List of governors of Montana
The Governor of Montana is the head of the executive branch of Montana's state 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 4-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in 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 24 governors, consisting of 9 Republicans and 15 Democrats. The longest-serving governor was Joseph Toole, who served from 1889 to 1893 and again from 1901 until his resignation in 1908 with 11 years in office. He is the only governor to serve nonconsecutive terms. The shortest-serving governor was Elmer Holt, who served less than 13 months when the previous governor died. The current governor is Democrat Steve Bullock, who took office on January 7, 2013.
Governors
Prior to the creation of Montana Territory, numerous areas of what is now Montana were areas of Oregon Territory, Washington Territory, Idaho Territory, and Dakota Territory.Governors of Montana Territory
NOTE: Term dates are for the full, official term of office, see notes column for clarification of dates when men served as governor.; Parties
Dem Democratic
Rep Republican
| # | Image | Governor | Party | Term start | Term end | Appointed by | Notes |
| 1 | Rep | Left for Washington, DC in September 1865 to settle federal accounts, obtain federal funding, and obtain reimbursement for personal funds spent on behalf of Montana's government. Resigned after funding issue remained unresolved. | |||||
| — | Dem | — | As Secretary of the Territory, he acted as governor in place of Gov. Edgerton while he was out of the Territory. He also acted in place of Gov. Smith until he arrived to assume his duties. | ||||
| 2 | Dem | Left Montana in July 1868 to settle federal accounts and obtain federal funds following Thomas F. Meagher's death; remained in Washington, DC. He was ordained as a Baptist minister and became a temperance activist. Officially resigned in April 1869. | |||||
| — | Rep | — | Acted as governor from July 1868, when Green Clay Smith left for Washington, DC to April 1869 when James M. Ashley arrived. | ||||
| 3 | Rep | Refusal to include Democrats in appointments made him unpopular; opponents then accused him of criticizing Grant administration policies, resulting in Grant removing him. | |||||
| — | Rep | — | Acted as governor until arrival of Benjamin F. Potts. | ||||
| 4 | Rep | Term expired, July 1882. Potts remained in office until successor J. Schuyler Crosby arrived in Montana in January 1883. | |||||
| 5 | Rep | Resigned to accept appointment as First Assistant Postmaster General. | |||||
| 6 | Rep | Replaced when Democrat Grover Cleveland succeeded Republican President Chester A. Arthur. | |||||
| 7 | Dem | Resigned in order to concentrate on management of business and banking interests. | |||||
| 8 | Dem | Pro-temperance stance and policy disagreements with Republicans in territorial legislature caused legislators to request his replacement. Later served as Montana's U.S. Attorney and president of the state bar association. | |||||
| 9 | Rep | Term ended when Montana attained statehood. Later served as Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives and a member of the Montana Senate. |
Governors of Montana
; PartiesDem Democratic
Rep Republican
| # | Image | Governor | Party | Took office | Left office | Lt. Governor and Term | Notes |
| 1 | Dem |
| |||||
| 2 | Rep | ||||||
| 3 | Dem | ||||||
| 4 | Dem | Resigned due to declining health. | |||||
| 5 | Dem | As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right. | |||||
| 6 | Dem | ||||||
| 7 | Rep | ||||||
| 8 | Dem | Resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate. | |||||
| 9 | Dem | As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term. Died in office while governor. | |||||
| 10 | Dem | As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term. | |||||
| 11 | Dem | ||||||
| 12 | Rep | ||||||
| 13 | Dem | ||||||
| 14 | Rep | ||||||
| 15 | Rep | Died in office. | |||||
| 16 | Rep | As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right. | |||||
| 17 | Dem | ||||||
| 18 | Dem | ||||||
| 19 | Dem | ||||||
| 20 | Rep | ||||||
| 21 | Rep | ||||||
| 22 | Rep | ||||||
| 23 | Dem | ||||||
| 24 | Dem | Incumbent | Governor Bullock's term will expire on January 4, 2021; he will be subject to term limits |
Succession
Other high offices held
This is a table of the equivalent or higher state and 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.| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Higher offices held |
| 1889–1893 1901–1908 | Territorial Delegate | |
| 1921–1925 | U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator | |
| 1925–1933 | U.S. Senator* | |
| 1929–1933 | Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice | |
| 1933-1939 | Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice | |
| 1937–1941 | U.S. Representative | |
| 1953–1956 | Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice | |
| 1969-1970 | Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice |
Living former governors of Montana
, there are four former governors of Montana who are currently living at this time, the oldest former governor of Montana being Ted Schwinden. The most recent death of a former governor of Montana, was Judy Martz, on October 30, 2017. Martz is also the most recently serving former governor of Montana to die.| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
| 1981–1989 | ||
| 1989–1993 | ||
| 1993–2001 | ||
| 2005–2013 |