Governor of Montana | |
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since January 4, 2021 | |
Government of Montana | |
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 | Line of succession |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Montana |
Salary | $108,167 (2022)[1] |
Website | governor |
Thegovernor of Montana is thehead of government ofMontana[2] and the commander-in-chief of thestate'smilitary forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[2] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by theMontana State Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and to grantpardons andreprieves.[6]
Montana has had 24 governors, consisting of 9 Republicans and 15 Democrats. The longest-serving governor wasJoseph 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 wasElmer Holt, who served less than 13 months when the previous governor died. The current governor is RepublicanGreg Gianforte, who took office on January 4, 2021.
Montana Territory was organized fromIdaho Territory on May 26, 1864.[7] During its 35-year history, it had nine governors appointed by thepresident of the United States, and three acting governors, all of whom had been appointed territorial secretary before becoming acting governor. The first,Thomas Francis Meagher, served as acting governor from 1865 until 1867.[8] The second,James Tufts, served in for one month in 1869,[9] and was succeeded byWiley Scribner, who served 1869–1870.[10]
No. | Governor | Term in office[a] | Appointed by | |
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1 | ![]() | Sidney Edgerton (1818–1900) [11] | June 22, 1864[b] – July 13, 1866 (successor appointed)[c] | Abraham Lincoln |
2 | ![]() | Green Clay Smith (1826–1895) [15] | July 13, 1866[d] – April 9, 1869 (resigned)[e] | Andrew Johnson |
3 | ![]() | James Mitchell Ashley (1824–1896) [20] | April 9, 1869[f] – December 17, 1869 (removed)[g] | Ulysses S. Grant |
4 | ![]() | Benjamin F. Potts (1836–1887) [25] | July 13, 1870[h] – August 4, 1882 (successor appointed)[i] | Ulysses S. Grant |
Rutherford B. Hayes | ||||
5 | ![]() | John Schuyler Crosby (1839–1914) [31] | August 4, 1882[j] – November 11, 1884 (resigned)[k] | Chester A. Arthur |
6 | ![]() | B. Platt Carpenter (1837–1921) [34] | December 22, 1884[l] – July 3, 1885 (removed)[m] | Chester A. Arthur |
7 | ![]() | Samuel Thomas Hauser (1833–1914) [38] | May 14, 1886[n] – January 13, 1887 (resigned)[o] | Grover Cleveland |
8 | ![]() | Preston Leslie (1819–1907) [41] | January 13, 1887[p] – March 27, 1889 (successor appointed) | Grover Cleveland |
9 | ![]() | Benjamin F. White (1838–1920) [44] | March 27, 1889[q] – November 8, 1889 (statehood) | Benjamin Harrison |
Montana wasadmitted to the Union on November 8, 1889.[47]
The currentMontana Constitution, ratified in 1972, calls for a 4-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in January following an election.[48] A 1992 amendment limits the governor to 8 years in any 16-year period.[49] The constitution provides for the election of alieutenant governor for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the sameticket;[48] 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.[50]