Governor of Montana
| Montana Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $118,397 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $7,507,283 |
| Term limits: | Two terms during any 16 year period |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section IV the Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Governor of Montana
Greg Gianforte | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Last election: | November 3, 2020 |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Governor of the State of Montana is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Montana. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two terms in any 16 year span.[1]
Montana has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Montana has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The 25th and current governor of Montana is Greg Gianforte (R).[2]
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article VI, the Executive Department.[1]
Under Article VI, Section I:
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The executive branch includes a governor...[1] |
Additionally, under Article VI, Section IV:
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The executive power is vested in the governor who shall see that the laws are faithfully executed.[1] |
Qualifications
| State Executives |
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| Current Governors |
| Gubernatorial Elections |
| 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
| Current Lt. Governors |
| Lt. Governor Elections |
| 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
A candidate for governor must be:[1]
- at least 25 years of age or older at the time of election
- a citizen of the United States
- have resided within the state at least two years at his or her election
Elections
Montana elects governors in the presidential elections, that is, in leap years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Monday in the January following an election.
2024
General election
General election for Governor of Montana
Incumbent Greg Gianforte, Ryan Busse, and Kaiser Leib are running in the general election for Governor of Montana on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Greg Gianforte (R) | ||
| Ryan Busse (D) | ||
| Kaiser Leib (L) | ||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Montana
Ryan Busse defeated Jim Hunt in the Democratic primary for Governor of Montana on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ryan Busse | 70.9 | 38,582 | |
 | Jim Hunt | 29.1 | 15,820 | |
| Total votes: 54,402 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Shawn White Wolf (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Montana
Incumbent Greg Gianforte defeated Tanner Smith in the Republican primary for Governor of Montana on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Gianforte | 77.1 | 60,654 | |
| Tanner Smith | 22.9 | 18,013 | ||
| Total votes: 78,667 | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Governor of Montana
Kaiser Leib advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Montana on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Kaiser Leib | |
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2020
General election
General election for Governor of Montana
Greg Gianforte defeated Mike Cooney, Lyman Bishop, and Chris Hall in the general election for Governor of Montana on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Gianforte (R) | 54.4 | 328,548 | |
| Mike Cooney (D) | 41.6 | 250,860 | ||
| Lyman Bishop (L) | 4.0 | 24,179 | ||
| Chris Hall (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 603,608 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Barb (G)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Montana
Mike Cooney defeated Whitney Williams in the Democratic primary for Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Cooney | 54.9 | 81,527 | |
| Whitney Williams | 45.1 | 67,066 | ||
| Total votes: 148,593 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Casey Schreiner (D)
- Reilly Neill (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Montana
Greg Gianforte defeated Tim Fox and Albert Olszewski in the Republican primary for Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Greg Gianforte | 53.4 | 119,247 | |
| Tim Fox | 27.3 | 60,823 | ||
| Albert Olszewski | 19.3 | 43,080 | ||
| Total votes: 223,150 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gary Perry (R)
- Corey Stapleton (R)
- Peter Ziehli (R)
Green primary election
Green primary for Governor of Montana
Robert Barb advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Montana on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Barb | 100.0 | 713 |
| Total votes: 713 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Lyman Bishop advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Montana.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ron Vandevender (L)
2016
The general election for governor was held on November 8, 2016. Incumbent Steve Bullock (D) defeated challenger Greg Gianforte (R).
Incumbent Steve Bullock & Mike Cooney defeated Greg Gianforte & Lesley Robinson, Ted Dunlap & Ron Vandevender, Casey Filler, and Christopher Zarcone in the Montana governor election.
| Montana Governor, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Steve Bullock & Mike Cooney Incumbent |
50.25% | 255,933 | |
| Republican | Greg Gianforte & Lesley Robinson | 46.36% | 236,115 | |
| Libertarian | Ted Dunlap & Ron Vandevender | 3.40% | 17,312 | |
| Independent | Casey Filler | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Independent | Christopher Zarcone | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 509,360 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
2012
Incumbent Brian Schweitzer (D) was prevented from running for re-election due to term limits. Steve Bullock (D), running on a ticket with John E. Walsh, defeated Rick Hill (R), Ron Vandevender (L), and Bill Coate (I) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| Governor/Lieutenant Governor of Montana General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Steve Bullock and John E. Walsh |
48.9% | 236,450 | |
| Republican | Rick Hill and Jon Sonju | 47.3% | 228,879 | |
| Libertarian | Ron Vandevender and Marc Mulcahy | 3.8% | 18,160 | |
| Total Votes | 483,489 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
Montana governors are restricted to eight years in office during any 16-year period.[1]
Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8
| (1) The secretary of state or another authorized official shall not certify a candidate's nomination or election to, or print or cause to be printed on any ballot the name of a candidate for, one of the following offices if, at the end of the current term of that office, the candidate will have served in that office or had he not resigned or been recalled would have served in that office: (a) 8 or more years in any 16-year period as governor...[1] |
Partisan composition
The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of Montana governors from 1992 to 2013.
Vacancies
- See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article VI, Section 14.
If a governor-elect dies, is disqualified, or declines to take office, the lieutenant governor-elect takes offices and serves as governor. If the governor-elect is unable to take office on inauguration day, the lieutenant governor-elect served as acting governor only until the elected Governor is able to take office.
The lieutenant governor also becomes acting governor when the governor so requests in writing, when the governor's illness or disability renders him or her unable to make that request, and automatically whenever the governor has been absent from office for 45 days.
The lieutenant governor and the attorney general may together recommend that the Governor be found unfit to serve and convene the legislature to consider the question.
Under such circumstances, the legislature has 21 days to consider the motion and may declare the governor until by a two-thirds vote. The lieutenant governor then becomes the acting governor and the elected governor retains the prerogative to attest that he or she is able to resume the office. If the governor takes this step, the legislature has 15 days to contest the declaration.
Lastly, the lieutenant governor assumes the governorship and serves the remainder of the term if the governor dies, resigns, or is disqualified while in office.
Duties
The governor has the duty to see that the Montana Constitution and the laws of the state are faithfully executed. The governor has the power to appoint and supervise the directors of each executive department. Additionally, the governor, as mandated by the state constitution, will give information to the state legislature and recommend measures considered necessary and suitable (§ 9). This includes submitting a budget recommendation detailing expenditures and revenue. The governor has the responsibility to carry out the duties of commander-in-chief of the militia forces of the state.[1]
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
- Delegating powers to the Lieutenant Governor, excepting those that are Constitutionally vested in the Governor (§ 4)
- Filling vacancies in all other Executive offices (§ 6)
- Making all appointments not otherwise provided for by law, filling vacancies with the consent of the Senate, and making recess appointments (§ 8)
- Vetoing bills, "except bills proposing amendments to the Montana constitution, bills ratifying proposed amendments to the United States constitution, resolutions, and initiative and referendum measures," subject to a legislative override. The Governor may also recommend amendments to bills (§ 10)
- Convening special sessions of the legislature (§ 11)
- Granting pardons and reprieves, remitting fines and forfeitures, and restoring citizenship (§ 12)
- Requiring reports from any executive office and appointing committees to investigate the same (§ 15)
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Montana has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
Role in state budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[3]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in April and August.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in June and September.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by November 15. Governors-elect submit budget proposals by January 7.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins July 1.
Montana is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[3][4]
The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget proposal. The legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[3]
Governor's office budget
The Office of the Governor's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $7,507,283.[5]
Compensation
Under Article VI, Section 5 of the Montana Constitution, the governor's salary is fixed by law and the governor may not receive any other governmental compensation while in office.[1]
In 1995, the Montana legislature passed MCA 2-16-403 and MCA 2-16-405, which require the state's Department of Administration to conduct a salary survey every other year of elected officials for North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. The salary for the governor is determined by calculating the average salary of the governors in the five states. The adjusted salary is effective July 1st of the year following the survey.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $118,397, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the governor received a salary of $118,397, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the governor’s salary was $118,397, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the governor’s salary was $115,505, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the governor’s salary was increased to $115,505, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the governor’s salary was $111,569, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the governor’s salary was increased to $111,569, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the governor received a salary of $108,167, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the governor earned a salary of $108,167, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the governor's salary was $108,167.[16]
2010
In 2010, the governor was paid $100,121, the 42nd highest gubernatorial salary in America at the time.[17]
Historical officeholders
Since 1889, Montana has had 25 governors. Of the 25, 14 have been Democrats, 10 have been Republicans, and one was a Democratic-Populist.[18]
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph K. Toole | 1889 | 1893 | Democratic |
| 2 | John E. Rickards | 1893 | 1897 | Republican |
| 3 | Robert B. Smith | 1897 | 1901 | Democratic, Populist |
| 4 | Joseph K. Toole | 1901 | 1908 | Democratic |
| 5 | Edwin L. Norris | 1908 | 1913 | Democratic |
| 6 | Samuel V. Stewart | 1913 | 1921 | Democratic |
| 7 | Joseph M. Dixon | 1921 | 1925 | Republican |
| 8 | John E. Erickson | 1925 | 1933 | Democratic |
| 9 | Frank H. Cooney | 1933 | 1935 | Democratic |
| 10 | Elmer Holt | 1935 | 1937 | Democratic |
| 11 | Roy E. Ayers | 1937 | 1941 | Democratic |
| 12 | Samuel C. Ford | 1941 | 1949 | Republican |
| 13 | John W. Bonner | 1949 | 1953 | Democratic |
| 14 | John Hugo Aronson | 1953 | 1961 | Republican |
| 15 | Donald G. Nutter | 1961 | 1962 | Republican |
| 16 | Tim M. Babcock | 1962 | 1969 | Republican |
| 17 | Forrest H. Anderson | 1969 | 1973 | Democratic |
| 18 | Thomas L. Judge | 1973 | 1981 | Democratic |
| 19 | Ted Schwinden | 1981 | 1989 | Democratic |
| 20 | Stan Stephens | 1989 | 1993 | Republican |
| 21 | Marc Racicot | 1993 | 2001 | Republican |
| 22 | Judy Martz | 2001 | 2005 | Republican |
| 23 | Brian Schweitzer | 2005 | 2013 | Democratic |
| 24 | Steve Bullock | 2013 | 2021 | Democratic |
| 25 | Greg Gianforte | 2021 | Present | Republican |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, in Montana there were Democratic governors in office for the last nine years while there were Republican governors in office for the first 13 years.
Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Montana, the Montana State Senate and the Montana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
SQLI and partisanship
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Montana state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Montana had Republican trifectas from 1995-2004. Montana's lowest SQLI ranking, finishing at 41st, occurred during those Republican trifectas, from 1999-2001. The state's two highest rankings came in the final five years while under divided government.
State profile
| Demographic data for Montana | ||
|---|---|---|
| Montana | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 1,032,073 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 145,546 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 89.2% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 0.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 0.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 6.5% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 3.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 92.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 29.5% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $47,169 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 17% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Montana. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Montana
Montana voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, three are located in Montana, accounting for 1.46 percent of the total pivot counties.[19]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Montana had two Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 1.10 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.
More Montana coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Montana
- United States congressional delegations from Montana
- Public policy in Montana
- Endorsers in Montana
- Montana fact checks
- More...
Contact information
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Phone: 406-444-3111
Fax: 406-444-5529
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Montana Legislature, "The Constitution of the State of Montana," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Montana.gov, "About Greg & Kristen," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB002," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Montana State Human Resources Division, “Pay Plans & Salary Surveys,” accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ National Governor's Association, "Former Montana Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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