List of governors of Montana

The Governor of Montana is the head of the executive branch of Montana's state government^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[3]

Governor of Montana
State seal
Incumbent Greg Gianforte since January 4, 2021
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 (135 years ago) (1889-11-08)
Succession	Every four years, unless re-elected.
Salary	$108,167 (2013)[1]

The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,^[2] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Montana State Legislature,^[4] to convene the legislature at any time,^[5] and to grant pardons and reprieves.^[6]

Governors of Montana

Parties

Dem Democratic (15) Rep Republican (10)

Governors of Montana

#	Image	Governor	Party	Took office	Left office	Lt. Governor and Term	Notes
1		Joseph Toole	Dem	November 8, 1889	January 1, 1893	John E. Rickards (Rep) – 1	[7]
2		John E. Rickards	Rep	January 2, 1893	January 3, 1897	Alexander C. Botkin (Rep) – 2
3		Robert Burns Smith	Dem	January 4, 1897	January 7, 1901	A. E. Spriggs (Dem) – 3
4		Joseph Toole	Dem	January 7, 1901	April 1, 1908	Frank G. Higgins (Dem) – 4 Edwin L. Norris (Dem) – 5	Resigned due to declining health.
5		Edwin L. Norris	Dem	April 1, 1908	January 5, 1913	Benjamin F. White (Rep) – 5 William R. Allen (Rep) - 6	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
6		Sam V. Stewart	Dem	January 6, 1913	January 2, 1921	W.W. McDowell (Dem) - 7, 8
7		Joseph M. Dixon	Rep	January 3, 1921	January 4, 1925	Nelson Story, Jr. (Rep) - 9	[8]
8		John E. Erickson	Dem	January 4, 1925	March 13, 1933	W. S. McCormack (Rep) - 10 Frank A. Hazelbaker (Rep) - 11 Frank Henry Cooney (Dem) - 12	Resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.
9		Frank Henry Cooney	Dem	March 13, 1933	December 15, 1935	Tom Kane (Rep) - 12 Ernest T. Eaton (Rep) - 12 Elmer Holt (Dem) - 12	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term. Died in office while governor.
10		Elmer Holt	Dem	December 15, 1935	January 4, 1937	William P. Pilgeram (Dem) - 12	As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term.
11		Roy E. Ayers	Dem	January 4, 1937	January 6, 1941	Hugh R. Adair (Dem) - 13
12		Sam C. Ford	Rep	January 6, 1941	January 3, 1949	Ernest T. Eaton (Rep) - 14, 15
13		John W. Bonner	Dem	January 3, 1949	January 5, 1953	Paul Cannon (Dem) - 16
14		J. Hugo Aronson	Rep	January 5, 1953	January 2, 1961	George M. Gosman (Rep) - 17 Paul Cannon (Dem) - 18	[9]
15		Donald Grant Nutter	Rep	January 2, 1961	January 25, 1962	Tim M. Babcock (Rep) - 19	Died in office.
16		Tim M. Babcock	Rep	January 25, 1962	January 6, 1969	David F. James (Dem) - 19 Ted James (Rep) - 20	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
17		Forrest H. Anderson	Dem	January 6, 1969	January 1, 1973	Thomas Lee Judge (Dem) - 21
18		Thomas Lee Judge	Dem	January 1, 1973	January 5, 1981	Bill Christiansen (Dem) - 22 Ted Schwinden (Dem) - 23
19		Ted Schwinden	Dem	January 5, 1981	January 2, 1989	George Turman (Dem) - 24, 25
20		Stan Stephens	Rep	January 2, 1989	January 4, 1993	Allen Kolstad (Rep) - 26 Denny Rehberg (Rep) - 26
21		Marc Racicot	Rep	January 4, 1993	January 1, 2001	Denny Rehberg (Rep) - 27 Judy Martz (Rep) - 28	[10][11]
22		Judy Martz	Rep	January 1, 2001	January 3, 2005	Karl Ohs (Rep) - 29	[12]
23		Brian Schweitzer	Dem	January 3, 2005	January 7, 2013	John Bohlinger (Rep) - 30, 31
24		Steve Bullock	Dem	January 7, 2013	January 4, 2021	John Walsh (Dem) - 32 Angela McLean (Dem) - 33 Mike Cooney (Dem) - 34
25		Greg Gianforte	Rep	January 4, 2021	Incumbent	Kristen Juras (Rep) - 35