayers 1937–1941 U.S. Representative
Forrest H. Anderson 1969–1973 Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
John W. Bonner 1949-1953 Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice
Greg Gianforte 2021– U.S. Representative

Living former governors of Montana[edit | edit source]

As of April 2021, there are four former governors of Montana who are currently living, the oldest former governor of Montana being Ted Schwinden (served 1981–1989, born 1925). The most recent death of a former governor of Montana was that of Stan Stephens (served 1989–1993, born 1929), on April 3, 2021. The most recently serving former governor of Montana to die was Judy Martz (served 2001–2005, born 1943), on October 30, 2017.

Living former governors of Montana
Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Ted Schwinden 1981–1989 (1925-08-31) August 31, 1925 (age 100)
Marc Racicot 1993–2001 (1948-07-24) July 24, 1948 (age 77)
Brian Schweitzer 2005–2013 (1955-09-04) September 4, 1955 (age 70)
Steve Bullock 2013–2021 (1966-04-11) April 11, 1966 (age 59)

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4.
  3. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 7.
  4. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 10.
  5. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 11.
  6. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 12.
  7. ^ a b Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1.
  8. ^ Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8.
  9. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 14.
  10. ^ Montana Constitution (1889), Article VII, Section 1.
  11. ^ "Governor of Montana".
  12. ^ Goodspeed, Weston Arthur (1904). The Province and the States: Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota. Vol. VI. Madison, WI: Western Historical Association. pp. 419–420.
  13. ^ Wylie, Paul R. (2007). The Irish General: Thomas Francis Meagher. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 252–272, 303–312, 365–375. ISBN 978-0-8061-3847-3.
  14. ^ "A Memorial to Thomas Francis Meagher on the Levee at Fort Benton, Montana" (PDF). Hibernian. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Montana Vigilantes". Montana Travel. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  16. ^ Burnham, Patricia M.; Susan R. Near (2002). Montana's State Capitol - The People's House. Montana Historical Society. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-917298-83-7. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  17. ^ Malone, Michael P. (1976). Montana: A History of Two Centuries. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-295-97129-2.
  18. ^ Appletons' Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events. Vol. XXXV. New York, NY: D. Appleton and Company. 1896. p. 593.
  19. ^ Burlingame, Merrill Gildea (1942). The Montana Frontier. Helena, MT: State Publishing Company. p. 166.
  20. ^ Eblen, Jack Ericson (1968). The First and Second United States Empires: Governors and Territorial Government, 1784-1912. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 283. james m ashley montana removed grant.
  21. ^ Toole, Kenneth Ross (1959). Montana: An Uncommon Land. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780806118901.
  22. ^ Robison, Ken (2013). Montana Territory and the Civil War: A Frontier Forged on the Battlefield. Charleston, SC: History Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-62619-175-4.
  23. ^ Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States. Vol. XXIII. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1902. p. 497.
  24. ^ Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana. Vol. 2. Helena, MT: State Publishing Company. 1896. p. 387.
  25. ^ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XI. New York, NY: James T. White & Company. 1909. p. 80.
  26. ^ Spence, Clark C. (1978). Montana: A History. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-393-34856-9. platt carpenter montana replaced.
  27. ^ Pacific Northwest Quarterly. Vol. 35–36. Seattle, WA: University of Washington. 1944. p. 340.
  28. ^ Harrison, Lowell H. (2004). Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-0-8131-2326-4.
  29. ^ "News of the Profession: Montana Bar Association". Law Notes. Edward Thompson Company: Northport, NY: 236. March 1, 1904.
  30. ^ McMullin, Thomas A.; Walker, David Allan (1984). Biographical Directory of American Territorial Governors. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing. p. 221. ISBN 9780930466114.
  31. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph K. Toole". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  32. ^ Resigned due to declining health.
  33. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph M. Dixon". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  34. ^ Resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.
  35. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: J. Hugo Aronson". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  36. ^ Lewis, Charles (December 20, 2001). "The GOP's New Lobbyist in Chief". Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  37. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Marc Racicot". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  38. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Judy Martz". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  39. ^ Gianforte's first term expires on January 6, 2025.

References[edit | edit source]

General
Constitutions

External links[edit | edit source]

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