Montana's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1889
1990
Eliminated1918
2020
Years active1889–1919
1993–2023
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, with just over 1 million constituents.[1] It was also the second-largest by land area, after Alaska's at-large congressional district, and the largest by land area in the contiguous United States.

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] 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 2021 one U.S. Senate seat is held by a Democrat, 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]

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.

Recent voting history

Election results from recent state wide races are shown below.

Year Gubernatorial
2000 Martz 51-47%
2004 Schweitzer 50-46%
2008 Schweitzer 66-33%
2012 Bullock 49-47%
2016 Bullock 50-46%
2020 Gianforte 54-42%
Year Senate
2000 Burns 51-47%
2002 Baucus 63-32%
2006 Tester 49-48%
2008 Baucus 73-27%
2012 Tester 49-45%
2014 Daines 58-40%
2018 Tester 50-47%
2020 Daines 55-45%
Year Presidential
2000 Bush 58–33%
2004 Bush 59–38%
2008 McCain 50–47%
2012 Romney 55–41%
2016 Trump 56–35%
2020 Trump 57–41%

List of members representing the district

1889–1919: one, then two seats

Years Cong
ress		 Seat A Seat B
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
March 4, 1889 –
November 8, 1889		 51st Seat created upon statehood A second seat was added in 1913.
November 8, 1889 –
March 3, 1891
Thomas H. Carter
(Helena)		 Republican Elected in 1889.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893		 52nd
William W. Dixon
(Butte)		 Democratic Elected in 1890.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897		 53rd
54th
55th
Charles S. Hartman
(Bozeman)		 Republican Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired.
March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899		 Silver
Republican
March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901		 56th
Albert J. Campbell
(Butte)		 Democratic Elected in 1898.
Retired.
March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903		 57th
Caldwell Edwards
(Bozeman)		 Populist Elected in 1900.
Retired.
March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1907		 58th
59th
Joseph M. Dixon
(Missoula)		 Republican Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1913		 60th
61st
62nd
Charles N. Pray
(Fort Benton)		 Republican Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1917		 63rd
64th
John M. Evans
(Missoula)		 Democratic Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
Tom Stout
(Lewistown)		 Democratic Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Retired.
March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919		 65th
Jeannette Rankin[4](Missoula)		 Republican Elected in 1916.
Redistricted to the 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.

1993–2023: one seat

Member Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history
District re-established January 3, 1993

Pat Williams
(Helena)		 Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997		 103rd
104th
 Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.

Rick Hill
(Helena)		 Republican January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2001		 105th
106th		 Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired.

Denny Rehberg
(Billings)		 Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2013		 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.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Steve Daines
(Helena)		 Republican January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2015		 113th Elected in 2012.
Retired to run for the U.S. senator.

Ryan Zinke
(Whitefish)		 Republican January 3, 2015 –
March 1, 2017		 114th
115th		 Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
Vacant March 1, 2017 –
June 21, 2017		 115th

Greg Gianforte
(Bozeman)		 Republican June 21, 2017 –
January 3, 2021		 115th
116th		 Elected to finish Zinke's term.
Re-elected in 2018.
Retired to run for Governor of Montana.

Matt Rosendale
(Glendive)		 Republican January 3, 2021 –
January 3, 2023		 117th Elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
District eliminated January 3, 2023

Recent election results

The following are official results from the general elections.[5]

1998 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Hill (incumbent) 175,748 53.01
Democratic Dusty Deschamps 147,073 44.36
Libertarian Mike Fellows 5,652 1.70
Reform Webb Sullivan 3,078 0.93
Majority 28,675 8.65
Turnout 338,733 52.99
Republican hold
2000 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg 211,418 51.50 −1.51%
Democratic Nancy Keenan 189,971 46.28 +1.92%
Libertarian James Tikalsky 9,132 2.22 +0.52%
Majority 21,447 5.22 −3.43%
Turnout 417,916 59.85 +6.86%
Republican hold Swing
2002 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg (incumbent) 214,100 64.62 +13.12%
Democratic Steve Kelly 108,233 32.67 −13.61%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 8,988 2.71 +0.49%
Majority 105,867 31.95 +26.73%
Turnout 340,272 54.48 −5.37%
Republican hold Swing
2004 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg (incumbent) 286,076 64.40 −0.22%
Democratic Tracy Velazquez 145,606 32.78 +0.11%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 12,548 2.82 +0.11%
Majority 140,470 31.62 −0.33%
Turnout 456,096 71.44 +16.96%
Republican hold Swing
2006 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg (incumbent) 239,124 58.88 −5.52%
Democratic Monica Lindeen 158,916 39.13 +6.35%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 8,085 1.99 −0.83%
Majority 80,208 19.75 −11.87%
Turnout 411,061 63.30 −8.14%
Republican hold Swing
2008 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg (incumbent) 308,470 64.14 +5.26%
Democratic John Driscoll 155,930 32.42 −6.71%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 16,500 3.43 +1.44%
Majority 152,540 31.72 +11.97%
Turnout 497,599 74.48 +11.18%
Republican hold Swing
2010 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Denny Rehberg (incumbent) 217,696 60.41 −3.73%
Democratic Dennis McDonald 121,954 33.84 +1.42%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 20,691 5.74 +2.31%
Majority 95,742 26.57 −5.15%
Turnout 367,096 56.36 −18.12%
Republican hold Swing
2012 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Steve Daines 255,468 53.25 −7.16%
Democratic Kim Gillan 204,939 42.72 +8.88%
Libertarian David Kaiser 19,333 4.03 −1.71%
Majority 50,529 10.53 −16.04%
Turnout 491,966 72.18 +15.82%
Republican hold Swing
2014 United States House of Representatives election in Montana[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ryan Zinke 201,436 55.47 +2.22%
Democratic John Lewis 146,474 40.34 −2.38%
Libertarian Mike Fellows 15,105 4.16 +0.13%
Majority 54,962 15.13 +4.6%
Turnout 369,047 54.73 −17.45%
Republican hold Swing
2016 United States House of Representatives election in Montana[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ryan Zinke (incumbent) 285,358 56.19 +0.78%
Democratic Denise Juneau 205,919 40.55 +0.14%
Libertarian Rick Breckenridge 16,554 3.26 -0.92%
Majority 79,439 15.64 −0.09%
Turnout 507,831 74.44 +19.71%
Republican hold Swing
2017 Montana's at-large congressional district special election: Montana's at-large District[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Greg Gianforte 189,473 50.19 −6.00%
Democratic Rob Quist 166,483 44.11 +3.46%
Libertarian Mark L Wicks 21,509 5.70 +2.44%
Majority 22,990 6.10 −7.54%
Turnout 377,465 54.22 −20.22%
Republican hold Swing
2018 United States House of Representatives election in Montana[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Greg Gianforte (incumbent) 256,661 50.88 +0.93%
Democratic Kathleen Williams 233,284 46.25 +1.88%
Libertarian Elinor Swanson 14,476 2.87 -2.81%
Majority 23,377 4.63 -1.47%
Turnout 504,421 71.43 +17.21%
Republican hold Swing
2020 United States House of Representatives election in Montana
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Matt Rosendale 339,169 56.39% +5.51%
Democratic Kathleen Williams 262,340 43.61% -2.64%
Majority 76,829 12.78% +8.15%
Turnout 601,509 79.93% +8.50%
Republican hold Swing

Notes

  1. ↑ "Congressional Apportionment: 2010 Census Briefs" (PDF). census.gov. United States Census Bureau. November 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Election Results: Gianforte Wins U.S. House Seat in Montana". New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Montana". Official Congressional Directory: 65th Congress. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1917. hdl:2027/mdp.39015022758265.
  5. ↑ "Archived Official Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Official General Election Results". Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "2016 General Election". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  8. ↑ "2017 Special Election (unofficial results)". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Official General Election Results" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. State of Montana. Retrieved April 6, 2019.

References

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