Montana's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the United States House of Representatives that was apportioned after the 2020 United States census. The first candidates ran in the 2022 elections for a seat in the 118th United States Congress.

This seat's current representative is Republican Ryan Zinke.

History From 1913 on forward, Montana has had two congressional seats. From 1913 to 1919, those seats were elected statewide at-large on a general ticket. After 1919, however, the state was divided into geographical districts, with the 1st district covering the western part of the state, including Missoula, Great Falls, Butte, and Helena. After 1993, the was eliminated and the remaining seat was elected .

Following the release of the 2020 United States census results, Montana was once again split into two congressional districts. The reconstituted 1st district covers the western third of the state, in a configuration similar to the 1983–1993 map. However, Helena was drawn into the reconstituted 2nd district.

The reconstituted 1st leans Republican, though not as overwhelmingly as the 2nd. Missoula, home of the University of Montana, and Butte are longstanding Democratic bastions, while Bozeman, home to Montana State University, is more of a swing area. The rural areas, especially the Flathead, are heavily Republican.

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 49% - 47%2012 SenateTester 50% - 43%2016 PresidentTrump 52% - 40% GovernorBullock 53% - 44% Secretary of StateStapleton 53% - 43% Attorney GeneralFox 62% - 38% AuditorRosendale 50.1% - 49.9%2018 SenateTester 54% - 43%2020 PresidentTrump 52% - 45% SenateDaines 51% - 49% GovernorGianforte 50% - 46% Secretary of StateJacobsen 55% - 45% Attorney GeneralKnudsen 54% - 46% AuditorDowning 50% - 44%2024 PresidentTrump 54% - 43% SenateTester 50% - 49% GovernorGianforte 54% - 43% Secretary of StateJacobsen 57% - 40% Attorney GeneralKnudsen 56% - 44% AuditorBrown 57% - 43%

Composition The first district includes all of the following counties, with the exception of Pondera, which it shares with the 2nd. Pondera County communities in the 1st district include Birch Creek Colony, Dupuyer, Heart Butte, Kingsbury Colony, New Miami Colony, Pondera Colony, and Valier. #CountySeatPopulation1BeaverheadDillon9,88523Deer LodgeAnaconda9,67329FlatheadKalispell113,67931GallatinBozeman126,40935GlacierCut Bank13,60939GranitePhilipsburg3,59547LakePolson33,33853LincolnLinn21,89557MadisonVirginia City9,52161MineralSuperior5,09063MissoulaMissoula121,84973PonderaConrad6,12577PowellDeer Lodge7,13381RavalliHamilton47,73889SandersThompson Falls13,68493Silver BowButte36,360

List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District established March 4, 1919 John M. Evans Democratic March 4, 1919 –March 3, 1921 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1918.Lost re-election. Washington J. McCormick Republican March 4, 1921 –March 3, 1923 Elected in 1920.Lost re-election. John M. Evans Democratic March 4, 1923 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Lost renomination. Joseph P. Monaghan Democratic March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1937 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Jerry J. O'Connell Democratic January 3, 1937 –January 3, 1939 Elected in 1936.Lost re-election. Jacob Thorkelson Republican January 3, 1939 –January 3, 1941 Elected in 1938.Lost renomination. Jeannette Rankin Republican January 3, 1941 –January 3, 1943 Elected in 1940.Retired. Mike Mansfield Democratic January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1953 Elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Lee Metcalf Democratic January 3, 1953 –January 3, 1961 Elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Retired to run for U.S. senator. Arnold Olsen Democratic January 3, 1961 –January 3, 1971 Elected in 1960.Re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Lost re-election. Richard G. Shoup Republican January 3, 1971 –January 3, 1975 Elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Lost re-election. Max Baucus Democratic January 3, 1975 –December 14, 1978 Elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when appointed. Vacant December 14, 1978 –January 3, 1979 Pat Williams Democratic January 3, 1979 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1978.Re-elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Redistricted to the . District eliminated January 3, 1993 District re-established January 3, 2023 Ryan Zinke Republican January 3, 2023 –present Elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.Retiring at the end of term.

Recent election results 2022

2024

See also Montana's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts

References General

Specific

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present