Matt Rosendale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Rosendale
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana |
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| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Greg Gianforte |
| Succeeded by | Troy Downing |
| Constituency | At-large district (2021–2023) 2nd district (2023–2025) |
| 16th Auditor of Montana | |
| In office January 2, 2017 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Governor | Steve Bullock |
| Preceded by | Monica Lindeen |
| Succeeded by | Troy Downing |
| Member of the Montana Senate from the 18th district |
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| In office January 7, 2013 – January 2, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | John Brenden |
| Succeeded by | Steve Hinebauch |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 38th district |
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| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Dennis Getz |
| Succeeded by | Alan Doane |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Matthew Martin Rosendale
July 7, 1960 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jean Rosendale
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 3, including Adam |
| Education | Queen Anne's County High School Centreville, Maryland |
| Signature |  |
Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American politician. He represented Montana in the United States House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Before serving in the U.S. House, Rosendale was a real estate developer. He also served in the Montana House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. Later, he was in the Montana Senate from 2013 to 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he was the Montana Senate majority leader. Rosendale was elected Montana State Auditor in 2016. He held that job from 2017 to 2020.
Rosendale ran for the U.S. House in 2014 and the U.S. Senate in 2018, but he did not win those elections. He was elected to represent Montana's at-large congressional district in 2020. After Montana gained a second House seat in the 2020 census, Rosendale was elected to represent the new 2nd congressional district in 2022.
In February 2024, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate again. However, he ended his campaign just six days later. He then chose to run for re-election to his House seat but withdrew from that race in March 2024.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Matt Rosendale was born on July 7, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland. He finished high school at Queen Anne's County High School in Centreville, Maryland, in 1978. He went to Chesapeake College in Maryland but did not complete his degree.
Before moving to Montana, Rosendale worked in Maryland. He focused on developing real estate and managing land. In 2002, he moved with his family to Glendive, Montana. In Montana, he was chosen twice to lead the Glendive Agri-Trade Expo committee. This local group organizes an event that shows off agriculture in eastern Montana.
Serving in Montana's Government
Montana House of Representatives
Rosendale served one two-year term in the Montana House of Representatives. He represented House District 38. This district includes Wibaux and part of Dawson County.
In 2010, Rosendale won the election against the Democratic representative, Dennis Getz. During the 2011 legislative session, he worked on committees. These included the Business and Labor Committee and the Transportation Committee.
Montana Senate
Rosendale served one four-year term in the Montana Senate. This was from 2013 to 2017. From 2015 to 2017, his fellow senators chose him to be the majority leader. This means he led the main political party in the Senate.
In 2012, Rosendale ran for the Montana Senate to represent Senate District 19. He won this election. During the 2013 legislative session, he was the vice chair of the Natural Resources and Transportation Committee. He also worked on other important committees.
Rosendale supported a resolution asking the U.S. Congress to propose a balanced budget amendment. He also sponsored a bill that became law. This law stops law enforcement from using drones for surveillance (watching people) without a good reason.
Starting in 2015, Rosendale represented Senate District 18 due to new district maps. As majority leader, he also chaired the Rules Committee. He sponsored a bill to allow direct primary care plans. This bill passed the legislature but was stopped by Governor Steve Bullock.
Montana State Auditor
Becoming State Auditor
Rosendale ran for Montana State Auditor in 2016. The previous auditor could not run again because of term limits. Rosendale won the Republican primary election without any opponents.
In the general election, he faced Jesse Laslovich. Rosendale won the election. This was the most expensive state auditor's race in Montana's history at that time.
Work as State Auditor
Rosendale was Montana state auditor from 2017 to 2020. As auditor, he approved direct primary care agreements. He also allowed Medi-Share to operate in Montana. Medi-Share is a group where people of a religious faith share money to help cover each other's health care costs.
Rosendale chose not to accept a pay raise while in office. He also served on the Montana State Land Board. This board manages 5.2 million acres of state trust land. As a board member, Rosendale voted to open up more than 45,000 acres of public land for people to use.
In 2017, Rosendale suggested a plan to create a reinsurance program. This program would help people with preexisting conditions get affordable health coverage. This plan passed the legislature but was stopped by Governor Steve Bullock. Rosendale worked with other officials to create this program anyway, and it is now working.
In 2019, Rosendale proposed a law about pharmacy benefits managers. This law aimed to stop a practice called "spread pricing." The bill passed the legislature but was again stopped by Governor Bullock.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections for Congress
In 2013, the representative for Montana, Steve Daines, decided to run for the U.S. Senate instead. Rosendale then announced he would run for Daines's seat in the U.S. House. He came in third place in the Republican primary election.
In June 2019, Representative Greg Gianforte announced he would run for governor. Rosendale then decided to run for the open House seat. He received support from President Donald Trump and other important political figures. He won the Republican primary election.
In November 2020, Rosendale defeated the Democratic candidate, Kathleen Williams, in the general election.
After the 2020 census, Montana gained a second congressional district. Rosendale ran for re-election in the new second district. This district covers the eastern two-thirds of the state. He won the Republican primary in 2022 and then won the general election.
Time in Office
Rosendale became a member of the House of Representatives on January 3, 2021.
He voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This plan was designed to help the country recover from the effects of the pandemic. In July 2021, Rosendale voted against the ALLIES Act. This bill would have increased the number of special visas for Afghan allies who helped the U.S. military.
Rosendale supported a ban on members of Congress trading stocks. In June 2021, he voted to end the permission for military force against Iraq from 2002.
He spoke out against getting involved in Ukraine before the Russian invasion. He also sponsored a bill to stop military help to Kyiv if the U.S. border with Mexico was not secure first. On March 2, 2022, Rosendale was one of only three House members to vote against a resolution supporting Ukraine's independence during the Russian invasion. In 2022, he voted against a bill that would give about $14 billion to Ukraine's government.
In July 2022, Rosendale was one of 18 Republicans who voted against allowing Sweden and Finland to join NATO. In March 2023, he voted to direct President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.
On October 3, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to remove its speaker, Kevin McCarthy. This was the first time this had ever happened. Rosendale was one of eight Republicans who voted for his removal.
On March 19, 2024, Rosendale voted against a resolution that condemned the illegal taking of children from Ukraine to Russia. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.
Committees and Groups
Rosendale served on these committees in the House:
- Committee on Veterans Affairs
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Technology Modernization (as a leader)
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
- Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States
He was also part of these groups:
- Freedom Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
U.S. Senate Campaigns
2018 Election
In 2017, Rosendale announced he would try to win the Republican nomination to challenge the Democratic senator, Jon Tester. Rosendale won the Republican primary election.
After the primary, he received support from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. They both visited Montana to campaign for him.
During his 2018 campaign, Rosendale was criticized for calling himself a "rancher." Critics said he didn't own cattle or a cattle brand. Rosendale said he leased his land and helped with cattle there. He later removed the "rancher" label from his online profiles.
The election was very close and was the most expensive in Montana's history. Tester won the election with 50.3% of the vote, while Rosendale received 46.8%.
2024 Election
In August 2023, news reports said Rosendale was thinking about running for the U.S. Senate in 2024. He officially entered the race on February 9, 2024. However, President Trump supported a different candidate just hours later. Rosendale then dropped out of the race a week later.
On March 8, 2024, Rosendale announced he would also not run for re-election to his House seat.
Personal Life
Matt Rosendale and his wife, Jean, live on a ranch north of Glendive. They have three adult children. Their son, Adam Rosendale, served briefly in the Montana Legislature in 2017.
Rosendale has also served as the head of his local Catholic parish council.
Images for kids
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Matt Rosendale's signature
