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Guardians of the Big Sky

An authoritative exploration of Montana's governors, from territorial leaders to the present day, detailing their terms, parties, and contributions to the state's history.

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The Office of Governor

Head of State

The Governor of Montana serves as the chief executive of the state government and the commander-in-chief of Montana's military forces. This pivotal role involves enforcing state laws, wielding the power to approve or veto legislation passed by the Montana State Legislature, convening the legislature when necessary, and exercising the authority to grant pardons and reprieves.

Term and Succession

Governors serve four-year terms, with a constitutional limit restricting them to eight years of service within any sixteen-year period. The Lieutenant Governor, elected on the same ticket, assumes the governorship in the event of a vacancy due to resignation, disqualification, or death, or acts as governor if the legislature deems the governor unable to perform duties.

Historical Overview

Montana has been led by 24 distinct governors since achieving statehood. The political landscape has seen a prevalence of Democratic governors, with 15 individuals from that party holding the office, compared to 9 Republicans. Joseph Toole holds the record for the longest tenure, serving over 11 years across two non-consecutive terms, while Elmer Holt served the shortest duration.

Territorial Governance

Prior to statehood, Montana existed as a territory, governed by individuals appointed by the President of the United States. This period, spanning 35 years, saw nine appointed governors and three acting governors, each navigating the unique challenges of frontier development and federal administration.

Appointed Leadership

Montana Territory was officially organized on May 26, 1864. During its existence, nine individuals were formally appointed as governors. Additionally, several territorial secretaries served as acting governors during transitional periods or when appointed governors were delayed in assuming office. Thomas Francis Meagher notably served as acting governor from 1865 to 1867.

Governors of the Territory of Montana
No. Governor Term in office[a] Appointed by
1 Sidney Edgerton
(1818โ€“1900)[11]
June 22, 1864[b]
โ€“
July 13, 1866
(successor appointed)[c]
Abraham Lincoln
2 Green Clay Smith
(1826โ€“1895)[15]
July 13, 1866[d]
โ€“
April 9, 1869
(resigned)[e]
Andrew Johnson
3 James Mitchell Ashley
(1824โ€“1896)[20]
April 9, 1869[f]
โ€“
December 17, 1869
(removed)[g]
Ulysses S. Grant
4 Benjamin F. Potts
(1836โ€“1887)[25]
July 13, 1870[h]
โ€“
August 4, 1882
(successor appointed)[i]
Ulysses S. Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Schuyler Crosby
(1839โ€“1914)[31]
August 4, 1882[j]
โ€“
November 11, 1884
(resigned)[k]
Chester A. Arthur
6 B. Platt Carpenter
(1837โ€“1921)[34]
December 22, 1884[l]
โ€“
July 3, 1885
(removed)[m]
Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser
(1833โ€“1914)[38]
May 14, 1886[n]
โ€“
January 13, 1887
(resigned)[o]
Grover Cleveland
8 Preston Leslie
(1819โ€“1907)[41]
January 13, 1887[p]
โ€“
March 27, 1889
(successor appointed)
Grover Cleveland
9 Benjamin F. White
(1838โ€“1920)[44]
March 27, 1889[q]
โ€“
November 8, 1889
(statehood)
Benjamin Harrison

State Governors

Upon Montana's admission to the Union on November 8, 1889, the office of Governor transitioned to an elected position under the state constitution. The current constitution, ratified in 1972, mandates a four-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in January following an election. A subsequent amendment limits governors to eight years within a sixteen-year period.

Constitutional Framework

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected as a ticket. The constitution outlines the line of succession and the procedures for acting governorship, ensuring continuity of leadership. The governor's powers include legislative influence, executive order authority, and the administration of state agencies.

Governors of the State of Montana
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[r]
1   Joseph Toole
(1851โ€“1929)[51][52]
November 8, 1889[53]
โ€“
January 2, 1893
(did not run)[51]
Democratic[54] 1889   John E. Rickards[s]
2 John E. Rickards
(1848โ€“1927)[55][56]
January 2, 1893[57]
โ€“
January 4, 1897
(did not run)
Republican[54] 1892 Alexander Campbell Botkin
3 Robert Burns Smith
(1854โ€“1908)[58][59]
January 4, 1897[60]
โ€“
January 7, 1901
(did not run)[58]
Fusion[t] 1896 Archibald E. Spriggs[u]
4 Joseph Toole
(1851โ€“1929)[51][52]
January 7, 1901[62]
โ€“
April 1, 1908
(resigned)[v]
Democratic[54] 1900 Frank G. Higgins
1904 Edwin L. Norris
5 Edwin L. Norris
(1865โ€“1924)[63][64]
April 1, 1908[65]
โ€“
January 6, 1913
(did not run)
Democratic[54] 1908 Benjamin F. White[s]
1912 William Allen[s]
6 Sam V. Stewart
(1872โ€“1939)[66][67]
January 6, 1913[68]
โ€“
January 3, 1921
(did not run)
Democratic[54] 1912 W. W. McDowell
1916
7 Joseph M. Dixon
(1867โ€“1934)[69][70]
January 3, 1921[71]
โ€“
January 5, 1925
(lost election)
Republican[54] 1920 Nelson Story Jr.
8 John E. Erickson
(1863โ€“1946)[72][73]
January 5, 1925[74]
โ€“
March 13, 1933
(resigned)[w]
Democratic[54] 1924 W. S. McCormack[s]
1928 Frank A. Hazelbaker[s]
1932 Frank Henry Cooney
9 Frank Henry Cooney
(1872โ€“1935)[75][76]
December 15, 1935[77]
โ€“
December 15, 1935
(died in office)
Democratic[54] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Tom Kane[s]
Ernest T. Eaton[s]
Elmer Holt
10 Elmer Holt
(1884โ€“1945)[78][79]
December 15, 1935[80]
โ€“
January 4, 1937
(lost nomination)[78]
Democratic[54] Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
William P. Pilgeram
11 Roy E. Ayers
(1882โ€“1955)[81][82]
January 4, 1937[83]
โ€“
January 6, 1941
(lost election)
Democratic[54] 1936 Hugh R. Adair
12 Sam C. Ford
(1882โ€“1961)[84][85]
January 6, 1941[86]
โ€“
January 3, 1949
(lost election)
Republican[54] 1940 Ernest T. Eaton
1944
13 John W. Bonner
(1902โ€“1970)[87][88]
January 3, 1949[89]
โ€“
January 5, 1953
(lost election)
Democratic[54] 1948 Paul C. Cannon
14 J. Hugo Aronson
(1891โ€“1978)[90][91]
January 5, 1953[92]
โ€“
January 2, 1961
(did not run)
Republican[54] 1952 George M. Gosman
1956 Paul C. Cannon[x]
15 Donald Grant Nutter
(1915โ€“1962)[93][94]
January 2, 1961[95]
โ€“
January 25, 1962
(died in office)
Republican[54] 1960 Tim Babcock
16 Tim Babcock
(1919โ€“2015)[96][97]
January 25, 1962[98]
โ€“
January 6, 1969
(lost election)
Republican[54] 1964 Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
David F. James[x]
1968 Ted James
17 Forrest H. Anderson
(1913โ€“1989)[99][100]
January 6, 1969[101]
โ€“
January 1, 1973
(did not run)[99]
Democratic[54] 1968 Thomas Lee Judge
18 Thomas Lee Judge
(1934โ€“2006)[102][103]
January 1, 1973[104]
โ€“
January 5, 1981
(lost nomination)
Democratic[54] 1972 Bill Christiansen
1976 Ted Schwinden
19 Ted Schwinden
(1925โ€“2023)[105]
January 5, 1981[106]
โ€“
January 2, 1989
(did not run)
Democratic[105] 1980 George Turman
1984
Gordon McOmber
20 Stan Stephens
(1929โ€“2021)[107]
January 2, 1989[108]
โ€“
January 4, 1993
(did not run)
Republican[107] 1988 Allen Kolstad
1992 Denny Rehberg
21 Marc Racicot
(b. 1948)[109]
January 4, 1993[110]
โ€“
January 2, 2001
(term-limited)[y]
Republican[109] 1996 Judy Martz
22 Judy Martz
(1943โ€“2017)[112]
January 2, 2001[113]
โ€“
January 3, 2005
(did not run)
Republican[112] 2000 Karl Ohs
23 Brian Schweitzer
(b. 1955)[114]
January 3, 2005[115]
โ€“
January 7, 2013
(term-limited)[y]
Democratic[114] 2004 John Bohlinger[s]
2008
24 Steve Bullock
(b. 1966)[116]
January 7, 2013[117]
โ€“
January 4, 2021
(term-limited)[y]
Democratic[116] 2012 John Walsh
Angela McLean
2016 Mike Cooney
25 Greg Gianforte
(b. 1961)[118]
January 4, 2021[119]
โ€“
Incumbent[z]
Republican[118] 2020 Kristen Juras
2024

Gubernatorial Timeline

Visualizing the succession of Montana's governors provides a clear historical perspective on the state's leadership evolution.

Historical Progression

The timeline below illustrates the sequence of individuals who have held the office of Governor of Montana, highlighting the transitions between administrations and political parties.

Timeline of Montana Governors

Further Study

Related Topics

To deepen your understanding of Montana's executive leadership and governmental structure, consider exploring these related areas:

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States, specifically for Montana.
  • The roles and history of First Ladies and Gentlemen of Montana.
  • The legislative bodies and historical sessions of Montana state government.

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References

References

  1.  The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
  2.  Represented the Republican Party
  3.  Represented the Populist Party
  4.  Toole resigned due to health.[51]
  5.  Represented the Democratic Party
  6.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4.
  7.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 7.
  8.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 10.
  9.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 11.
  10.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 12.
  11.  13ย Stat.ย 85
  12.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., 590, accessed March 24, 2023.
  13.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 38th Cong., 1st sess., 594, accessed March 24, 2023.
  14.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 1st sess., 862, accessed March 24, 2023.
  15.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 1st sess., 920, accessed March 24, 2023.
  16.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 81, accessed March 24, 2023.
  17.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 120, accessed March 24, 2023.
  18.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., 317, accessed March 24, 2023.
  19.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., 539, accessed March 24, 2023.
  20.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 1st sess., 367, accessed March 24, 2023.
  21.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., 354, accessed March 24, 2023.
  22.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 497, accessed March 24, 2023.
  23.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 519, accessed March 24, 2023.
  24.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 387, accessed March 24, 2023.
  25.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 402, accessed March 24, 2023.
  26.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 1st sess., 55, accessed March 24, 2023.
  27.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 1st sess., 462, accessed March 24, 2023.
  28.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 647, accessed March 24, 2023.
  29.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 698, accessed March 24, 2023.
  30.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 40, accessed March 24, 2023.
  31.  U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 46, accessed March 24, 2023.
  32.  25ย Stat.ย 676
  33.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1.
  34.  Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8.
  35.  Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 14.
A full list of references for this article are available at the List of governors of Montana Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page has been generated by Artificial Intelligence for informational and educational purposes. The content is derived from publicly available data, including Wikipedia, and has been refined for clarity and academic tone. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, the information may not be exhaustive or entirely up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information presented here does not constitute legal, historical, or political consultation. Users should consult official state archives, primary sources, and qualified professionals for definitive information or specific guidance related to Montana's governance and history.

The creators of this resource are not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided herein.