Since Montana became a U.S. state in 1889, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years. Before the Seventeenth Amendment took effect in 1913, senators were elected by the Montana State Legislature. Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms, one from Montana's at-large congressional district. Before becoming a state, the Territory of Montana elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1864 to 1889.
A total of 54 people have served either the Territory or State of Montana: 17 in the Senate, 32 in the House, and five in both houses. The longest-serving senator is Max Baucus, in office from 1978 to 2014. The longest-serving representative is Pat Williams, in office for 18 years from 1979 to 1997. One woman has been a member of Montana's congressional delegation, Jeannette Rankin, as a representative. She was the first woman in the United States Congress.
The current dean of the Montana delegation is Senator Jon Tester, having served in the Senate since 2007.
Current U.S. senators from Montana | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Montana
| Class I senator | Class II senator | ||
Jon Tester (Senior senator) | Steve Daines (Junior senator) | |||
Party | Democratic | Republican | ||
Incumbent since | January 3, 2007 | January 3, 2015 |
Each state elects two senators by statewide popular vote every six years. The terms of the two senators are staggered so that they are not elected in the same year. Montana's senators are elected in the years from classes I and II. Senators were originally chosen by the Montana House of Representatives until the Seventeenth Amendment came into force in 1913. [2] [3]
There have been twenty-two senators elected from Montana, of whom fourteen have been Democrats and eight have been Republicans. Montana's current senators are Democrat Jon Tester, in office since 2007, and Republican Steve Daines, in office since 2015. Tester was re-elected in 2012 with 48.58% of the vote, [4] and Daines was elected in 2014 with 57.9% of the vote. [5]
Class I senators | Congress | Class II senators | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wilbur F. Sanders (R) | 51st (1889–1891) | Thomas C. Power (R) | ||
52nd (1891–1893) | ||||
vacant [fn 1] | 53rd (1893–1895) | |||
Lee Mantle (R) [fn 2] | ||||
54th (1895–1897) | Thomas H. Carter (R) | |||
Lee Mantle (SvR) | 55th (1897–1899) | |||
William A. Clark (D) [fn 3] | 56th (1899–1901) | |||
Paris Gibson (D) [fn 4] | 57th (1901–1903) | William A. Clark (D) | ||
58th (1903–1905) | ||||
Thomas H. Carter (R) | 59th (1905–1907) | |||
60th (1907–1909) | Joseph M. Dixon (R) | |||
61st (1909–1911) | ||||
Henry L. Myers (D) | 62nd (1911–1913) | |||
63rd (1913–1915) | Thomas J. Walsh (D) [fn 5] | |||
64th (1915–1917) | ||||
65th (1917–1919) | ||||
66th (1919–1921) | ||||
67th (1921–1923) | ||||
Burton K. Wheeler (D) | 68th (1923–1925) | |||
69th (1925–1927) | ||||
70th (1927–1929) | ||||
71st (1929–1931) | ||||
72nd (1931–1933) | ||||
73rd (1933–1935) | John E. Erickson (D) [fn 6] | |||
James E. Murray (D) | ||||
74th (1935–1937) | ||||
75th (1937–1939) | ||||
76th (1939–1941) | ||||
77th (1941–1943) | ||||
78th (1943–1945) | ||||
79th (1945–1947) | ||||
Zales Ecton (R) | 80th (1947–1949) | |||
81st (1949–1951) | ||||
82nd (1951–1953) | ||||
Mike Mansfield (D) | 83rd (1953–1955) | |||
84th (1955–1957) | ||||
85th (1957–1959) | ||||
86th (1959–1961) | ||||
87th (1961–1963) | Lee Metcalf (D) [fn 5] | |||
88th (1963–1965) | ||||
89th (1965–1967) | ||||
90th (1967–1969) | ||||
91st (1969–1971) | ||||
92nd (1971–1973) | ||||
93rd (1973–1975) | ||||
94th (1975–1977) | ||||
John Melcher (D) | 95th (1977–1979) | |||
Paul G. Hatfield (D) [fn 6] | ||||
Max Baucus (D) [fn 7] | ||||
96th (1979–1981) | ||||
97th (1981–1983) | ||||
98th (1983–1985) | ||||
99th (1985–1987) | ||||
100th (1987–1989) | ||||
Conrad Burns (R) | 101st (1989–1991) | |||
102nd (1991–1993) | ||||
103rd (1993–1995) | ||||
104th (1995–1997) | ||||
105th (1997–1999) | ||||
106th (1999–2001) | ||||
107th (2001–2003) | ||||
108th (2003–2005) | ||||
109th (2005–2007) | ||||
Jon Tester (D) | 110th (2007–2009) | |||
111th (2009–2011) | ||||
112th (2011–2013) | ||||
113th (2013–2015) | ||||
John Walsh (D) [fn 6] | ||||
114th (2015–2017) | Steve Daines (R) | |||
115th (2017–2019) | ||||
116th (2019–2021) | ||||
117th (2021–2023) | ||||
118th (2023–2025) |
Current U.S. representatives from Montana | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Member (Residence) [6] | Party | Incumbent since | CPVI (2022) [7] | District map |
1st | Ryan Zinke (Whitefish) | Republican | January 3, 2023 | R+6 | |
2nd | Matt Rosendale (Glendive) | Republican | January 3, 2021 | R+16 | |
The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States formed on May 26, 1864. The territory initially consisted of present-day Montana. The boundaries of the territory did not change during its existence.
The territorial delegates were elected to two-year terms. Delegates were allowed to serve on committees, debate, and submit legislation, but were not permitted to vote on bills. [8] Delegates only served in the House of Representatives as there was no representation in the Senate until Montana became a state.
Congress | Delegate |
---|---|
38th (1863–1865) | Samuel McLean (D) |
39th (1865–1867) | |
40th (1867–1869) | James M. Cavanaugh (D) |
41st (1869–1871) | |
42nd (1871–1873) | William H. Clagett |
43rd (1873–1875) | Martin Maginnis (D) |
44th (1875–1877) | |
45th (1877–1879) | |
46th (1879–1881) | |
47th (1881–1883) | |
48th (1883–1885) | |
49th (1885–1887) | Joseph Toole (D) |
50th (1887–1889) | |
51st (1889–1891) | Thomas H. Carter (R) |
Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years by popular vote within a congressional district. [9] Montana currently has two congressional districts. Every ten years, the number of congressional districts is reapportioned based on the state's population as determined by the United States census; [10] Montana had had two districts from 1913 to 1993 and one at-large district from 1993 to 2023.
There have been 34 people, including just one woman, who have served as representatives from Montana: 15 Democrats, 20 Republicans and 1 Populist. Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale are the current officeholders.
Congress | At-large seats | |
---|---|---|
1st seat | 2nd seat | |
51st (1889–1891) | Thomas H. Carter (R) | |
52nd (1891–1893) | William W. Dixon (D) | |
53rd (1893–1895) | Charles S. Hartman (R) | |
54th (1895–1897) | ||
55th (1897–1899) | ||
56th (1899–1901) | Albert J. Campbell (D) | |
57th (1901–1903) | Caldwell Edwards (Pop) | |
58th (1903–1905) | Joseph M. Dixon (R) | |
59th (1905–1907) | ||
60th (1907–1909) | Charles Nelson Pray (R) | |
61st (1909–1911) | ||
62nd (1911–1913) | ||
63rd (1913–1915) | John M. Evans (D) | Tom Stout (D) |
64th (1915–1917) | ||
65th (1917–1919) | Jeannette Rankin (R) | |
Congress | District | |
1st | 2nd | |
66th (1919–1921) | John M. Evans (D) | Carl W. Riddick (R) |
67th (1921–1923) | Washington J. McCormick (R) | |
68th (1923–1925) | John M. Evans (D) | Scott Leavitt (R) |
69th (1925–1927) | ||
70th (1927–1929) | ||
71st (1929–1931) | ||
72nd (1931–1933) | ||
73rd (1933–1935) | Joseph P. Monaghan (D) | Roy E. Ayers (D) |
74th (1935–1937) | ||
75th (1937–1939) | Jerry J. O'Connell (D) | James F. O'Connor (D) |
76th (1939–1941) | Jacob Thorkelson (R) | |
77th (1941–1943) | Jeannette Rankin (R) | |
78th (1943–1945) | Mike Mansfield (D) | |
79th (1945–1947) | ||
Wesley A. D'Ewart (R) | ||
80th (1947–1949) | ||
81st (1949–1951) | ||
82nd (1951–1953) | ||
83rd (1953–1955) | Lee Metcalf (D) | |
84th (1955–1957) | Orvin B. Fjare (R) | |
85th (1957–1959) | LeRoy H. Anderson (D) | |
86th (1959–1961) | ||
87th (1961–1963) | Arnold Olsen (D) | James F. Battin (R) |
88th (1963–1965) | ||
89th (1965–1967) | ||
90th (1967–1969) | ||
91st (1969–1971) | ||
John Melcher (D) | ||
92nd (1971–1973) | Richard G. Shoup (R) | |
93rd (1973–1975) | ||
94th (1975–1977) | Max Baucus (D) | |
95th (1977–1979) | Ron Marlenee (R) | |
96th (1979–1981) | Pat Williams (D) | |
97th (1981–1983) | ||
98th (1983–1985) | ||
99th (1985–1987) | ||
100th (1987–1989) | ||
101st (1989–1991) | ||
102nd (1991–1993) | ||
Congress | At-large seat | |
103rd (1993–1995) | Pat Williams (D) | |
104th (1995–1997) | ||
105th (1997–1999) | Rick Hill (R) | |
106th (1999–2001) | ||
107th (2001–2003) | Denny Rehberg (R) | |
108th (2003–2005) | ||
109th (2005–2007) | ||
110th (2007–2009) | ||
111th (2009–2011) | ||
112th (2011–2013) | ||
113th (2013–2015) | Steve Daines (R) | |
114th (2015–2017) | Ryan Zinke (R) | |
115th (2017–2019) | ||
Greg Gianforte (R) | ||
116th (2019–2021) | ||
117th (2021–2023) | Matt Rosendale (R) | |
Congress | District | |
1st | 2nd | |
118th (2023–2025) | Ryan Zinke (R) | Matt Rosendale (R) |
Democratic (D) |
Populist (Pop) |
Republican (R) |
Silver Republican (SvR) |
Since Alabama became a U.S. state in 1819, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Alabama Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1818 to 1819.
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Since Florida became a U.S. state in 1845, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Florida Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1822 to 1845.
Since Colorado became a U.S. state in 1876, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Colorado Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1861 to 1876.
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Since Idaho became a U.S. state in 1890, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Idaho Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1864 to 1890.
Since Utah became a U.S. state in 1896, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years. Before the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were elected by the Utah State Legislature. Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms, one from each of Utah's four congressional districts. Before becoming a state, the Territory of Utah elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1850 to 1896.
These are tables of congressional delegations from Tennessee to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
These are tables of congressional delegations from Oregon to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.
These are tables of congressional delegations from Indiana to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Since Iowa became a U.S. state in 1846, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Iowa Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1838 to 1846.
Since Kansas became a U.S. state in 1861, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Kansas Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1854 to 1861.
These are tables of congressional delegations from Mississippi to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Since Illinois became a U.S. state in 1818, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before becoming a state, the Illinois Territory elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1812 to 1818.
The 2012 United States Senate election in Montana was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
The 2014 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate from Montana, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.