List of Governors of Montana

Governor of Montana
Seal of the State of Montana
Incumbent Brian Schweitzer since January 03, 2005
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Montana Governor's Residence
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Joseph K. Toole
Formation	1889; Montana Constitution
Succession	Every four years, unless re-elected.

The Governor of Montana is the head of the executive branch of Montana's government^[1] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,^[1] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Montana State Legislature,^[3] to convene the legislature at any time,^[4] and to grant pardons and reprieves.^[5]

The current Montana Constitution, ratified in 1972, calls for a four-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in the January following an election.^[6] The governor is term-limited to 8 years in any 16-year period.^[7] 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;^[6] 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.^[8] The 1889 constitution made the lieutenant governor president of the state senate,^[9] but this provision was removed in the 1972 constitution.

Montana has had 22 governors, consisting of 9 Republicans and 13 Democrats. The longest-serving governor was John Edward Erickson, who was elected three times and served from 1925 to 1933 before resigning to become a U.S. senator, only two months into his third term. The shortest-serving governor was Elmer Holt, who served less than 13 months when the previous governor died. The current governor is Democrat Brian Schweitzer, who took office on January 3, 2005 and is serving his second term.

Governors

Prior to the creation of Montana Territory (1864–1889), various parts of what is now Montana were parts of Oregon Territory (1848–1859), Washington Territory (1853–1863), Idaho Territory (1863–1864), and Dakota Territory (1861–1864).

Governors of Montana Territory

Two-time acting governor Thomas Frances Meagher, circa 1865

Governor Samuel Hauser in March 1891

NOTE: Term dates are for the full term of office, see notes column for clarification of dates about actually serving as governor.

Dem Democrat Rep Republican UNK = Unknown

Governors of Montana Territory

#	Governor	Party	Term start	Term end	Appointed by	Notes
1	Edgerton, SidneySidney Edgerton	Rep	01864-06-22 June 22, 1864	01866-07-12 July 12, 1866	Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln	Did not find out he had been appointed right away; left the state in September 1865 and did not return for 25 years
—	Meagher (acting), Thomas FrancisThomas Francis Meagher (acting)	Dem	01865-09 September 1865	01866-10-03 October 3, 1866	—	Also filled in for Smith as Smith had gone back to the east coast[10][11][12][13]
2	Smith, Green ClayGreen Clay Smith	Dem	01866-07-13 July 13, 1866	01867-01 January 1867	Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson	Did not actually assume office until October 1866
—	Meagher (acting), Thomas FrancisThomas Francis Meagher (acting)	Dem	01866-12 December 1866	01867-07-01 July 1, 1867	—	[10][11][12][13]
2	Smith, Green ClayGreen Clay Smith	Dem	01867-07-02 July 2, 1867	01869-04-09 April 9, 1869	Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson	Apparenlty became non-functioning as governor in summer 1868
—	Tufts (acting), JamesJames Tufts (acting)	Rep	01869-03 March 1869	01869-04-09 April 9, 1869	—	Possibly from late 1868
3	Ashley, James MitchellJames Mitchell Ashley	Rep	01869-04-09 April 9, 1869	01870-07-12 July 12, 1870	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant	Removed from office by President Ulysses S. Grant in mid-December 1869 for unclear reasons.[14]
—	Scribner (acting), WileyWiley Scribner (acting)	UNK	01869-12 December 1869	01870-08 August 1870	—	Party affiliation unknown
4	Potts, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Potts	Rep	01870-07-13 July 13, 1870	01883-01-14 January 14, 1883	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
5	Crosby, John SchuylerJohn Schuyler Crosby	Rep	01883-01-15 January 15, 1883	01884-12-15 December 15, 1884	Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
6	Carpenter, B. PlattB. Platt Carpenter	Rep	01884-12-16 December 16, 1884	01885-07-13 July 13, 1885	Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
7	Hauser, Samuel ThomasSamuel Thomas Hauser	Dem	01885-07-14 July 14, 1885	01887-02-07 February 7, 1887	Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
8	Leslie, Preston HopkinsPreston Hopkins Leslie	Dem	01887-02-08 February 8, 1887	01889-04-08 April 8, 1889	Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
9	White, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. White	Rep	01889-04-09 April 9, 1889	01889-11-08 November 8, 1889	Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison

Governors of Montana

Joseph Kemp Toole, first and fourth governor of the state of Montana

File:Marc-Racicot.jpg

Marc Racicot, twenty-first governor of Montana

Dem Democrat Rep Republican

Governors of Montana

#	Governor	Party	Took office	Left office	Lt. Governor and Term	Notes
1	Toole, JosephJoseph Toole	Dem	01889-11-08 November 8, 1889	01893-01-01 January 1, 1893	John E. Rickards (Rep) – 1	[15]
2	Rickards, John E.John E. Rickards	Rep	01893-01-02 January 2, 1893	01897-01-03 January 3, 1897	Alexander C. Botkin (Rep) – 2
3	Smith, Robert BurnsRobert Burns Smith	Dem	01897-01-04 January 4, 1897	01901-01-07 January 7, 1901	A. E. Spriggs (Dem) – 3
4	Toole, JosephJoseph Toole	Dem	01901-01-07 January 7, 1901	01908-04-01 April 1, 1908	Frank G. Higgins (Dem) – 4 Edwin L. Norris (Dem) – 5	Resigned due to declining health.
5	Norris, Edwin L.Edwin L. Norris	Dem	01908-04-01 April 1, 1908	01913-01-05 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	Stewart, Sam V.Sam V. Stewart	Dem	01913-01-06 January 6, 1913	01921-01-02 January 2, 1921	W. W. McDowell (Dem) - 7, 8
7	Dixon, Joseph M.Joseph M. Dixon	Rep	01921-01-03 January 3, 1921	01925-01-04 January 4, 1925	Nelson Story, Jr. (Rep) - 9	[16]
8	Erickson, John E.John E. Erickson	Dem	01925-01-04 January 4, 1925	01933-03-13 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	Cooney, Frank HenryFrank Henry Cooney	Dem	01933-03-13 March 13, 1933	01935-12-15 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	Holt, ElmerElmer Holt	Dem	01935-12-15 December 15, 1935	01937-01-04 January 4, 1937	William P. Pilgeram (Dem) - 12	As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term.
11	Ayers, Roy E.Roy E. Ayers	Dem	01937-01-04 January 4, 1937	01941-01-06 January 6, 1941	Hugh R. Adair (Dem) - 13
12	Ford, Sam C.Sam C. Ford	Rep	01941-01-06 January 6, 1941	01949-01-03 January 3, 1949	Ernest T. Eaton (Rep) - 14, 15
13	Bonner, John W.John W. Bonner	Dem	01949-01-03 January 3, 1949	01953-01-05 January 5, 1953	Paul Cannon (Dem) - 16
14	Aronson, J. HugoJ. Hugo Aronson	Rep	01953-01-05 January 5, 1953	01961-01-02 January 2, 1961	George M. Gosman (Rep) - 17 Paul Cannon (Dem) - 18	[17]
15	Nutter, Donald GrantDonald Grant Nutter	Rep	01961-01-02 January 2, 1961	01962-01-25 January 25, 1962	Tim M. Babcock (Rep) - 19	Died in office.
16	Babcock, Tim M.Tim M. Babcock	Rep	01962-01-25 January 25, 1962	01969-01-06 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	Anderson, Forrest H.Forrest H. Anderson	Dem	01969-01-06 January 6, 1969	01973-01-01 January 1, 1973	Thomas Lee Judge (Dem) - 21
18	Judge, Thomas LeeThomas Lee Judge	Dem	01973-01-01 January 1, 1973	01981-01-05 January 5, 1981	Bill Christiansen (Dem) - 22 Ted Schwinden (Dem) - 23
19	Schwinden, TedTed Schwinden	Dem	01981-01-05 January 5, 1981	01989-01-02 January 2, 1989	George Turman (Dem) - 24, 25
20	Stephens, StanStan Stephens	Rep	01989-01-02 January 2, 1989	01993-01-04 January 4, 1993	Allen Kolstad (Rep) - 26 Denny Rehberg (Rep) - 26
21	Racicot, MarcMarc Racicot	Rep	01993-01-04 January 4, 1993	02001-01-01 January 1, 2001	Denny Rehberg (Rep) - 27 Judy Martz (Rep) - 28	[18][19]
22	Martz, JudyJudy Martz	Rep	02001-01-01 January 1, 2001	02005-01-03 January 3, 2005	Karl Ohs (Rep) - 29	[20]
23	Schweitzer, BrianBrian Schweitzer	Dem	02005-01-03 January 3, 2005	Incumbent	John Bohlinger (Rep) - 30, 31	Governor Schweitzer's second term expires in 2013; he is term limited.[21]

Other high offices held

This is a table of the higher federal offices and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators represented Montana. * denotes cases where the governor resigned the governship to accept the other office.

Other high offices held by Montanans

Name	Gubernatorial term	Higher offices held
Toole, JosephJoseph Toole	1889–1893, 1901–1908	Territorial Delegate
Dixon, Joseph M.Joseph M. Dixon	1921–1925	U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator
Erickson, John EdwardJohn Edward Erickson	1925–1933	U.S. Senator*
Ayers, Roy E.Roy E. Ayers	1937–1941	U.S. Representative

Living former governors

As of April 2011^[update], five former governors are alive, the oldest being Tim M. Babcock (1962–1969, born 1919). The most recent governor to die was Thomas Lee Judge (1973–1981), on September 8, 2006.

Living former governors of Montana

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
Babcock, Tim M.Tim M. Babcock	1962–1969	October 27, 1919 (1919-10-27) (age 92)
Schwinden, TedTed Schwinden	1981–1989	August 31, 1925 (1925-08-31) (age 86)
Stephens, StanStan Stephens	1989–1993	September 16, 1929 (1929-09-16) (age 82)
Racicot, MarcMarc Racicot	1993–2001	July 24, 1948 (1948-07-24) (age 63)
Martz, JudyJudy Martz	2001–2005	July 28, 1943 (1943-07-28) (age 68)

Notes

References

General

• "U.S. States L-M -- Montana." World Statesman Almanac. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
• "Former Montana Governors." State of Montana. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
• "Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer." State of Montana. Retrieved August 14, 2011.

Constitutions

• "Constitution of the State of Montana" (1972). Montana Legislature. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
• "Constitution of the State of Montana" (1889). University of Montana Law Library. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
• "Constitution of the State of Montana" (1884) ratified but never approved by Congress. University of Montana Law Library. Retrieved August 14, 2011.

Specific

1. ^ ^{a b} Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4.
2. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 7.
3. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 10.
4. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 11.
5. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 12.
6. ^ ^{a b} Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 1.
7. ^ Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8.
8. ^ Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 14.
9. ^ Montana Constitution (1889), Article VII, Section 1.
10. ^ ^{a b} Wylie, Paul R. (2007). The Irish General: Thomas Francis Meagher. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 252–272, 303–312, 365–375. ISBN 978-0806138473. http://books.google.com/books?id=QaLtw7gUkf0C&pg=PA274&lpg=PA274&dq=green+clay+smith+tufts#v=snippet&q=governor%201867&f=false. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "A Memorial to Thomas Francis Meagher on the Levee at Fort Benton, Montana" (PDF). Hibernian. http://www.hibernian.org/assets/pdfs/16331%20AOH%20Memorial%20Booklet.pdf. Retrieved August 15, 2011. 
12. ^ ^{a b} "Montana Vigilantes". Montana Travel. http://visitmt.com/history/montana_the_magazine_of_western_history/montanavigilantes2.htm. Retrieved August 15, 2011. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Burnham, Patricia M.; Susan R. Near (2002). Montana's State Capitol - The People's House. Montana Historical Society. p. 80. ISBN 978-0917298837. http://www.nwhistorycourse.org/ttcourse/Year1/unit5/week14/peoplemeagher2.htm. Retrieved August 15, 2011. 
14. ^ Spence, Clark C. (Spring 1968). "Spoilsman in Montana: James M. Ashley". Montana: The Magazine of Western History (Montana Historical Society) 18 (2): 24–35. 
15. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph K. Toole". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers2/toole.html. Retrieved August 26, 2011. 
16. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Joseph M. Dixon". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers1/dixon.html. Retrieved August 23, 2011. 
17. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: J. Hugo Aronson". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers3/aronson.html. Retrieved August 26, 2011. 
18. ^ Lewis, Charles (December 20, 2001). "The GOP's New Lobbyist in Chief". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A3911-2001Dec19. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 
19. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Marc Racicot". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers3/racicot.html. Retrieved August 26, 2011. 
20. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Judy Martz". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers5/martz.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
21. ^ Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Brian Schweitzer". Great Falls Tribune. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers6/schweitzer.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 

External links

• Governors of Montana from NNMD.com