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Governor of Montana
Flag of Montana.svg
Montana-StateSeal.svg
Greg Gianforte 2020.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
(134 years ago)
 (1889-11-08)
Succession Every four years, unless re-elected.
Salary $108,167 (2013)

The governor of Montana is the head of government of Montana and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Montana State Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and to grant pardons and reprieves.

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.

List of governors

Territory of Montana

Montana Territory was organized from Idaho Territory on May 26, 1864. 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 1865 until 1867. The second, James Tufts, served in for one month in 1869, and was succeeded by Wiley Scribner, who served 1869-1870.

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

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

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

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

August 4, 1882
(successor appointed)
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
(resigned)
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
(removed)
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser.gif Samuel Thomas Hauser
(1833–1914)
May 14, 1886

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

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

November 8, 1889
(statehood)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison

State of Montana

Montana was admitted to the Union on November 8, 1889.

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. A 1992 amendment limits the governor to 8 years in any 16-year period. 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; 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.

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

January 2, 1893
(did not run)
Democratic 1889   Rickards, John E.John E. Rickards
2 John E Rickards.jpg John E. Rickards
(1848–1927)
January 2, 1893

January 4, 1897
(did not run)
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
(did not run)
Democratic 1896 Spriggs, Archibald E.Archibald E. Spriggs
4 JosephKToole.JPG Joseph Toole
(1851–1929)
January 7, 1901

April 1, 1908
(resigned)
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
(did not run)
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
(did not run)
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
(lost election)
Republican 1920 Story Jr., NelsonNelson Story Jr.
8 John Erickson.jpg John E. Erickson
(1863–1946)
January 5, 1925

March 13, 1933
(resigned)
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
(died in office)
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
(lost nomination)
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
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Adair, Hugh R.Hugh R. Adair
12 Sam C. Ford.jpg Sam C. Ford
(1882–1961)
January 6, 1941

January 3, 1949
(lost election)
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
(lost election)
Democratic 1948 Cannon, Paul C.Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson.jpg J. Hugo Aronson
(1891–1978)
January 5, 1953

January 2, 1961
(did not run)
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
(died in office)
Republican 1960 Babcock, TimTim Babcock
16 Tim Babcock.jpg Tim Babcock
(1919–2015)
January 25, 1962

January 6, 1969
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
James, David F.David F. James
1964 James, TedTed James
17 No image.svg Forrest H. Anderson
(1913–1989)
January 6, 1969

January 1, 1973
(did not run)
Democratic 1968 Judge, Thomas LeeThomas Lee Judge
18 Montana Governor Thomas Judge.jpeg Thomas Lee Judge
(1934–2006)
January 1, 1973

January 5, 1981
(lost nomination)
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
(did not run)
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
(did not run)
Republican 1988 Kolstad, AllenAllen Kolstad
Rehberg, DennyDenny Rehberg
21 Marc Racicot 2008 (cropped).JPG Marc Racicot
(b. 1948)
January 4, 1993

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

January 3, 2005
(did not run)
Republican 2000 Ohs, KarlKarl Ohs
23 Brian Schweitzer official photo.jpg Brian Schweitzer
(b. 1955)
January 3, 2005

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

January 4, 2021
(term-limited)
Democratic 2012 Walsh, JohnJohn Walsh
McLean, AngelaAngela McLean
Cooney, MikeMike Cooney
2016
25 Greg Gianforte 2020.jpg Greg Gianforte
(b. 1961)
January 4, 2021

Incumbent
Republican 2020 Juras, KristenKristen Juras
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