List of governors of Montana

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]

Governor of Montana
Incumbent
Greg Gianforte
since January 4, 2021
Government of Montana
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 (1889-11-08)
SuccessionEvery four years, unless re-elected.
Salary$108,167 (2013)[1]
Websitegovernor.mt.gov

Montana has had 24 governors, 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.

Governors of the 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 1965 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]

Governors of the Territory of Montana
No. Governor Term in office[lower-alpha 1] Appointed by
1 Sidney Edgerton
(1818–1900)
[11]
June 22, 1864[lower-alpha 2]

July 13, 1866
(successor appointed)[lower-alpha 3]
Abraham Lincoln
2 Green Clay Smith
(1826–1895)
[15]
July 13, 1866[lower-alpha 4]

April 9, 1869
(resigned)[lower-alpha 5]
Andrew Johnson
3 James Mitchell Ashley
(1824–1896)
[20]
April 9, 1869[lower-alpha 6]

December 17, 1869
(removed)[lower-alpha 7]
Ulysses S. Grant
4 Benjamin F. Potts
(1836–1887)
[25]
July 13, 1870[lower-alpha 8]

August 4, 1882
(successor appointed)[lower-alpha 9]
Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Schuyler Crosby
(1839–1914)
[31]
August 4, 1882[lower-alpha 10]

November 11, 1884
(resigned)[lower-alpha 11]
Chester A. Arthur
6 B. Platt Carpenter
(1837–1921)
[34]
December 22, 1884[lower-alpha 12]

July 3, 1885
(removed)[lower-alpha 13]
Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser
(1833–1914)
[38]
May 14, 1886[lower-alpha 14]

January 13, 1887
(resigned)[lower-alpha 15]
Grover Cleveland
8 Preston Leslie
(1819–1907)
[41]
January 13, 1887[lower-alpha 16]

March 27, 1889
(successor appointed)
Grover Cleveland
9 Benjamin F. White
(1838–1920)
[44]
March 27, 1889[lower-alpha 17]

November 8, 1889
(statehood)
Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the 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]

Governors of the State of Montana
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 18]
1   Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
[51][52]
November 8, 1889[53]

January 2, 1893
(did not run)
Democratic 1889   John E. Rickards[lower-alpha 19]
2 John E. Rickards
(1848–1927)
[54][55]
January 2, 1893[56]

January 4, 1897
(did not run)
Republican 1892 Alexander Campbell Botkin
3 Robert Burns Smith
(1854–1908)
[57][58]
January 4, 1897[59]

January 7, 1901
(did not run)
Democratic 1896 Archibald E. Spriggs[lower-alpha 20]
4 Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
[51][52]
January 7, 1901[60]

April 1, 1908
(resigned)[lower-alpha 21]
Democratic 1900 Frank G. Higgins
1904 Edwin L. Norris
5 Edwin L. Norris
(1865–1924)
[61][62]
April 1, 1908[63]

January 6, 1913
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Benjamin F. White[lower-alpha 19]
1908 William Allen[lower-alpha 19]
6 Sam V. Stewart
(1872–1939)
[64][65]
January 6, 1913[66]

January 3, 1921
(did not run)
Democratic 1912 W. W. McDowell
1916
7 Joseph M. Dixon
(1867–1934)
[67][68]
January 3, 1921[69]

January 5, 1925
(lost election)
Republican 1920 Nelson Story Jr.
8 John E. Erickson
(1863–1946)
[70][71]
January 5, 1925[72]

March 13, 1933
(resigned)[lower-alpha 22]
Democratic 1924 W. S. McCormack[lower-alpha 19]
1928 Frank A. Hazelbaker[lower-alpha 19]
1932 Frank Henry Cooney
9 Frank Henry Cooney
(1872–1935)
[73][74]
March 13, 1933[75]

December 15, 1935
(died in office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Tom Kane[lower-alpha 19]
Ernest T. Eaton[lower-alpha 19]
Elmer Holt
10 Elmer Holt
(1884–1945)
[76][77]
December 15, 1935[78]

January 4, 1937
(lost nomination)[lower-alpha 23]
Democratic Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
William P. Pilgeram
11 Roy E. Ayers
(1882–1955)
[79][80]
January 4, 1937[81]

January 6, 1941
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Hugh R. Adair
12 Sam C. Ford
(1882–1961)
[82][83]
January 6, 1941[84]

January 3, 1949
(lost election)
Republican 1940 Ernest T. Eaton
1944
13 John W. Bonner
(1902–1970)
[85][86]
January 3, 1949[87]

January 5, 1953
(lost election)
Democratic 1948 Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson
(1891–1978)
[88][89]
January 5, 1953[90]

January 2, 1961
(did not run)
Republican 1952 George M. Gosman
1956 Paul C. Cannon[lower-alpha 24]
15 Donald Grant Nutter
(1915–1962)
[91][92]
January 2, 1961[93]

January 25, 1962
(died in office)
Republican 1960 Tim Babcock
16 Tim Babcock
(1919–2015)
[94][95]
January 25, 1962[96]

January 6, 1969
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
David F. James[lower-alpha 24]
1964 Ted James
17 Forrest H. Anderson
(1913–1989)
[97][98]
January 6, 1969[99]

January 1, 1973
(did not run)
Democratic 1968 Thomas Lee Judge
18 Thomas Lee Judge
(1934–2006)
[100][101]
January 1, 1973[102]

January 5, 1981
(lost nomination)[lower-alpha 25]
Democratic 1972 Bill Christiansen
1976 Ted Schwinden
19 Ted Schwinden
(1925–2023)
[103]
January 5, 1981[104]

January 2, 1989
(did not run)
Democratic 1980 George Turman
1984
Gordon McOmber
20 Stan Stephens
(1929–2021)
[105]
January 2, 1989[106]

January 4, 1993
(did not run)
Republican 1988 Allen Kolstad
Denny Rehberg
21 Marc Racicot
(b. 1948)
[107]
January 4, 1993[108]

January 2, 2001
(term-limited)
Republican 1992
1996 Judy Martz
22 Judy Martz
(1943–2017)
[109]
January 2, 2001[110]

January 3, 2005
(did not run)
Republican 2000 Karl Ohs
23 Brian Schweitzer
(b. 1955)
[111]
January 3, 2005[112]

January 7, 2013
(term-limited)
Democratic 2004 John Bohlinger[lower-alpha 19]
2008
24 Steve Bullock
(b. 1966)
[113]
January 7, 2013[114]

January 4, 2021
(term-limited)
Democratic 2012 John Walsh
Angela McLean
Mike Cooney
2016
25 Greg Gianforte
(b. 1961)
[115]
January 4, 2021[116]

Incumbent[lower-alpha 26]
Republican 2020 Kristen Juras

See also

Notes

  1. 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 left office.
  2. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Crosby resigned, having been appointed United States Postmaster General.[31]
  12. 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. Carpenter was removed when Democrat Grover Cleveland succeeded Republican President Chester A. Arthur.[34][37]
  14. Hauser was nominated on December 10, 1885,[39] and confirmed by the Senate on May 14, 1886.[40]
  15. 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. Leslie was nominated on December 15, 1886;[42] confirmed by the Senate on January 13, 1887;[43] and sworn in February 8.[41]
  17. White was nominated on March 26, 1889,[45] and confirmed on March 27.[46]
  18. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  19. Represented the Republican Party
  20. Represented the Populist Party
  21. Toole resigned due to health.[51]
  22. Erickson resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.[70]
  23. Holt lost the Democratic nomination to Roy E. Ayers.[76]
  24. Represented the Democratic Party
  25. Judge lost the Democratic nomination to Ted Schwinden.
  26. Gianforte's first term expires on January 6, 2025.

References

General
  • "Former Montana Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  • McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  • Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  • "Our Campaigns - Governor of Montana - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Specific
  1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. 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. 13 Stat. 85
  8. Allen, Fredrick (Spring 2001). "Montana Vigilantes: and the Origins of the 3-7-77". Governor of the State of Montana. Montana The Magazine of Western History. pp. 3–19. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  9. Burlingame, Merrill Gildea (1942). The Montana Frontier. Helena, MT: State Publishing Company. p. 166.
  10. "Recorder Scribner Dead". The Inter Ocean. September 29, 1889. p. 11. Retrieved October 19, 2017 via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. McMullin 1984, pp. 211–212.
  12. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., 590, accessed March 24, 2023.
  13. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., 594, accessed March 24, 2023.
  14. 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.
  15. McMullin 1984, pp. 212–213.
  16. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 1st sess., 862, accessed March 24, 2023.
  17. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 1st sess., 920, accessed March 24, 2023.
  18. Malone, Michael P. (1976). Montana: A History of Two Centuries. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-295-97129-2.
  19. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 81, accessed March 24, 2023.
  20. McMullin 1984, pp. 214–215.
  21. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 120, accessed March 24, 2023.
  22. "The Removal of Gov. Ashley". Ottawa County Union. December 31, 1869. p. 2. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  23. 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.
  24. Toole, Kenneth Ross (1959). Montana: An Uncommon Land. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780806118901.
  25. McMullin 1984, pp. 215–216.
  26. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., 317, accessed March 24, 2023.
  27. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., 539, accessed March 24, 2023.
  28. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 1st sess., 367, accessed March 24, 2023.
  29. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., 354, accessed March 24, 2023.
  30. Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana. Vol. 2. Helena, MT: State Publishing Company. 1896. p. 387.
  31. McMullin 1984, pp. 216–217.
  32. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 497, accessed March 24, 2023.
  33. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 519, accessed March 24, 2023.
  34. McMullin 1984, pp. 217–218.
  35. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 387, accessed March 24, 2023.
  36. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 402, accessed March 24, 2023.
  37. Spence, Clark C. (1978). Montana: A History. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-393-34856-9.
  38. McMullin 1984, pp. 218–219.
  39. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 1st sess., 55, accessed March 24, 2023.
  40. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 1st sess., 462, accessed March 24, 2023.
  41. McMullin 1984, pp. 219–220.
  42. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 647, accessed March 24, 2023.
  43. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 698, accessed March 24, 2023.
  44. McMullin 1984, pp. 220–221.
  45. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 40, accessed March 24, 2023.
  46. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 46, accessed March 24, 2023.
  47. 25 Stat. 676
  48. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1.
  49. Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8.
  50. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 14.
  51. Sobel 1978, p. 873.
  52. "Joseph Kemp Toole". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  53. "For Joseph K. Toole". The Butte Miner. November 9, 1889. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  54. Sobel 1978, p. 874.
  55. "John Ezra Rickards". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  56. "The Lower House". The Anaconda Standard. January 3, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  57. Sobel 1978, pp. 874–875.
  58. "Robert Burns Smith". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  59. "The Governor Sworn In". The Butte Daily Post. January 4, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  60. "Governor Toole Takes Office". The Butte Daily Post. January 7, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  61. Sobel 1978, pp. 875–876.
  62. "Edwin Lee Norris". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  63. "It Will Be Gov. Norris Today". The Butte Miner. April 1, 1908. p. 4. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  64. Sobel 1978, pp. 876–877.
  65. "Samuel Vernon Stewart". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  66. "Stewart Sworn In As Governor". The Anaconda Standard. January 7, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  67. Sobel 1978, p. 877.
  68. "Joseph Moore Dixon". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  69. "Joseph M. Dixon Is Inaugurated Chief Executive". The Anaconda Standard. January 4, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  70. Sobel 1978, p. 878.
  71. "John Edward Erickson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  72. "Wheels Wait to Turn at Capital". The Billings Gazette. January 6, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  73. Sobel 1978, pp. 878–879.
  74. "Frank Henry Cooney". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  75. "Erickson Is Montana Senator - Appointed by Cooney After Resignation". The Missoulian. Associated Press. March 14, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  76. Sobel 1978, pp. 879–880.
  77. "William Elmer Holt". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  78. "Senator Holt, Miles City, Is Governor, Following Demise of Frank H. Cooney". Great Falls Tribune. December 16, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  79. Sobel 1978, p. 880.
  80. "Roy Elmer Ayers". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  81. "Governor Moves Inaugural Rite Ahead to Allay Excitement of Father, Who Administered Oath". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. January 5, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  82. Sobel 1978, p. 881.
  83. "Samuel Clarence Ford". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  84. "Governor Is Paid Tribute At Reception". The Missoulian. Associated Press. January 7, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  85. Sobel 1978, pp. 881–882.
  86. "John Woodrow Bonner". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  87. "New, Reelected State Officers Are Given Oath". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. January 4, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  88. Sobel 1978, pp. 882–883.
  89. "John Hugo Aronson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  90. "Hundreds Attend Reception for Governor". The Missoulian. Associated Press. January 6, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  91. Sobel 1978, pp. 883–884.
  92. "Donald Grant Nutter". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  93. "Donald G. Nutter, State's 15th Governor, "On Job"". The Independent-Record. January 3, 1961. p. 9. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  94. Sobel 1978, p. 884.
  95. "Tim M. Babcock". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  96. "Babcock, Close Friend of Nutter, Becomes State's 15th Governor". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. January 26, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  97. Sobel 1978, p. 885.
  98. "Forrest H. Anderson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  99. Van Swearingen, Hugh (January 7, 1969). "It's Gov. Forrest Now". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  100. Sobel 1978, pp. 885–886.
  101. "Thomas Lee Judge". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  102. "Tom Judge Is Inaugurated As State's 17th Governor". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  103. "Ted Schwinden". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  104. "Schwinden Says Job a Challenge". The Montana Standard. Associated Press. January 6, 1981. p. 7. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  105. "Stan Stephens". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  106. O'Connell, Sue (January 3, 1989). "State Officials Sworn In, Given Solemn Charge". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. p. 3A. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  107. "Marc Racicot". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  108. Salemy, Shirley (January 5, 1993). "Racicot Sworn In As 20th Governor". Great Falls Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  109. "Judy Martz". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  110. Johnson, Charles S. (January 3, 2001). "Martz Sworn In As Governor, Seeks To Unify Montanans". The Billings Gazette. p. 1A. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  111. "Brian Schweitzer". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  112. McKee, Jennifer (January 4, 2005). "Fanfare, Drums Mark Ceremony". The Billings Gazette. p. 1A. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  113. "Steve Bullock". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  114. Johnson, Charles S. "Bullock Sworn In As 24th Governor of Montana". Billings Gazette. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  115. "Greg Gianforte". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  116. Samuels, Iris (April 20, 2021). "Greg Gianforte Sworn In As Montana's 25th Governor". Associated Press. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
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