The governor of Montana is the head of government of MontanaMontana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4. and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 7. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Montana State Legislature,Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 10. to convene the legislature at any time,Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 11. and to grant pardons and reprieves.Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 12.

Montana has had twenty-four governors, consisting of nine Republicans and fifteen 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 thirteen 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 MontanaGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1Sidney EdgertonJune 22, 1864–July 13, 18662Green Clay SmithJuly 13, 1866–April 9, 18693James Mitchell AshleyApril 9, 1869–December 17, 18694Benjamin F. PottsJuly 13, 1870–August 4, 18825John Schuyler CrosbyAugust 4, 1882–November 11, 18846B. Platt CarpenterDecember 22, 1884–July 3, 18857Samuel Thomas HauserMay 14, 1886–January 13, 18878Preston LeslieJanuary 13, 1887–March 27, 18899Benjamin F. WhiteMarch 27, 1889–November 8, 1889

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.Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1. A 1992 amendment limits the governor to 8 years in any 16-year period.Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8. 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.Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 14.

+ Governors of the State of MontanaGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 Joseph TooleNovember 8, 1889–January 2, 1893Democratic1889  2John E. RickardsJanuary 2, 1893–January 4, 1897Republican1892 3Robert Burns SmithJanuary 4, 1897–January 7, 1901Fusion1896 4Joseph TooleJanuary 7, 1901–April 1, 1908Democratic1900 1904 5Edwin L. NorrisApril 1, 1908–January 6, 1913Democratic1908 6Sam V. StewartJanuary 6, 1913–January 3, 1921Democratic1912 1916 7Joseph M. DixonJanuary 3, 1921–January 5, 1925Republican1920 8John E. EricksonJanuary 5, 1925–March 13, 1933Democratic1924 1928 1932 9Frank Henry CooneyMarch 13, 1933–December 15, 1935Democratic10Elmer HoltDecember 15, 1935–January 4, 1937DemocraticWilliam P. Pilgeram11Roy E. AyersJanuary 4, 1937–January 6, 1941Democratic1936 12Sam C. FordJanuary 6, 1941–January 3, 1949Republican1940 1944 13John W. BonnerJanuary 3, 1949–January 5, 1953Democratic1948 14J. Hugo AronsonJanuary 5, 1953–January 2, 1961Republican1952 1956 15Donald Grant NutterJanuary 2, 1961–January 25, 1962Republican1960 16Tim BabcockJanuary 25, 1962–January 6, 1969Republican1964 17Forrest H. AndersonJanuary 6, 1969–January 1, 1973Democratic1968 18Thomas Lee JudgeJanuary 1, 1973–January 5, 1981Democratic1972 1976 19Ted SchwindenJanuary 5, 1981–January 2, 1989Democratic1980198420Stan StephensJanuary 2, 1989–January 4, 1993Republican198821Marc RacicotJanuary 4, 1993–January 2, 2001Republican1992 199622Judy MartzJanuary 2, 2001–January 3, 2005Republican200023Brian SchweitzerJanuary 3, 2005–January 7, 2013Democratic20042008 24Steve BullockJanuary 7, 2013–January 4, 2021Democratic2012201625Greg GianforteJanuary 4, 2021–IncumbentRepublican20202024

Timelines Lifespan timeline Lifespans of Montana governors

Governor Timeline Timeline of Montana governors

Electoral history (1952–) YearDemocratic nomineeRepublican nomineeIndependent candidateLibertarian nomineeGreen nomineeCandidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#% 1952 John W. Bonner 129,369 49.04% J. Hugo Aronson 134,423 50.96% – – – 1956 Arnold Olsen 131,488 48.63% J. Hugo Aronson 138,878 51.37% – – – 1960 Paul C. Cannon 125,651 44.89% Donald G. Nutter 154,230 55.11% – – – 1964 Roland Renne 136,862 48.71% Tim Babcock 144,113 51.29% – – – 1968 Forrest H. Anderson 150,481 54.11% Tim Babcock 116,432 41.87% 11,199 4.03% – – 1972 Thomas Lee Judge 172,523 54.12% Ed Smith 146,231 45.88% – – – 1976 Thomas Lee Judge 195,420 61.70% Bob Woodahl 115,848 36.58% Charlie Mahoney 5,452 1.72% – – 1980 Ted Schwinden 199,574 55.37% Jack Ramirez 160,892 44.63% – – – 1984 Ted Schwinden 266,578 70.34% Pat M. Goodover 100,070 26.41% – Larry Dodge 12,322 3.25% – 1988 Thomas Lee Judge 169,313 46.13% Stan Stephens 190,604 51.93% – William Dee Morris 7,104 1.94% – 1992 Dorothy Bradley 198,421 48.65% Marc Racicot 209,401 51.35% – – – 1996 Judy Jacobson 84,407 20.83% Marc Racicot 320,768 79.17% – – – 2000 Mark O'Keefe 193,131 47.08% Judy Martz 209,135 50.98% – Stan Jones 7,926 1.93% – 2004 Brian Schweitzer 225,016 50.44% Bob Brown 205,313 46.02% – Stan Jones 7,424 1.66% Bob Kelleher 8,393 1.88% 2008 Brian Schweitzer 318,670 65.47% Roy Brown 158,268 32.52% – Stan Jones 9,976 2.01% – 2012 Steve Bullock 236,450 48.90% Rick Hill 228,879 47.34% – Ron Vandevender 18,160 3.76% – 2016 Steve Bullock 255,933 50.25% Greg Gianforte 236,115 46.35% – Ted Dunlap 17,312 3.40% – 2020 Mike Cooney 250,860 41.56% Greg Gianforte 328,548 54.43% – Lyman Bishop 24,179 4.01% – 2024 Ryan Busse 232,644 38.62% Greg Gianforte 354,569 58.86% – Kaiser Leib 15,191 2.52% –

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

Notes

References General

Specific

External links Office of the Governor of Montana