For related races, see 2024 United States gubernatorial elections.
The 2024 Montana gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Montana, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on June 4, 2024.[ 2] Incumbent Republican governor Greg Gianforte won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee Ryan Busse. Gianforte won by a 20% margin, which was larger than his 13% margin in 2020.[ 3]
Though Montana has backed Republicans in every presidential election since 1996, the sparsely populated Mountain state maintained a Democratic tendency at the state and U.S. Senate levels well through the 2010s. This was the first gubernatorial election since 1996 that a Republican was re-elected governor of Montana.
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Nominee [ edit ]
Greg Gianforte, incumbent governor (2021–present)[ 4]
Running mate: Kristen Juras, incumbent lieutenant governor (2021–present)[ 4]
Eliminated in primary [ edit ]
Tanner Smith, state representative (2023–present)[ 5]
Running mate: Randy Pinocci, member of the Montana Public Service Commission (2019–present)[ 6]
Endorsements [ edit ]
Greg Gianforte
Organizations
National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund[ 7]
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America[ 8]
Results [ edit ]
Primary results by county: 50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Democratic primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Nominee [ edit ]
Ryan Busse, author and former vice president of sales at Kimber Manufacturing[ 10]
Running mate: Raph Graybill, former chief legal counsel to Governor Steve Bullock and nominee for Attorney General in 2020[ 11]
Eliminated in primary [ edit ]
Jim Hunt, attorney and candidate for Montana's at-large congressional district in 2008[ 12]
Running mate: Jerry Driscoll, former executive secretary of the Montana AFL-CIO[ 13]
Withdrawn [ edit ]
Shawn White Wolf, perennial candidate[ 14]
Results [ edit ]
Primary results by county
Libertarian primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Presumptive nominee [ edit ]
Kaiser Leib, software engineer[ 12]
Running mate: Matt Campbell, transportation engineer[ 13]
General election [ edit ]
Predictions [ edit ]
Source
Ranking
As of
The Cook Political Report[ 16]
Solid R
June 13, 2024
Inside Elections[ 17]
Solid R
July 14, 2023
Sabato's Crystal Ball[ 18]
Safe R
June 4, 2024
RCP[ 19]
Likely R
July 13, 2024
Elections Daily[ 20]
Safe R
July 12, 2023
CNalysis[ 21]
Solid R
August 17, 2024
Polling [ edit ]
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Greg Gianforte (R)
Ryan Busse (D)
Other
Undecided
Montana State University[ 22]
September 30 – October 16, 2024
760 (A)
± 3.56%
50%
31%
5%[ b]
14%
The New York Times/Siena College[ 23]
October 5–8, 2024
656 (LV)
± 4.3%
57%
35%
–
8%
656 (RV)
57%
35%
–
9%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[ 24] [ A]
September 29 – October 1, 2024
500 (LV)
± 4.34%
55%
36%
1%[ c]
7%
Fabrizio Ward (R)/ David Binder Research (D)[ 25] [ B]
August 25–29, 2024
600 (LV)
± 4.0%
54%
38%
–
8%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[ 26] [ A]
August 18–20, 2024
500 (LV)
± 4.38%
53%
34%
4%[ d]
8%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[ 26] [ A]
June 11–13, 2024
500 (LV)
± 4.4%
54%
33%
5%[ e]
8%
SurveyUSA[ 27] [ C]
February 12–15, 2024
549 (LV)
± 4.5%
52%
30%
–
18%
Results [ edit ]
By county [ edit ]
Source[ 29]
County
Greg Gianforte Republican
Ryan Busse Democratic
Kaiser Leib Libertarian
Margin
Total
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Beaverhead
4,139
71.72%
1,511
26.18%
121
2.10%
2,628
45.54%
5,771
Big Horn
2,206
49.56%
2,118
47.58%
127
2.85%
88
1.98%
4,451
Blaine
1,555
51.42%
1,387
45.87%
82
2.71%
168
5.56%
3,024
Broadwater
3,723
77.59%
930
19.38%
145
3.02%
2,793
58.21%
4,798
Carbon
4,812
65.46%
2,370
32.24%
169
2.30%
2,442
33.22%
7,351
Carter
774
91.60%
53
6.27%
18
2.13%
721
85.33%
845
Cascade
23,339
62.08%
13,324
35.44%
932
2.48%
10,015
26.64%
37,595
Chouteau
1,994
68.03%
888
30.30%
49
1.67%
1,106
37.73%
2,931
Custer
4,203
72.59%
1,417
24.47%
170
2.94%
2,786
48.12%
5,790
Daniels
787
83.10%
140
14.78%
20
2.11%
647
68.32%
947
Dawson
3,553
77.19%
926
20.12%
124
2.69%
2,627
57.07%
4,603
Deer Lodge
2,259
46.22%
2,487
50.88%
142
2.91%
-228
-4.66%
4,888
Fallon
1,302
87.44%
158
10.61%
29
1.95%
1,144
76.83%
1,489
Fergus
4,945
73.79%
1,602
23.91%
154
2.30%
3,343
49.89%
6,701
Flathead
41,539
65.88%
20,064
31.82%
1,451
2.30%
21,475
34.06%
63,054
Gallatin
32,843
47.06%
35,200
50.44%
1,742
2.50%
-2,357
-3.38%
69,785
Garfield
752
94.83%
34
4.29%
7
0.88%
718
90.54%
793
Glacier
1,955
38.37%
2,986
58.61%
154
3.02%
-1,031
-20.24%
5,095
Golden Valley
440
84.94%
67
12.93%
11
2.12%
373
72.00%
518
Granite
1,507
69.56%
613
28.30%
46
2.12%
894
41.27%
2,166
Hill
3,910
57.65%
2,666
39.31%
206
3.04%
1,244
18.34%
6,782
Jefferson
5,507
66.17%
2,605
31.30%
211
2.54%
2,902
34.87%
8,323
Judith Basin
1,090
80.27%
234
17.23%
34
2.50%
856
63.03%
1,358
Lake
9,937
58.97%
6,485
38.49%
428
2.54%
3,452
20.49%
16,850
Lewis and Clark
21,678
51.49%
19,360
45.98%
1,065
2.53%
2,318
5.51%
42,103
Liberty
787
78.70%
204
20.40%
9
0.90%
583
58.30%
1,000
Lincoln
8,820
75.05%
2,634
22.41%
298
2.54%
6,186
52.64%
11,752
Madison
4,611
71.25%
1,726
26.67%
135
2.09%
2,885
44.58%
6,472
McCone
922
85.13%
142
13.11%
19
1.75%
780
72.02%
1,083
Meagher
894
76.77%
245
21.01%
27
2.32%
649
55.66%
1,166
Mineral
2,026
71.97%
708
25.15%
81
2.88%
1,318
46.82%
2,815
Missoula
27,670
38.00%
43,378
59.58%
1,762
2.42%
-15,708
-21.57%
72,810
Musselshell
2,555
85.20%
369
12.30%
75
2.50%
2,186
72.89%
2,999
Park
5,947
50.72%
5,442
46.41%
336
2.87%
505
4.31%
11,725
Petroleum
287
86.97%
35
10.61%
8
2.42%
252
76.36%
330
Phillips
1,786
81.48%
368
16.79%
38
1.73%
1,418
64.69%
2,192
Pondera
2,054
72.07%
743
26.07%
53
1.86%
1,311
46.00%
2,850
Powder River
960
87.59%
123
11.22%
13
1.19%
837
76.37%
1,096
Powell
2,413
73.75%
735
22.46%
124
3.79%
1,678
51.28%
3,272
Prairie
540
78.49%
125
18.17%
23
3.34%
415
60.32%
688
Ravalli
20,740
69.60%
8,387
28.14%
673
2.26%
12,353
41.45%
29,800
Richland
4,324
82.72%
748
14.31%
155
2.97%
3,576
68.41%
5,227
Roosevelt
2,112
54.62%
1,656
42.63%
107
2.75%
456
11.74%
3,885
Rosebud
2,469
66.86%
1,129
30.57%
95
2.57%
1,340
36.28%
3,693
Sanders
6,088
75.68%
1,714
21.31%
242
3.01%
4,374
54.38%
8,044
Sheridan
1,365
72.30%
466
24.68%
57
3.02%
899
47.62%
1,888
Silver Bow
7,790
42.74%
9,866
54.13%
569
3.12%
-2,076
-11.39%
18,225
Stillwater
4,709
79.58%
1,076
18.18%
132
2.23%
3,633
61.40%
5,917
Sweet Grass
1,805
75.78%
510
21.41%
67
2.81%
1,295
54.37%
2,382
Teton
2,612
73.00%
891
24.90%
75
2.10%
1,721
48.10%
3,578
Toole
1,632
80.08%
355
17.42%
51
2.50%
1,277
62.66%
2,038
Treasure
384
85.91%
47
10.51%
16
3.58%
337
75.39%
447
Valley
3,009
73.80%
961
23.57%
107
2.62%
2,048
50.23%
4,077
Wheatland
854
79.22%
203
18.83%
21
1.95%
651
60.39%
1,078
Wibaux
454
83.61%
77
14.18%
12
2.21%
377
69.43%
543
Yellowstone
51,191
62.95%
27,956
34.38%
2,174
2.67%
23,235
28.60%
81,321
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican [ edit ]
Blaine (largest city: Chinook)
Big Horn (largest city: Hardin)
Lewis and Clark (largest city: Helena)
Roosevelt (largest city: Wolf Point)
By congressional district [ edit ]
Gianforte won both congressional districts.[ 29]
District
Gianforte
Busse
Representative
1st
54%
43%
Ryan Zinke
2nd
64%
33%
Matt Rosendale (118th Congress)
Troy Downing (119th Congress)
See also [ edit ]
2024 United States presidential election in Montana
2024 United States Senate election in Montana
2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Montana
Notes [ edit ]
^ Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
^ Kaiser Leib (L) with 5%
^ Kaiser Leib (L) with 1%
^ Kaiser Leib (L) with 4%
^ Kaiser Leib (L) with 5%
Partisan clients
^ a b c Poll sponsored by the Montana Republican Party
^ Poll sponsored by AARP.
^ Poll sponsored by KULR-TV
References [ edit ]
^ "Montana Voter Turnout" . Montana Secretary of State - Christi Jacobsen . December 19, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025 .
^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates" . National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved August 6, 2023 .
^ "Busse and Gianforte win their respective primary races" . KRTV NEWS Great Falls . June 5, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024 .
^ a b Anthony, Michael (January 17, 2024). "Governor Greg Gianforte to seek reelection" . KFYR-TV . Retrieved January 17, 2024 .
^ Larson, Seaborn (June 13, 2023). "Freshman GOP Rep. announces run for governor" . Independent Record .
^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren; Sakariassen, Alex; Eggert, Amanda (April 15, 2024). "Who's running for office in Montana's 2024 election" . Montana Free Press . Retrieved May 2, 2024 .
^ NRA-PVF. "NRA-PVF | Grades | Montana" . NRA-PVF . Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ Stacy, Nicole (May 3, 2024). "SBA Pro-Life America Candidate Fund Endorses Gianforte for Governor" . SBA Pro-Life America . Retrieved May 6, 2024 .
^ "Montana Governor Primary Election 2024 Live Results" . www.nbcnews.com . December 4, 2024.
^ Hanson, Amy; Brown, Matthew (September 14, 2023). "Former firearms executive Busse seeks Democratic nomination for Montana governor" . Associated Press. Retrieved September 14, 2023 .
^ Silvers, Mara (February 19, 2024). "Busse taps Graybill as running mate in bid for governor's office" . Montana Free Press . Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ a b "FEDERAL PRIMARY 2024 Candidate List" . prodcandidatefiling.mt.gov . Retrieved March 12, 2024 .
^ a b Ambarian, Jonathon (March 11, 2024). "Top Montana election races set as candidate filing period closes" . KTVH . Retrieved April 5, 2024 .
^ Kimbel-Sannit, Arren; Sakariassen, Alex (November 28, 2023). "Who's running for office in Montana in 2024? Here's a running list" . Montana Free Press . Retrieved January 17, 2024 . Shawn White Wolf, who has run for a number of different positions in the Helena area in recent years, filed to run for governor in 2023 but has since withdrawn his candidacy.
^ "Montana Governor Primary Election 2024 Live Results" . www.nbcnews.com . December 4, 2024.
^ "2024 Governor Race ratings" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Gubernatorial Ratings" . Inside Elections . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "2024 Gubernatorial race ratings" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "2024 Governor Races" . www.realclearpolling.com . Retrieved July 16, 2024 .
^ "Election Ratings" . Elections Daily . July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Governor Forecasts" . CNalysis . Retrieved August 17, 2024 .
^ "Montana State University" (PDF) .
^ "Cross-Tabs: October 2024 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate in Montana" . The New York Times . October 10, 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
^ "Public Opinion Strategies (R)" (PDF) .
^ "Fabrizio Ward (R)/ David Binder Research (D)" (PDF) .
^ a b Public Opinion Strategies (R)
^ Journalist, Bobby Lee NonStop Local Digital (February 23, 2024). "Governor Gianforte leads against Busse in MT election poll conducted by NonStop Local" . NonStop Local Montana .
^ "2024 Statewide General Election Canvass" . Secretary of State of Montana . December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024 .
^ a b "2024 General Election - November 5, 2024" . Election Results at MT.gov . Montana Secretary of State. December 19, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025 .
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