Montana's at-large congressional district
From 1993 to 2023, Montana was represented in the United States House of Representatives by one at-large congressional district, among the 435 in the United States Congress. The district was the most populous U.S. congressional district, with just over 1 million constituents.[1] It was also the second-largest by land area, after Alaska's at-large congressional district, and the largest by land area in the contiguous United States.
| Montana's at-large congressional district | |
|---|---|
| Obsolete district | |
| Created | 1889 1990 |
| Eliminated | 1918 2020 |
| Years active | 1889–1919 1993–2023 |
The district was last represented by Republican Matt Rosendale. It had previously been represented by Republican Greg Gianforte, who did not seek re-election in 2020. Instead, he opted to run for Governor of Montana.
Starting in the 2022 midterm elections, per the 2020 United States census, Montana regained the congressional seat that it lost after the 1990 census. Thus, the current at-large statewide district was dissolved, and the new districts were the 1st district in the west and the 2nd district in the east.[2] Rosendale sought re-election in the 2nd district and was elected.
Politics
President George W. Bush won Montana in the 2004 presidential election with 59.1% of the vote, beating John Kerry by 20 percentage points, which indicates that the district leans Republican. However, four years later John McCain won the state by only 2.5% over Barack Obama, and there is a significant Democratic presence in the state: as of 2021 one U.S. Senate seat is held by a Democrat, which suggested at the time that the district could be competitive in future elections. In 2016, Donald Trump won by over 20%, while Ryan Zinke won Montana's single congressional seat by over 16%. Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Bullock, however, was also reelected by 4%. The seat was left vacant when Zinke was appointed Secretary of the Interior. In a special election held on May 25, 2017, Republican Greg Gianforte won with a margin of 6% and would be reelected by a margin of 5% in 2018.[3]
Early at-large district
From statehood in 1889, until the creation of geographic districts in 1919, Montana was represented in the United States House of Representatives by members elected at-large, that is, requiring voting by all the state population. From 1913 to 1919, there were two seats, still elected at-large; the top two finishers were awarded the seats. After that time, two representatives were elected from two geographic districts of roughly equal population, from the east and the west of the state.
In the reapportionment following the 1990 census, Montana lost one of its two seats. Its remaining member was again elected at-large.
Recent voting history
Election results from recent state wide races are shown below.
| Year | Gubernatorial |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Martz 51-47% |
| 2004 | Schweitzer 50-46% |
| 2008 | Schweitzer 66-33% |
| 2012 | Bullock 49-47% |
| 2016 | Bullock 50-46% |
| 2020 | Gianforte 54-42% |
| Year | Senate |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Burns 51-47% |
| 2002 | Baucus 63-32% |
| 2006 | Tester 49-48% |
| 2008 | Baucus 73-27% |
| 2012 | Tester 49-45% |
| 2014 | Daines 58-40% |
| 2018 | Tester 50-47% |
| 2020 | Daines 55-45% |
| Year | Presidential |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Bush 58–33% |
| 2004 | Bush 59–38% |
| 2008 | McCain 50–47% |
| 2012 | Romney 55–41% |
| 2016 | Trump 56–35% |
| 2020 | Trump 57–41% |
List of members representing the district
1889–1919: one, then two seats
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The two at-large seats were moved to district representation in 1919, and remained until 1993, when Montana lost a seat due to redistricting from the 1990 US Census, re-establishing the single seat at-large district.
1993–2023: one seat
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Recent election results
The following are official results from the general elections.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rick Hill (incumbent) | 175,748 | 53.01 | |
| Democratic | Dusty Deschamps | 147,073 | 44.36 | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 5,652 | 1.70 | |
| Reform | Webb Sullivan | 3,078 | 0.93 | |
| Majority | 28,675 | 8.65 | ||
| Turnout | 338,733 | 52.99 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg | 211,418 | 51.50 | −1.51% | |
| Democratic | Nancy Keenan | 189,971 | 46.28 | +1.92% | |
| Libertarian | James Tikalsky | 9,132 | 2.22 | +0.52% | |
| Majority | 21,447 | 5.22 | −3.43% | ||
| Turnout | 417,916 | 59.85 | +6.86% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg (incumbent) | 214,100 | 64.62 | +13.12% | |
| Democratic | Steve Kelly | 108,233 | 32.67 | −13.61% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 8,988 | 2.71 | +0.49% | |
| Majority | 105,867 | 31.95 | +26.73% | ||
| Turnout | 340,272 | 54.48 | −5.37% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg (incumbent) | 286,076 | 64.40 | −0.22% | |
| Democratic | Tracy Velazquez | 145,606 | 32.78 | +0.11% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 12,548 | 2.82 | +0.11% | |
| Majority | 140,470 | 31.62 | −0.33% | ||
| Turnout | 456,096 | 71.44 | +16.96% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg (incumbent) | 239,124 | 58.88 | −5.52% | |
| Democratic | Monica Lindeen | 158,916 | 39.13 | +6.35% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 8,085 | 1.99 | −0.83% | |
| Majority | 80,208 | 19.75 | −11.87% | ||
| Turnout | 411,061 | 63.30 | −8.14% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg (incumbent) | 308,470 | 64.14 | +5.26% | |
| Democratic | John Driscoll | 155,930 | 32.42 | −6.71% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 16,500 | 3.43 | +1.44% | |
| Majority | 152,540 | 31.72 | +11.97% | ||
| Turnout | 497,599 | 74.48 | +11.18% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Denny Rehberg (incumbent) | 217,696 | 60.41 | −3.73% | |
| Democratic | Dennis McDonald | 121,954 | 33.84 | +1.42% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 20,691 | 5.74 | +2.31% | |
| Majority | 95,742 | 26.57 | −5.15% | ||
| Turnout | 367,096 | 56.36 | −18.12% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Daines | 255,468 | 53.25 | −7.16% | |
| Democratic | Kim Gillan | 204,939 | 42.72 | +8.88% | |
| Libertarian | David Kaiser | 19,333 | 4.03 | −1.71% | |
| Majority | 50,529 | 10.53 | −16.04% | ||
| Turnout | 491,966 | 72.18 | +15.82% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ryan Zinke | 201,436 | 55.47 | +2.22% | |
| Democratic | John Lewis | 146,474 | 40.34 | −2.38% | |
| Libertarian | Mike Fellows | 15,105 | 4.16 | +0.13% | |
| Majority | 54,962 | 15.13 | +4.6% | ||
| Turnout | 369,047 | 54.73 | −17.45% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ryan Zinke (incumbent) | 285,358 | 56.19 | +0.78% | |
| Democratic | Denise Juneau | 205,919 | 40.55 | +0.14% | |
| Libertarian | Rick Breckenridge | 16,554 | 3.26 | -0.92% | |
| Majority | 79,439 | 15.64 | −0.09% | ||
| Turnout | 507,831 | 74.44 | +19.71% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Greg Gianforte | 189,473 | 50.19 | −6.00% | |
| Democratic | Rob Quist | 166,483 | 44.11 | +3.46% | |
| Libertarian | Mark L Wicks | 21,509 | 5.70 | +2.44% | |
| Majority | 22,990 | 6.10 | −7.54% | ||
| Turnout | 377,465 | 54.22 | −20.22% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Greg Gianforte (incumbent) | 256,661 | 50.88 | +0.93% | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Williams | 233,284 | 46.25 | +1.88% | |
| Libertarian | Elinor Swanson | 14,476 | 2.87 | -2.81% | |
| Majority | 23,377 | 4.63 | -1.47% | ||
| Turnout | 504,421 | 71.43 | +17.21% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 339,169 | 56.39% | +5.51% | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Williams | 262,340 | 43.61% | -2.64% | |
| Majority | 76,829 | 12.78% | +8.15% | ||
| Turnout | 601,509 | 79.93% | +8.50% | ||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
Notes
- "Congressional Apportionment: 2010 Census Briefs" (PDF). census.gov. United States Census Bureau. November 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- Merica, Dan; Stark, Liz (April 26, 2021). "Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- "Election Results: Gianforte Wins U.S. House Seat in Montana". New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Montana". Official Congressional Directory: 65th Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1917. hdl:2027/mdp.39015022758265.
- "Archived Official Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- "Official General Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- "2016 General Election". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- "2017 Special Election (unofficial results)". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- "Official General Election Results" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
References
- 2004 Election results for Montana At Large Congressional district
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present