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Governor of Montana
Flag of Montana.svg
Montana-StateSeal.svg
Greg Gianforte in Taiwan (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Greg Gianforte

since January 4, 2021
Government of Montana
Style The Honorable
Residence Montana Governor's Residence
Term length Four years, renewable once (limited to eight years in a sixteen year period)
Constituting instrument Montana Constitution of 1889
Inaugural holder Joseph K. Toole
Formation November 8, 1889
(135 years ago)
 (1889-11-08)
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Salary $108,167 (2022)

The Governor of Montana is like the chief executive officer for the state of Montana. This person is the head of government for Montana and also leads the state's military forces, known as the Montana National Guard.

The governor has several important jobs. They must make sure that state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject (veto) new laws that the Montana State Legislature passes. The governor can call the legislature together for special meetings whenever needed. They also have the power to grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime.

Montana has had 24 governors since it became a state. These leaders have come from two main political parties: 9 were Republicans and 15 were Democrats. The governor who served the longest was Joseph Toole. He was in office for 11 years, from 1889 to 1893 and again from 1901 to 1908. He is the only governor to serve terms that were not back-to-back. The shortest-serving governor was Elmer Holt, who was in office for less than 13 months after the previous governor passed away. The current governor is Republican Greg Gianforte, who started his term on January 4, 2021.

Montana's Early Governors: The Territorial Period

Before Montana became a state, it was a territory. This territory was created on May 26, 1864. During its 35 years as a territory, Montana had nine governors. These governors were chosen by the president of the United States. There were also three acting governors who stepped in when needed.

The first acting governor was Thomas Francis Meagher, who served from 1865 to 1867. Later, James Tufts served for one month in 1869, followed by Wiley Scribner from 1869 to 1870.

Governors of the Territory of Montana
No. Governor Time in Office Appointed by
1 SEdgerton.jpg Sidney Edgerton
(1818–1900)
June 22, 1864

July 13, 1866
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
2 Green Clay Smith - Brady-Handy.jpg Green Clay Smith
(1826–1895)
July 13, 1866

April 9, 1869
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
3 James Mitchell Ashley - Brady-Handy.jpg James Mitchell Ashley
(1824–1896)
April 9, 1869

December 17, 1869
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
4 Benjamin F Potts.jpg Benjamin F. Potts
(1836–1887)
July 13, 1870

August 4, 1882
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Schuyler Crosby.jpg John Schuyler Crosby
(1839–1914)
August 4, 1882

November 11, 1884
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
6 Benjamin Platt Carpenter (Montana Territorial Governor).jpg B. Platt Carpenter
(1837–1921)
December 22, 1884

July 3, 1885
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser.gif Samuel Thomas Hauser
(1833–1914)
May 14, 1886

January 13, 1887
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
8 PHLeslie.jpg Preston Leslie
(1819–1907)
January 13, 1887

March 27, 1889
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
9 Benjamin Franklin White (Montana Territory Governor).jpg Benjamin F. White
(1838–1920)
March 27, 1889

November 8, 1889
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison

Montana's State Governors: From 1889 to Today

Montana officially became a state on November 8, 1889. The state's current Constitution, which was approved in 1972, says that a governor serves a 4-year term. This term begins on the first Monday in January after an election.

A rule added in 1992 limits a governor to serving 8 years within any 16-year period. This means they can serve two terms, but then must wait before running again. The constitution also states that a lieutenant governor is elected at the same time as the governor. They run together as a team. If the governor leaves office early due to resignation, disqualification, or death, the lieutenant governor takes over for the rest of the term. If the governor is temporarily unable to do their job, the lieutenant governor can become acting governor.


Governors of the State of Montana
No. Governor Time in Office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 JosephKToole.JPG   Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
November 8, 1889

January 2, 1893
Democratic 1889   Rickards, John E.John E. Rickards
2 John E Rickards.jpg John E. Rickards
(1848–1927)
January 2, 1893

January 4, 1897
Republican 1892 Botkin, Alexander CampbellAlexander Campbell Botkin
3 Robert Burns Smith (Montana Governor).jpg Robert Burns Smith
(1854–1908)
January 4, 1897

January 7, 1901
Fusion 1896 Spriggs, Archibald E.Archibald E. Spriggs
4 JosephKToole.JPG Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
January 7, 1901

April 1, 1908
Democratic 1900 Higgins, Frank G.Frank G. Higgins
1904 Norris, Edwin L.Edwin L. Norris
5 Edwin L. Norris (Montana Governor).jpg Edwin L. Norris
(1865–1924)
April 1, 1908

January 6, 1913
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
White, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. White
1908 Allen, WilliamWilliam Allen
6 Sam V. Stewart.jpg Sam V. Stewart
(1872–1939)
January 6, 1913

January 3, 1921
Democratic 1912 McDowell, W. W.W. W. McDowell
1916
7 Joseph M. Dixon.jpg Joseph M. Dixon
(1867–1934)
January 3, 1921

January 5, 1925
Republican 1920 Story Jr., NelsonNelson Story Jr.
8 John Erickson.jpg John E. Erickson
(1863–1946)
January 5, 1925

March 13, 1933
Democratic 1924 McCormack, W. S.W. S. McCormack
1928 Hazelbaker, Frank A.Frank A. Hazelbaker
1932 Cooney, Frank HenryFrank Henry Cooney
9 Frank Henry Cooney.jpg Frank Henry Cooney
(1872–1935)
March 13, 1933

December 15, 1935
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Kane, TomTom Kane
Eaton, Ernest T.Ernest T. Eaton
Holt, ElmerElmer Holt
10 W. Elmer Holt (Montana governor).jpg Elmer Holt
(1884–1945)
December 15, 1935

January 4, 1937
Democratic Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
Pilgeram, William P.William P. Pilgeram
11 Roy E. Ayers.jpg Roy E. Ayers
(1882–1955)
January 4, 1937

January 6, 1941
Democratic 1936 Adair, Hugh R.Hugh R. Adair
12 Sam C. Ford.jpg Sam C. Ford
(1882–1961)
January 6, 1941

January 3, 1949
Republican 1940 Eaton, Ernest T.Ernest T. Eaton
1944
13 John W. Bonner.jpg John W. Bonner
(1902–1970)
January 3, 1949

January 5, 1953
Democratic 1948 Cannon, Paul C.Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson.jpg J. Hugo Aronson
(1891–1978)
January 5, 1953

January 2, 1961
Republican 1952 Gosman, George M.George M. Gosman
1956 Cannon, Paul C.Paul C. Cannon
15 Donald G. Nutter.jpg Donald Grant Nutter
(1915–1962)
January 2, 1961

January 25, 1962
Republican 1960 Babcock, TimTim Babcock
16 Tim Babcock.jpg Tim Babcock
(1919–2015)
January 25, 1962

January 6, 1969
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
James, David F.David F. James
1964 James, TedTed James
17 Forrest H. Anderson (Montana governor).jpg Forrest H. Anderson
(1913–1989)
January 6, 1969

January 1, 1973
Democratic 1968 Judge, Thomas LeeThomas Lee Judge
18 Montana Governor Thomas Judge.jpeg Thomas Lee Judge
(1934–2006)
January 1, 1973

January 5, 1981
Democratic 1972 Christiansen, BillBill Christiansen
1976 Schwinden, TedTed Schwinden
19 Ted-Schwinden-as-Governor.jpg Ted Schwinden
(1925–2023)
January 5, 1981

January 2, 1989
Democratic 1980 Turman, GeorgeGeorge Turman
1984
McOmber, GordonGordon McOmber
20 Montana governor Stan Stephens.jpeg Stan Stephens
(1929–2021)
January 2, 1989

January 4, 1993
Republican 1988 Kolstad, AllenAllen Kolstad
Rehberg, DennyDenny Rehberg
21 Marc Racicot 2008 (cropped).JPG Marc Racicot
(b. 1948)
January 4, 1993

January 2, 2001
Republican 1992
1996 Martz, JudyJudy Martz
22 Judy Martz 2003 (cropped).jpg Judy Martz
(1943–2017)
January 2, 2001

January 3, 2005
Republican 2000 Ohs, KarlKarl Ohs
23 Brian Schweitzer official photo.jpg Brian Schweitzer
(b. 1955)
January 3, 2005

January 7, 2013
Democratic 2004 Bohlinger, JohnJohn Bohlinger
2008
24 Steve Bullock by Gage Skidmore.jpg Steve Bullock
(b. 1966)
January 7, 2013

January 4, 2021
Democratic 2012 Walsh, JohnJohn Walsh
McLean, AngelaAngela McLean
Cooney, MikeMike Cooney
2016
25 Greg Gianforte in Taiwan (cropped).jpg Greg Gianforte
(b. 1961)
January 4, 2021

Incumbent
Republican 2020 Juras, KristenKristen Juras
2024

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Montana
  • First Ladies and Gentlemen of Montana
  • List of Montana state legislatures
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