Matt Rosendale | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Gianforte |
| Succeeded by | Troy Downing |
| Constituency | At-large district (2021–2023) 2nd district (2023–2025) |
| 16thAuditor of Montana | |
| In office January 2, 2017 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Governor | Steve Bullock |
| Preceded by | Monica Lindeen |
| Succeeded by | Troy Downing |
| Member of theMontana Senate from the 18th district | |
| In office January 7, 2013 – January 2, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | John Brenden |
| Succeeded by | Steve Hinebauch |
| Member of theMontana House of Representatives from the 38th district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Getz |
| Succeeded by | Alan Doane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. (1960-07-07)July 7, 1960 (age 65) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingAdam |
| Education | Chesapeake College (attended) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website |
Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American politician and former real estate developer who representedMontana in theUnited States House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, Rosendale served in theMontana House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013, and in theMontana Senate from 2013 to 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Montana Senate majority leader. Rosendale was elected Montana state auditor in 2016 and held that position from 2017 to 2020. Rosendale ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in2014 and for the U.S. Senate in2018. He was elected to representMontana's at-large congressional district in2020. After Montana regained its second House seat in the2020 census, Rosendale was elected to represent its new2nd congressional district in 2022.
On February 9, 2024, he announced that he would run in the2024 U.S. Senate race, looking to challengeJon Tester again.[1] Only six days later, Rosendale ended his campaign after Donald Trump endorsed his opponent,Tim Sheehy in the Republican primary.[2] Rosendale chose to run for re-election to his House seat, but withdrew from that race as well in March 2024.[3]
Rosendale was born on July 7, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated fromQueen Anne's County High School inCentreville, Maryland, in 1978.[4] Rosendale attendedChesapeake College in Maryland[5] but did not graduate.[6] He was one of three sitting Representatives who hasn't attended college, the other two beingLauren Boebert andMike Bost.
Rosendale worked in Maryland in the fields of real estate development and land management before moving with his family toGlendive, Montana, in 2002.[7][8] In Montana, he was twice elected chairman of the Glendive Agri-Trade Expo committee,[9] a local group that puts on anagriculture exposition showcasingagri-business in eastern Montana.[10]
Rosendale served one two-year term in theMontana House of Representatives.[4][11]
Rosendale announced he would run for the Montana House of Representatives[12] to represent House District 38, which coversWibaux and part ofDawson County. Also seeking the Republican nomination were Edward Hilbert andAlan Doane. Rosendale prevailed, receiving 48.4% of the vote to Doane's 41.3% and Hilbert's 10.4%.[13]
Rosendale defeatedDemocratic incumbent State Representative Dennis Getz in thegeneral election, with 52.7% of the vote to Getz's 47.3%.[14]
During the 2011legislative session, Rosendale served on several committees, including the Business and Labor Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Local Government Committee.[15]
Rosendale served one four-year term in theMontana Senate[15] from 2013 to 2017.[4] From 2015 to 2017, he served asmajority leader.[4][11]
In 2012, with state senatorDonald Steinbeisser ineligible for reelection due to term limits,[16] Rosendale announced he would run for the Montana Senate to represent Senate District 19, a heavily Republican district in eastern Montana.[17]
After running unopposed in the Republicanprimary,[18] Rosendale defeated Democratic nominee Fred Lake in the general election, with 67.6% of the vote to Lake's 32.4%.[19]
During the 2013 legislative session, Rosendale served as vice chair of the Natural Resources and Transportation Committee. He also served on the Finance and Claims Committee, the Highways and Transportation Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.[15] During this legislative session, Rosendale was theprimary sponsor of a resolution urgingCongress to submit abalanced budget amendment to states.[20] He also was the primary sponsor of a bill that became law to preventlaw enforcement from using drones forsurveillance purposes.[21]
Due to state redistricting in 2014, Rosendale represented Senate District 18 for the rest of his tenure, starting in 2015.[22] At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Rosendale's colleagues in the State Senate elected him to serve as majority leader.[11] He also chaired the Rules Committee and was a member of the Finance and Claims Committee and Natural Resources and Transportation Committee.[15] Rosendale was the primary sponsor of a bill to authorizedirect primary care provider plans that passed the legislature before being vetoed by GovernorSteve Bullock.[23]
Rosendale ran forMontana State Auditor in2016, when incumbentMonica Lindeen was ineligible for reelection due to term limits.[24][25]
Rosendale ran unopposed in the Republican primary.[26] In thegeneral election, he facedJesse Laslovich,[27] who was Lindeen's chief legal counsel and widely considered one of Montana's rising political stars.[28]
Rosendale defeated Laslovich with 53.6% of the vote to Laslovich's 46.4%.[29] At the time, this was the most expensive state auditor's race in Montana state history.
Rosendale served as Montana state auditor from 2017 to 2020.[4] As state auditor, Rosendale approved direct primary care agreements[23] and authorizedMedi-Share to operate in Montana.[30] Medi-Share, a health care sharing ministry which asks members of a religious faith to pool money together to cover their health care costs, had previously been banned from operating in Montana after the company refused to cover a member's medical bills. In authorizing Medi-Share to operate in Montana, Rosendale determined that the company did not qualify as an insurer and had no obligation to pay subscribers' bills.[31]
Rosendale refused to accept a pay raise, taking an annual salary of $92,236.[32]
As state auditor, Rosendale was also one of five members of the Montana State Land Board, which oversees the 5.2 million acres in thestate trust land.[33] As a member of the Montana State Land Board, Rosendale voted to expand access to over 45,000 acres (18,000 ha) ofpublic land.[34]
In 2017, Rosendale proposed legislation that would create areinsurance program so that individuals withpreexisting conditions could access affordablehealth coverage. This legislation passed both houses of the legislature before being vetoed by Governor Steve Bullock.[35] Rosendale condemned Bullock's veto, saying, "the governor has sacrificed good, bipartisan policy in favor of bad, partisan politics."[36] Rosendale then worked with a bipartisan group of Montana officials to create a reinsurance program and were granted a waiver to do so by thefederal government.[37] The program is now operational.[38]
In 2019, Rosendale proposed legislation targetingpharmacy benefits managers and a practice known as spread pricing.[39] The legislation passed both houses of the legislature[40] before being vetoed by Bullock, who wrote in his veto message that the bill would cause drug prices to increase.[41] Rosendale again condemned Bullock, saying his veto "is a gift to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries and it's a slap in the face to consumers."[42]
In 2013, incumbent representativeSteve Daines announced that he would not seek reelection and would instead run for theUnited States Senate.[43] Rosendale then announced his candidacy to succeed Daines in theU.S. House of Representatives. In addition to Rosendale, the Republican field included former state senatorsRyan Zinke andCorey Stapleton, state representativeElsie Arntzen, andreal estate investor Drew Turiano.[44]
Rosendale came in third place with 28.8% of the vote, behind Zinke's 33.3% and Stapleton's 29.3%. Arntzen and Turiano received 6.9% and 1.7%, respectively.[45]
In June 2019, RepresentativeGreg Gianforte announced that he would not seek reelection and would instead run for governor to replace term-limited governor Steve Bullock.[46] Days later, Rosendale announced he would run for the open seat.[47]
Rosendale received the early endorsement of President Donald Trump.[48] He also received early endorsements fromelected officials around the country, including SenatorTed Cruz, SenatorRand Paul, House Republican LeaderKevin McCarthy, House Republican WhipSteve Scalise and RepresentativeJim Jordan,[49] as well as the endorsement of theCrow Tribe of Montana.[50] He won the six-way Republican primary with 48.3% of the vote, carrying every county.[51]
Rosendale defeatedDemocratic nomineeKathleen Williams in thegeneral election in November, with 56.4% of the vote to her 43.6%.[52]
As a result of the2020 census andredistricting cycle, Montana regained acongressional district having had a single at-large district since1993.[53][54][55] Rosendale ran for reelection in the reconstitutedsecond district,[56] which covers the eastern two-thirds of the state and includesBillings,Great Falls, andHelena.[57]
Rosendale again received Trump's endorsement[58] and won the 2022 Republican primary in the second district.[59] He won the general election with 56.6% of the vote to Independent Gary Buchanan's 22.0% and Democrat Penny Ronning's 20.1%.[60][61]
Rosendale was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives on January 3, 2021.[62]
Along with all other Senate and House Republicans, Rosendale voted against theAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[63]
In July 2021, Rosendale voted against the bipartisan ALLIES Act, which would increase by 8,000 the number ofspecial immigrant visas for Afghan allies of the U.S. military duringits invasion of Afghanistan, while also reducing some application requirements that caused long application backlogs; the bill passed in the House 407–16.[64]
Rosendale supported a ban on members of Congress trading stocks.[65][66]
In June 2021, Rosendale was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal theAUMF against Iraq.[67][68]
Rosendale issued a statement opposing intervention inUkraine during theprelude to the Russian invasion.[69] Later, he sponsored the Secure America's Border First Act, which would prohibit the expenditure or obligation of military and security assistance to Kyiv over the U.S. border with Mexico.[70]
On March 2, 2022, Rosendale was one of only three House members to vote against a resolution supporting the sovereignty of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.[71]
In 2022, Rosendale voted against a bill that would provide approximately $14 billion to the government of Ukraine.[72][73]
In July 2022, Rosendale was one of 18 Republicans to vote against ratifying Sweden's and Finland's applications for NATO membership.[74]
In March 2023, Rosendale was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed PresidentJoe Biden to remove U.S. troops fromSyria within 180 days.[75][76]
On March 1, 2023, Rosendale posed for a photo in front of theUnited States Capitol with a former member of a white supremacist gang and a Nazi sympathizer.[77] Rosendale later affirmed his opposition to hate groups and stated that he did not know the two individuals or their affiliations when he was photographed with them.[78][79]
On October 3, 2023, Florida Republican RepresentativeMatt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the House speakership of California RepublicanKevin McCarthy. The measure prevailed as 216 were in favor and 210 opposed.[80] It was the first time ever the House of Representatives had removed its speaker from office. All voting House Democrats plus Rosendale and seven other Republicans cast votes for his removal.[81]
On March 19, 2024, Rosendale voted nay on House Resolution 149, which condemned the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. He was one of nine Republicans to do so.[82]
In 2017, Rosendale announced he would seek the Republican nomination to challenge two-term incumbent Democratic senatorJon Tester.[84]
In a competitive four-way primary, Rosendale faced district judgeRussell Fagg, state senatorAl Olszewski, andcombat veteranTroy Downing.[12] Rosendale won the Republican primary with 33.8% of the vote to Fagg's 28.3%, Downing's 19.1% and Olszewski's 18.7%.[85]
After the primary, Rosendale was endorsed by PresidentDonald Trump[86] and Vice PresidentMike Pence.[87] Trump visited the state to campaign for Rosendale four times,[88] while Pence visited three times.[89]
During his 2018 campaign, Rosendale faced criticism for repeatedly presenting himself as a "rancher" in interviews and campaign materials despite owning no cattle or a cattle brand according to public records.[90] Critics labelled Rosendale "all hat, no cattle". Rosendale, who bought a $2 million ranch near Glendive when he moved to Montana in 2002, said he leased his land and helps run cattle on it.[91] Rosendale later removed the "rancher" label from bios on his website and social media accounts.[92]
Polls showed the race in a statistical tie going intoElection Day,[93] in what was the most expensive election in Montana history, with more than $70 million spent between the two sides.[94] Tester's campaign had a huge cash advantage, raising and spending $21 million to Rosendale's $6 million.[95]
In the general election, Tester won 50.3% of the vote to Rosendale's 46.8%, withLibertarian candidate Rick Breckenridge taking 2.9%.[96]
In August 2023,Politico reported that Rosendale was "moving closer" to running for U.S. Senate in 2024.[97] He officially entered the race on February 9, 2024; Trump endorsed a different candidate hours later, and Rosendale dropped out a week later.[1][98]
Shortly after Rosendale dropped out of the race,Heidi Heitkamp, a former Democratic senator from North Dakota, alleged on an episode of the"Talking Feds" podcast that Rosendale may have impregnated a 20-year-old staffer, and would likely resign from the House as a result. Heitkamp did not present evidence for these claims. Ron Kovach, a Rosendale spokesman, rejected the accusation as false and defamatory, and stated that Heitkamp would be the target of legal action.[99][100] On March 8, 2024, Rosendale announced that he would also not run for reelection to his House seat, saying that "defamatory rumors" and alleged death threats had impeded his ability to serve.[101]
Rosendale and his wife Jean reside on a ranch north ofGlendive.[102] They have three adult children.[103] Their son,Adam Rosendale, served briefly in the Montana Legislature in 2017.[104]
Rosendale has served as head of his localCatholic parish council.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 1,932 | 52.7 | |
| Democratic | Dennis Getz (incumbent) | 1,735 | 47.3 | |
| Total votes | 3,667 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 5,929 | 67.6 | |
| Democratic | Fred Lake | 2,842 | 32.4 | |
| Total votes | 8,771 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ryan Zinke | 43,766 | 33.3 | |
| Republican | Corey Stapleton | 38,591 | 29.3 | |
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 37,965 | 28.8 | |
| Republican | Elsie Arntzen | 9,011 | 6.9 | |
| Republican | Drew Turiano | 2,290 | 1.7 | |
| Total votes | 131,623 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 256,378 | 53.6 | |
| Democratic | Jesse Laslovich | 221,551 | 46.4 | |
| Total votes | 477,929 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 51,859 | 33.8% | |
| Republican | Russ Fagg | 43,465 | 28.3% | |
| Republican | Troy Downing | 29,341 | 19.1% | |
| Republican | Al Olszewski | 28,681 | 18.7% | |
| Total votes | 153,346 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jon Tester (incumbent) | 253,876 | 50.33% | ||
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 235,963 | 46.78% | ||
| Libertarian | Rick Breckenridge | 14,545 | 2.88% | ||
| Total votes | 504,384 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 104,286 | 48.3 | |
| Republican | Corey Stapleton | 71,593 | 33.2 | |
| Republican | Debra Lamm | 14,418 | 6.7 | |
| Republican | Joe Dooling | 13,689 | 6.3 | |
| Republican | Mark McGinley | 7,790 | 3.6 | |
| Republican | John Evankovich | 3,965 | 1.8 | |
| Total votes | 215,471 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale | 339,169 | 56.39% | ||
| Democratic | Kathleen Williams | 262,340 | 43.61% | ||
| Total votes | 601,509 | 100.00% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale (incumbent) | 73,453 | 75.7 | |
| Republican | Kyle Austin | 11,930 | 12.3 | |
| Republican | Charles Walking Child | 5,909 | 6.1 | |
| Republican | James Boyette | 5,712 | 5.9 | |
| Total votes | 97,004 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Matt Rosendale (incumbent) | 121,979 | 56.56% | |
| Independent | Gary Buchanan | 47,195 | 21.88% | |
| Democratic | Penny Ronning | 43,480 | 20.16% | |
| Libertarian | Sam Rankin | 3,018 | 1.40% | |
| Total votes | 215,672 | 100.00% | ||
| Republicanhold | ||||
candfilings was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Auditor of Montana 2017–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromMontana (Class 1) 2018 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana's at-large congressional district 2021–2023 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana's 2nd congressional district 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| Territorial (1865–1889) |
|  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneat-large seat (1889–1913) |
| ||||
| Two at-large seats (1913–1919) |
| ||||
| Districts (1919–1993) |
| ||||
| One at-large seat (1993–2023) |
| ||||
| Districts (2023–present) |
| ||||
