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List of Governors of Montana
Submitted by Barb Z.
 

 

List of Governors of Montana
From Wikipedia

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

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. The governor is term-limited to 8 years in any 16-year period. 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; 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. The 1889 constitution made the lieutenant governor president of the state senate, 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

# Governor Party Term start Term end Appointed by Notes
1 Sidney Edgerton Rep June 22, 1864 July 12, 1866 Abraham Lincoln Did not find out he had been appointed right away; left the state in September 1865 and did not return for 25 years
— Thomas Francis Meagher (acting) Dem September 1865 October 3, 1866 — Also filled in for Smith as Smith had gone back to the east coast
2 Green Clay Smith Dem July 13, 1866 January 1867 Andrew Johnson Did not actually assume office until October 1866
— Thomas Francis Meagher (acting) Dem December 1866 July 1, 1867 —
2 Green Clay Smith Dem July 2, 1867 April 9, 1869 Andrew Johnson Apparenlty became non-functioning as governor in summer 1868
— James Tufts
(acting)		 Rep March 1869 April 9, 1869 — Possibly from late 1868
3 James Mitchell Ashley Rep April 9, 1869 July 12, 1870 Ulysses S. Grant Removed from office by President Ulysses S. Grant in mid-December 1869 for unclear reasons.
— Wiley Scribner
(acting)		 UNK December 1869 August 1870 — Party affiliation unknown
4 Benjamin F. Potts Rep July 13, 1870 January 14, 1883 Ulysses S. Grant
5 John Schuyler Crosby Rep January 15, 1883 December 15, 1884 Chester A. Arthur
6 B. Platt Carpenter Rep December 16, 1884 July 13, 1885 Chester A. Arthur
7 Samuel Thomas Hauser Dem July 14, 1885 February 7, 1887 Grover Cleveland
8 Preston Hopkins Leslie Dem February 8, 1887 April 8, 1889 Grover Cleveland
9 Benjamin F. White Rep April 9, 1889 November 8, 1889 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of Montana


# Governor Party Took office Left office Lt. Governor and Term Notes
1 Joseph Toole Dem November 8, 1889 January 1, 1893
2 John E. Rickards Rep January 2, 1893 January 3, 1897
  • Alexander C. Botkin – 2
3 Robert Burns Smith Dem January 4, 1897 January 7, 1901
  • A. E. Spriggs – 3
4 Joseph Toole Dem January 7, 1901 April 1, 1908 Resigned due to declining health.
5 Edwin L. Norris Dem April 1, 1908 January 5, 1913 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 - 7, 8
7 Joseph M. Dixon Rep January 3, 1921 January 4, 1925
  • Nelson Story, Jr. - 9
8 John E. Erickson Dem January 4, 1925 March 13, 1933 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 - 12
  • Ernest T. Eaton - 12
  • Elmer Holt - 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 - 12
 As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term.
11 Roy E. Ayers Dem January 4, 1937 January 6, 1941
  • Hugh R. Adair - 13
12 Sam C. Ford Rep January 6, 1941 January 3, 1949
  • Ernest T. Eaton - 14, 15
13 John W. Bonner Dem January 3, 1949 January 5, 1953
  • Paul Cannon - 16
14 J. Hugo Aronson Rep January 5, 1953 January 2, 1961
  • George M. Gosman - 17
  • Paul Cannon - 18
15 Donald Grant Nutter Rep January 2, 1961 January 25, 1962 Died in office.
16 Tim M. Babcock Rep January 25, 1962 January 6, 1969
  • David F. James - 19
  • Ted James - 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
18 Thomas Lee Judge Dem January 1, 1973 January 5, 1981
19 Ted Schwinden Dem January 5, 1981 January 2, 1989
20 Stan Stephens Rep January 2, 1989 January 4, 1993
21 Marc Racicot Rep January 4, 1993 January 1, 2001
22 Judy Martz Rep January 1, 2001 January 3, 2005
23 Brian Schweitzer Dem January 3, 2005 Incumbent Governor Schweitzer's second term expires in 2013; he is term limited.


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