Bill Christiansen

Edward William Christiansen Jr. (February 2, 1914 – March 28, 2000) was an American politician who served as a state representative and lieutenant governor in Montana.

Bill Christiansen
25th Lieutenant Governor of Montana
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1977
GovernorThomas Lee Judge
Preceded byThomas Lee Judge
Succeeded byTed 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.

(1914-02-24)February 24, 1914
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
DiedMarch 28, 2000(2000-03-28) (aged 86)
Helena, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHattie James
Parents
  • Edward William Christiansen (father)
  • Mabel C. Cork (mother)
EducationNorth 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
Bill Christiansen electoral history
1964 Montana House of Representatives election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bill Christiansen 2,552 62.37%
Republican Sam Denny 1,540 37.63%
Total votes '4,092' '100.00%'
1972 Montana Lieutenant Governor election
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%'

References
  1. "Mrs. Christiansen". The Billings Gazette. January 29, 1973. p. 6. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Bill Christiansen". The Independent-Record. March 29, 2000. p. 20. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Big Horn County Joins Democrat Sweep". The Billings Gazette. November 4, 1964. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Democrats Elect In Big Horn County". The Billings Gazette. June 27, 1964. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "House Leadership". The Billings Gazette. January 5, 1971. p. 13. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Bill Christiansen Two". The Independent-Record. October 30, 1972. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Christiansen dumps write-in drive". The Billings Gazette. April 19, 1976. p. 3. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Gov. Judge Announces His Bid for Re-Election". The Missoulian. April 15, 1976. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Kennedy steering committee formed". Great Falls Tribune. December 8, 1979. p. 13. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Former lieutenant governor, Hardin car dealer Christiansen, 86, dies". The Billings Gazette. March 30, 2000. p. 10. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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