Greg Gianforte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greg Gianforte
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Gianforte in 2017
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| 25th Governor of Montana | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2021 |
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| Lieutenant | Kristen Juras |
| Preceded by | Steve Bullock |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's at-large district |
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| In office June 21, 2017 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Ryan Zinke |
| Succeeded by | Matt Rosendale |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gregory Richard Gianforte
April 17, 1961 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Susan Gianforte
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Stevens Institute of Technology (BS, MS) |
| Signature |  |
Greg Gianforte (born April 17, 1961) is an American politician, businessman, and software engineer. He is currently the 25th governor of Montana, a position he has held since 2021. Before becoming governor, Gianforte served as a U.S. representative for Montana's at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party.
In 1997, Gianforte and his wife, Susan, started a software company called RightNow Technologies. This company grew very large, employing over 1,000 people. In 2011, a bigger company, Oracle Corporation, bought RightNow Technologies for $1.5 billion.
Gianforte first ran for governor of Montana in 2016 but did not win. In 2017, he won a special election to become a U.S. representative for Montana. He was reelected to this role in 2018. In 2020, he ran for governor again and won, becoming the first Republican governor of Montana since 2005. He was reelected as governor in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in California and Pennsylvania
Gregory Richard Gianforte was born on April 17, 1961, in San Diego, California. He is the oldest of three sons. His father, Frank Richard Gianforte, was an aerospace engineer. His mother, Dale Douglass, worked for General Dynamics and later became a math teacher.
When Greg was three, his family moved to Pennsylvania. He grew up in the suburbs near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
High School and College Years
In the 1970s, while still in high school, Gianforte started his own software business. He attended Upper Merion Area High School in Pennsylvania. He was elected class president in his junior and senior years. He was also the captain of his school's football team. He graduated from high school in 1979.
In 1983, Gianforte graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology. He earned degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. During college, he managed a computer lab with 12 programmers.
Career in Business
Starting Software Companies
Gianforte began his career in 1983 at Bell Labs. He later left to co-found Brightwork Development Inc. This company created software for managing computer networks in banks. In 1994, they sold the company to McAfee Associates for $10 million. Gianforte then worked for McAfee, leading their sales in North America. In 1995, he moved to Bozeman, Montana.
In 1997, Gianforte and his wife, Susan, started RightNow Technologies. Their goal was to use the internet to build a global business from Montana. By 2004, the company had over 1,000 employees in Bozeman and other countries. In 2011, Oracle Corporation bought RightNow Technologies for $1.5 billion. At that time, Gianforte's share in the company was worth about $290 million.
In 2005, Gianforte co-wrote a book called Bootstrapping Your Business. This book teaches how to start and grow a successful company with little money.
Giving Back to the Community
In 2004, Gianforte and his wife started the Gianforte Family Foundation. This foundation supports faith-based groups, helps families, and aids those in need. It also supports education, business, and job creation in Montana. The foundation had assets of $113 million in 2013.
The Gianforte Family Foundation has given money to other conservative groups. These groups work to promote certain values in Montana. Gianforte has also supported organizations that advocate for school choice.
Gianforte believes in Young Earth creationism. This belief states that the Earth is much younger than scientists generally believe. He has donated to the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum in Montana. This museum teaches that the Earth is about 6,000 years old and that humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time. The museum also claims dinosaurs were on Noah's Ark. The Gianforte Family Foundation even donated a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton replica to the museum.
U.S. House of Representatives (2017–2021)
Elections for Congress
2017 Special Election
In 2017, Montana's U.S. Representative, Ryan Zinke, resigned. This created an open seat in Congress. Gianforte decided to run for this special election. The Republican Party chose him as their candidate. He ran against Rob Quist from the Democratic Party and Mark Wicks from the Libertarian Party.
During his campaign, Gianforte expressed support for President Donald Trump. Vice President Mike Pence and Donald Trump Jr. came to Montana to support Gianforte. Gianforte promoted himself as an outsider and a successful business owner. He criticized policies related to "sanctuary cities."
Gianforte supported getting rid of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He also said he would not vote for a new healthcare plan unless it protected people with existing health conditions. He supported government rules against discrimination for workers. However, he did not support increasing the minimum wage. Gianforte also opposed allowing refugees to settle in Montana.
Gianforte opposed transferring federal lands to the states. He called for changes to the Endangered Species Act. He also believed that closing coal power plants would not help with climate change.
2018 House Campaign
In 2018, Gianforte ran for reelection to the House of Representatives. He ran against Kathleen Williams, a state legislator. He also ran against Elinor Swanson, a lawyer.
Gianforte opposed Williams's idea to let people aged 55 and older buy into Medicare. He warned that Medicare could face spending cuts if Democrats gained control of the House. Gianforte was reelected by a 5% margin. He had strong support from men over 44 and those with higher incomes.
Time in Congress
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Gianforte was sworn into the House of Representatives on June 21, 2017. He announced his support for limiting how long members of Congress can serve. He also supported preventing members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.
His first bill aimed to stop congressional pay if a balanced budget was not passed. This bill did not become law.
In 2018, Gianforte opposed tariffs (taxes on imported goods) on aluminum and steel. He worried about how these tariffs might affect Montana's farm exports.
Gianforte voted with President Trump's positions on many key issues. He opposed the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. He voted against both articles of impeachment against Trump. He also voted against measures to stop Trump from starting military action against Iran without Congress's approval.
Gianforte voted against a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. He also voted against federal action to fight climate change. He supported Trump's decision to leave the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Gianforte was one of the wealthiest members of Congress. In December 2020, he was one of 126 Republican House members who supported a lawsuit about the 2020 presidential election results. The Supreme Court did not hear the case.
Committees and Groups
- Natural Resources Committee
- Subcommittee on Federal Lands
- Oversight Committee
- Subcommittee on Information Technology
- Subcommittee on Interior (Chair, 2017-2018)
- Congressional Western Caucus
Governor of Montana
Running for Governor
2016 Election
On January 20, 2016, Gianforte announced he would run for governor of Montana. He pledged not to accept money from special interest groups.
During his campaign, Gianforte faced questions about his past actions. He had filed a lawsuit about public access to a river next to his property. His critics said he was trying to block public access. Gianforte said it was a misunderstanding.
He lost the 2016 election to the current governor, Steve Bullock.
2020 Election
On June 6, 2019, Gianforte ran for the Republican nomination for governor again. He won the nomination. In the November general election, he defeated Mike Cooney, who was the lieutenant governor.
2024 Election
On January 16, 2024, Gianforte announced he would seek reelection for a second term as governor. He won the election on November 6.
Time as Governor
Gianforte became governor on January 4, 2021.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gianforte lifted Montana's statewide mask mandate in February 2021. He also signed a bill that limited how much hospitals and businesses could require staff to be vaccinated. It also stopped businesses from requiring customers to be vaccinated.
In March 2021, Gianforte signed a bill that changed how judges are chosen in Montana. This gave the governor more say in the process. In April 2021, he signed a bill banning "sanctuary cities" in Montana. At that time, Montana did not have any sanctuary cities.
Later in April, Gianforte signed bills that ended same-day voter registration in Montana. These bills also prevented students from using their student IDs as voter identification. He signed another bill making it easier to challenge government rules that might go against religious beliefs.
In 2021 and 2023, he signed bills related to gender identity. These included a bill about changing birth certificates and a bill banning transgender athletes from girls' sports in public schools. He also signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
Personal Life
Gianforte met his wife, Susan, in the 1980s while working in New Jersey. They married in 1988. They have four children and have lived in Bozeman, Montana since 1995. Gianforte was raised Presbyterian. He and his wife attend Grace Bible Church in Bozeman.
Gianforte enjoys hunting.
He has received honorary doctorates from Stevens Institute of Technology and Montana State University. In 2003, he was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" for the Pacific Northwest.
As of 2018, Gianforte's net worth was over $189 million. This made him one of the wealthiest members of Congress at the time.
Images for kids
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Gianforte speaking at a business conference in 2006
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Gianforte circa June 2017 when he was sworn into office.
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Exhibit on Greg Gianforte's election eve assault of The Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs at The Newseum.
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Gianforte in 2020.
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Gianforte in 2020.
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See also
In Spanish: Greg Gianforte para niños
