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

References

1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
2. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4.
3. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 7.
4. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 10.
5. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 11.
6. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 12.
7. Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph K. Toole". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
8. Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph M. Dixon". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
9. Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: J. Hugo Aronson". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
10. Lewis, Charles (December 20, 2001). "The GOP's New Lobbyist in Chief". Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
11. Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Marc Racicot". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
12. Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Judy Martz". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2011.