Matt Rosendale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matt Rosendale
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana
In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
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
Governor	Steve Bullock
Preceded by	Monica Lindeen
Succeeded by	Troy Downing
Member of the Montana Senate from the 18th district
In office January 7, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded by	John Brenden
Succeeded by	Steve Hinebauch
Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 38th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2013
Preceded by	Dennis Getz
Succeeded by	Alan Doane
Personal details
Born	Matthew Martin Rosendale (1960-07-07) July 7, 1960 (age 64) 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 used to work in real estate. From 2021 to 2025, he represented Montana in the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Before joining the U.S. House, Rosendale served in the Montana House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. He was also in the Montana Senate from 2013 to 2017. During part of that time (2015-2017), he was the leader of the majority party in the Montana Senate. From 2017 to 2020, Rosendale was the Montana State Auditor.

In 2024, he planned to run for the United States Senate again. However, he ended his campaign shortly after. He then decided not to run for his House seat either.

Early Life and First Jobs

Matt Rosendale was born on July 7, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland. He finished high school in Centreville, Maryland, in 1978. He also went to Chesapeake College in Maryland.

Before moving to Montana, Rosendale worked in Maryland. He helped develop land and managed real estate. In 2002, he moved with his family to Glendive, Montana. There, he was chosen twice to lead the Glendive Agri-Trade Expo committee. This group organizes a show to highlight agriculture businesses in eastern Montana.

Political Journey

Matt Rosendale has served in different government roles. He started in Montana's state government. Later, he moved on to the U.S. Congress.

Serving in the Montana House of Representatives

Rosendale served one term in the Montana House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state of Montana.

He ran for House District 38, which covers parts of Wibaux and Dawson County. In the 2010 election, he won against the person who held the seat before him. He received 52.7% of the votes.

During his time in the House, Rosendale worked on several committees. These included groups focused on business, labor, transportation, and local government.

Serving in the Montana Senate

Rosendale then served one four-year term in the Montana Senate. This is another part of Montana's law-making body. From 2015 to 2017, he was the majority leader. This meant he was the main leader for his political party in the Senate.

In 2012, he ran for Senate District 19. This area in eastern Montana usually votes for Republican candidates. He won the election with 67.6% of the votes.

In 2013, he was the vice chair of the Natural Resources and Transportation Committee. He also served on other committees. He helped pass a law to stop law enforcement from using drones for surveillance (watching people).

In 2015, his fellow State Senators chose him to be the majority leader. He also led the Rules Committee. He worked on a bill to allow "direct primary care" plans. These plans help people get health care directly from doctors. The bill passed but was stopped by the Governor.

Montana State Auditor Role

Becoming State Auditor

In 2016, Rosendale ran for Montana State Auditor. This job involves overseeing the state's finances and insurance. The person who had the job before him could not run again.

Rosendale won the election with 53.6% of the votes. This election for State Auditor was the most expensive one in Montana's history at that time.

What He Did as Auditor

Rosendale was Montana's State Auditor from 2017 to 2020. In this role, he approved certain health care agreements. He also allowed Medi-Share to operate in Montana. Medi-Share is a group where people of faith share money to help cover health costs.

He chose not to take a pay raise while in office. He kept his annual salary at $92,236.

As State Auditor, Rosendale was also part of the Montana State Land Board. This board manages over 5.2 million acres of state trust land. He voted to increase public access to more than 45,000 acres of these lands.

In 2017, he suggested a plan to help people with preexisting conditions get affordable health coverage. This plan passed the state legislature. But Governor Steve Bullock stopped it. Rosendale then worked with other officials to create a similar program. This program is now working.

In 2019, Rosendale proposed a law about pharmacy benefits managers. These companies handle prescription drug benefits. The law passed but was again stopped by Governor Bullock.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Running for Congress

In 2013, Rosendale first ran for the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made for the whole country. He came in third place in that election.

In 2019, the person holding the House seat decided to run for governor. Rosendale then announced he would run for the open seat. He received support from President Donald Trump and other important leaders. He won the Republican primary election with 48.3% of the votes.

In November 2020, Rosendale won the general election. He defeated the Democratic candidate with 56.4% of the votes.

Representing Montana

After the 2020 census, Montana gained another seat in the U.S. House. Rosendale ran for re-election in the new second district. This district covers the eastern two-thirds of the state. He won the 2022 election with 56.6% of the votes.

Rosendale started his term in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2021.

He voted against a plan called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This plan aimed to help the country recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.

In June 2021, he was one of 21 House Republicans who voted against giving a special medal to police officers. These officers had defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Also in June 2021, he voted against making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

In July 2021, Rosendale voted against a bill to help Afghan allies of the U.S. military. This bill would have increased special visas for them.

Rosendale supported banning members of Congress from trading stocks.

In March 2023, Rosendale voted to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

On October 3, 2023, Rosendale was one of eight Republicans who voted to remove the House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy. This was the first time in history a House Speaker was removed this way.

In March 2024, he voted against a resolution that condemned the illegal kidnapping of children from Ukraine by Russia.

What Committees He Served On

Matt Rosendale was part of several important committees in the House:

• Committee on Veterans Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Health
  • Subcommittee on Technology Modernization (Ranking Member)
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
  • Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States

Groups He Joined

He was also a member of these groups within Congress:

• Freedom Caucus
• Republican Study Committee

Running for U.S. Senate

2018 Election

In 2017, Rosendale announced he would try to become a U.S. Senator for Montana. He ran against the current Democratic senator, Jon Tester.

He won the Republican primary election with 33.8% of the votes. After this, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence supported his campaign. They visited Montana to help him.

The election was very close and cost a lot of money. In the end, Jon Tester won with 50.3% of the votes, while Rosendale received 46.8%.

2024 Election

In August 2023, news reports said Rosendale was thinking about running for the U.S. Senate again in 2024. On February 9, 2024, he announced he would run. However, he ended his campaign just six days later. This happened after Donald Trump supported another candidate. Rosendale then decided to run for his House seat again, but he withdrew from that race in March 2024.

Personal Life

Matt Rosendale and his wife, Jean, live on a ranch north of Glendive. They have three grown children. Their son, Adam Rosendale, also served in the Montana Legislature for a short time in 2017.

Rosendale has also led his local Catholic church council.