Montana's at-large congressional district Last updated August 27, 2025 At-large U.S. House district for Montana
Montana's at-large congressional district Created 1889 Eliminated 1918 Years active 1889–1919
The district from 1993 to 2023 From 1993 to 2023, Montana was represented in the United States House of Representatives by one at-large congressional district , among the 435 in the United States Congress . The district was the most populous U.S. congressional district at the time, with just over 1 million constituents, [ 1] and the second-largest by land area , after Alaska's at-large congressional district .
The district was last represented by Republican Matt Rosendale . It had previously been represented by Republican Greg Gianforte , who did not seek re-election in 2020 . Instead, he opted to run for Governor of Montana .
Starting in the 2022 midterm elections , per the 2020 United States census , Montana regained the congressional seat that it lost after the 1990 census. Thus, the current at-large statewide district was dissolved, and the new districts were the 1st district in the west and the 2nd district in the east, [ 2] restoring a configuration that had existed from 1919 to 1993. Rosendale sought re-election in the 2nd district and was elected.
Politics President George W. Bush won Montana in the 2004 presidential election with 59.1% of the vote, beating John Kerry by 20 percentage points, which indicates that the district leans Republican . However, four years later John McCain won the state by only 2.5% over Barack Obama , and there is a significant Democratic presence in the state: as of 2025 2 U.S. Senate seat is held by two Republicans , which suggested at the time that the district could be competitive in future elections. In 2016, Donald Trump won by over 20%, while Ryan Zinke won Montana's single congressional seat by over 16%. Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Bullock , however, was also reelected by 4%. The seat was left vacant when Zinke was appointed Secretary of the Interior . In a special election held on May 25, 2017, Republican Greg Gianforte won with a margin of 6% and would be reelected by a margin of 5% in 2018. [ 3] [ further explanation needed ]
Early at-large district From statehood in 1889, until the creation of geographic districts in 1919, Montana was represented in the United States House of Representatives by members elected at-large , that is, requiring voting by all the state population. From 1913 to 1919, there were two seats, still elected at-large ; the top two finishers were awarded the seats. After that time, two representatives were elected from two geographic districts of roughly equal population, from the east and the west of the state.
In the reapportionment following the 1990 census , Montana lost one of its two seats. Its remaining member was again elected at-large.
List of members representing the district Years Cong Seat A Seat B Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history March 4, 1889 – 51st Seat created upon statehood A second seat was added in 1913. November 8, 1889 – Thomas H. Carter (Helena ) Republican Elected in 1889 . March 4, 1891 – 52nd William W. Dixon (Butte ) Democratic Elected in 1890 . March 4, 1893 – 53rd 54th 55th Charles S. Hartman (Bozeman ) Republican Elected in 1892 .Re-elected in 1894 .Re-elected in 1896 . March 4, 1897 – Silver March 4, 1899 – 56th Albert J. Campbell (Butte ) Democratic Elected in 1898 . March 4, 1901 – 57th Caldwell Edwards (Bozeman ) Populist Elected in 1900 . March 4, 1903 – 58th 59th Joseph M. Dixon (Missoula ) Republican Elected in 1902 .Re-elected in 1904 .run for U.S. senator . March 4, 1907 – 60th 61st 62nd Charles N. Pray (Fort Benton ) Republican Elected in 1906 .Re-elected in 1908 .Re-elected in 1910 . March 4, 1913 – 63rd 64th John M. Evans (Missoula ) Democratic Elected in 1912 .Re-elected in 1914 .Re-elected in 1916 . 1st district . Tom Stout (Lewistown ) Democratic Elected in 1912 .Re-elected in 1914 . March 4, 1917 – 65th Jeannette Rankin [ 4] (Missoula ) Republican Elected in 1916 . 1st district and retired to run for U.S. senator .
The two at-large seats were moved to district representation in 1919, and remained until 1993, when Montana lost a seat due to redistricting from the 1990 U.S. census , re-establishing the single seat at-large district.
Member Party Years Cong Electoral history District re-established January 3, 1993 Pat Williams (Helena ) Democratic January 3, 1993 – 103rd 104th Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1992 .Re-elected in 1994 . Rick Hill (Helena ) Republican January 3, 1997 – 105th 106th Elected in 1996 .Re-elected in 1998 . Denny Rehberg (Billings ) Republican January 3, 2001 – 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th Elected in 2000 .Re-elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 .Re-elected in 2008 .Re-elected in 2010 .run for U.S. senator . Steve Daines (Bozeman ) Republican January 3, 2013 – 113th Elected in 2012 .run for the U.S. senator . Ryan Zinke (Whitefish ) Republican January 3, 2015 – 114th 115th Elected in 2014 .Re-elected in 2016 .U.S. Secretary of the Interior . Vacant March 1, 2017 – 115th Greg Gianforte (Bozeman ) Republican June 21, 2017 – 115th 116th Elected to finish Zinke's term .Re-elected in 2018 .run for Governor of Montana . Matt Rosendale (Glendive ) Republican January 3, 2021 – 117th Elected in 2020 . 2nd district . District eliminated January 3, 2023
Recent election results The following are official results from the general elections. [ 5]
Notes ↑ "Congressional Apportionment: 2010 Census Briefs" (PDF) . census.gov . United States Census Bureau . November 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2014 . ↑ Merica, Dan; Stark, Liz (April 26, 2021). "Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats" . CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2021 . ↑ "Election Results: Gianforte Wins U.S. House Seat in Montana" . New York Times . Retrieved May 26, 2017 . ↑ "Montana" . Official Congressional Directory : 65th Congress . Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1917. hdl :2027/mdp.39015022758265 . ↑ "Archived Official Election Results" . Montana Secretary of State . State of Montana. Retrieved November 7, 2014 . ↑ "Official General Election Results" . Montana Secretary of State . State of Montana. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014 . ↑ "2016 General Election" . Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2016 . ↑ "2017 Special Election (unofficial results)" . Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2017 . ↑ "Official General Election Results" (PDF) . Montana Secretary of State . State of Montana. Retrieved April 6, 2019 . This page is based on this
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