United States congressional delegations from Montana

Current delegation

Montana's current delegation

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.

United States Senate[edit]

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.^[1]^[2]

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 Democratic Jon Tester, in office since 2007, and Steve Daines, in office since 2015. Tester was re-elected in 2012 with 48.58% of the vote,^[3] and Daines was elected in 2014 with 57.9% of the vote.^[4]

Wilbur F. Sanders, Montana's first senator

Conrad Burns, senator from Montana for 18 years

Max Baucus, Montana's longest-serving senator, in office from 1978 to 2014

Steve Daines, Montana's latest senator

Class I Senators	Congress	Class II Senators
Wilbur F. Sanders (R)	51st (1889–1891)	Thomas Charles Power (R)
Wilbur F. Sanders (R)	52nd (1891–1893)
Vacant ^{[fn 1]}	53rd (1893–1895)
Lee Mantle^{[fn 2]}(R)	53rd (1893–1895)
	54th (1895–1897)	Thomas H. Carter (R)
	55th (1897–1899)
William A. Clark^{[fn 3]}	56th (1899–1901)
Paris Gibson^{[fn 4]} (D)	57th (1901–1903)	William A. Clark (D)
Paris Gibson^{[fn 4]} (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^{[fn 5]} (D)
	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^{[fn 6]} (D)
	73rd (1933–1935)	James E. Murray (D)
	74th (1935–1937)
	75th (1937–1939)
	76th (1939–1941)
	77th (1941–1943)
	78th (1943–1945)
	79th (1945–1947)
Zales N. Ecton (R)	80th (1947–1949)
	81st (1949–1951)
	82nd (1951–1953)
Michael J. Mansfield (D)	83rd (1953–1955)
	84th (1955–1957)
	85th (1957–1959)
	86th (1959–1961)
	87th (1961–1963)	Lee Metcalf^{[fn 5]} (D)
	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^{[fn 6]} (D)
		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)	Steve Daines (R)

House of Representatives[edit]

Delegates from Montana Territory[edit]

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.^[5] Delegates only served in the House of Representatives as there was no representation in the Senate until Montana became a state.

Samuel McLean, Montana's first territorial delegate

Congress	Delegate
38th (1863–1865)	Samuel McLean (D)
39th (1865–1867)	Samuel McLean (D)
40th (1867–1869)	James M. Cavanaugh (D)
41st (1869–1871)	James M. Cavanaugh (D)
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)	Joseph Toole (D)
51st (1889–1891)	Thomas H. Carter (R)

Members of the United States House of Representatives[edit]

Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years by popular vote within a congressional district.^[6] Montana currently has an at-large congressional district that represent the entire state. Every ten years, the number of congressional districts is reapportioned based on the state's population as determined by the United States Census;^[7] Montana had had two districts from 1913 to 1993.

There have been 34 people, including just one woman, who have served as representatives from Montana: 15 Democrats, 18 Republicans and 1 Populist. Greg Gianforte is the current officeholder.

Thomas H. Carter, Montana's first representative from the State of Montana

John M. Evans, Montana representative

Scott Leavitt, Montana representative

Ron Marlenee, Montana representative

Denny Rehberg, Montana representative

Congress	At-large seats
Congress	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)	Joseph M. Dixon (R)
60th (1907–1909)	Charles N. Pray (R)
61st (1909–1911)
62nd (1911–1913)
63rd (1913–1915)	John M. Evans (D)	Tom Stout (D)
64th (1915–1917)		Tom Stout (D)
65th (1917–1919)		Jeannette Rankin (R)
	District
	1st	2nd
66th (1919–1921)	John M. Evans (D)	Carl W. Riddick (R)
67th (1921–1923)	Washington J. McCormick (R)	Carl W. Riddick (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)	Joseph P. Monaghan (D)	Roy E. Ayers (D)
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)
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)		LeRoy H. Anderson (D)
87th (1961–1963)	Arnold Olsen (D)	James Franklin Battin (R)
88th (1963–1965)
89th (1965–1967)
90th (1967–1969)
91st (1969–1971)
91st (1969–1971)		John Melcher (D)
92nd (1971–1973)	Richard G. Shoup (R)
93rd (1973–1975)	Richard G. Shoup (R)
94th (1975–1977)	Max Baucus (D)
95th (1977–1979)	Max Baucus (D)	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)
	At-large seat
103rd (1993–1995)	Pat Williams (D)
104th (1995–1997)	Pat Williams (D)
105th (1997–1999)	Rick Hill (R)
106th (1999–2001)	Rick Hill (R)
107th (2001–2003)	Dennis 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)	Ryan Zinke (R)
115th (2017–2019)	Greg Gianforte (R)

Footnotes[edit]

^ Seat was vacant due to failure of legislature to elect a senator by the beginning of the congress.
^ Lee Mantle was appointed to fill the vacancy, but was not seated; he was later elected to the term.
^ The Senate refused to seat Clark after it was revealed that he had gained the seat through bribery
^ Elected to fill the vacancy caused by the previous representative being elected to the next term, but vacating the seat before the term began.
^ ^a ^b Died in office.
^ ^a ^b ^c Was appointed to the office, and was later replaced by an elected successor.
^ Resigned

Living former Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana[edit]

As of March 2017^[update], there are eight former members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the U.S. State of Montana who are currently living at this time.

Representative	Term of office	District	Date of birth (and age)
John Melcher	1969–1977	2nd	(1924-09-06) September 6, 1924 (age 92)
Max Baucus	1975–1978	1st	(1941-12-11) December 11, 1941 (age 75)
Ron Marlenee	1977–1993	2nd	(1935-08-08) August 8, 1935 (age 81)
Pat Williams	1979–1997	1st (1979–1993) At-large (1993–1997)	(1937-10-30) October 30, 1937 (age 79)
Rick Hill	1997–2001	At-large	(1946-12-30) December 30, 1946 (age 70)
Denny Rehberg	2001–2013	At-large	(1955-10-05) October 5, 1955 (age 61)
Steve Daines	2013–2015	At-large	(1962-08-20) August 20, 1962 (age 54)
Ryan Zinke	2015–2017	At-large	(1961-11-01) November 1, 1961 (age 55)

Living former U.S. Senators from Montana[edit]

As of February 2017^[update], there are three former U.S. Senators from the U.S. State of Montana who are currently living at this time, one from Class 1 and two from Class 2.

Senator	Term of office	Class	Date of birth (and age)
John Melcher	1977–1989	1	(1924-09-06) September 6, 1924 (age 92)
Max Baucus	1978–2014	2	(1941-12-11) December 11, 1941 (age 75)
John Walsh	2014–2015	2	(1960-11-03) November 3, 1960 (age 56)

References[edit]

^ U.S. Const. Art. I, § 3
^ U.S. Const. Amendment XVII
^ "2012 Statewide General Election Canvass, United States Senator" (PDF). State of Montana.
^ "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass, United States Senator" (PDF). State of Montana.
^ "Delegates to the U.S. Congress: History and Current Status" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
^ U.S. Const. Art. I, § 2
^ "Decennial Census". American FactFinder. Retrieved May 13, 2010.

Key to party colors and abbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress

American (Know Nothing) (K-N)
Adams (A), Anti-Jacksonian (Anti-J), National Republican (NR)
Anti-Administration (Anti-Admin)
Anti-Masonic (Anti-M)
Conservative (Con)
Democratic (D)

Dixiecrat (Dix), States' rights (SR)
Democratic-Republican (D-R)
Farmer–Labor (FL)
Federalist (F)
Free Soil (FS)
Free Silver (FSv)
Fusion (FU)

Greenback (GB)
Jacksonian (J)
Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Nullifier (N)
Opposition (O)
Populist (Pop)
Pro-Administration (Pro-Admin)

Progressive (Prog)
Prohibition (Proh)
Readjuster (Rea)
Republican (R)
Socialist (Soc)
Unionist (U)
Whig (W)

Independent, None, or Unaffiliated

[5] Seat was vacant due to failure of legislature to elect a senator by the beginning of the congress.

[6] Lee Mantle was appointed to fill the vacancy, but was not seated; he was later elected to the term.

[7] The Senate refused to seat Clark after it was revealed that he had gained the seat through bribery

[vac-8] Elected to fill the vacancy caused by the previous representative being elected to the next term, but vacating the seat before the term began.

[died-9] Died in office.

[app-10] Was appointed to the office, and was later replaced by an elected successor.

[res-11] Resigned

[senate-1] U.S. Const. Art. I, § 3

[17th-2] U.S. Const. Amendment XVII

[3] "2012 Statewide General Election Canvass, United States Senator" (PDF). State of Montana.

[4] "2014 Statewide General Election Canvass, United States Senator" (PDF). State of Montana.

[12] "Delegates to the U.S. Congress: History and Current Status" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved January 17, 2011.

[house-13] U.S. Const. Art. I, § 2

[14] "Decennial Census". American FactFinder. Retrieved May 13, 2010.

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[4]

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v t e Montana's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	Jon Tester (D) Steve Daines (R)
Representative	Greg Gianforte (R)
Other states' delegations	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Non‑voting: American Samoa District of Columbia Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

v t e Lists of United States congressional delegations
States	Alabama (H S) Alaska (H S) Arizona (H S) Arkansas (H S) California (H S) Colorado (H S) Connecticut (H S) Delaware (H S) Florida (H S) Georgia (H S) Hawaii (H S) Idaho (H S) Illinois (H S) Indiana (H S) Iowa (H S) Kansas (H S) Kentucky (H S) Louisiana (H S) Maine (H S) Maryland (H S) Massachusetts (H S) Michigan (H S) Minnesota (H S) Mississippi (H S) Missouri (H S) Montana (H S) Nebraska (H S) Nevada (H S) New Hampshire (H S) New Jersey (H S) New Mexico (H S) New York (H S) North Carolina (H S) North Dakota (H S) Ohio (H S) Oklahoma (H S) Oregon (H S) Pennsylvania (H S) Rhode Island (H S) South Carolina (H S) South Dakota (H S) Tennessee (H S) Texas (H S) Utah (H S) Vermont (H S) Virginia (H S) Washington (H S) West Virginia (H S) Wisconsin (H S) Wyoming (H S)
Other	American Samoa District of Columbia Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Obsolete	Dakota Territory Northwest Territory Orleans Territory Philippines Southwest Territory
Lists of former House members List of former Senators

v t e State of Montana
Helena (capital)
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Counties	Beaverhead Big Horn Blaine Broadwater Carbon Carter Cascade Chouteau Custer Daniels Dawson Deer Lodge Fallon Fergus Flathead Gallatin Garfield Glacier Golden Valley Granite Hill Jefferson Judith Basin Lake Lewis and Clark Liberty Lincoln Madison McCone Meagher Mineral Missoula Musselshell Park Petroleum Phillips Pondera Powder River Powell Prairie Ravalli Richland Roosevelt Rosebud Sanders Sheridan Silver Bow Stillwater Sweet Grass Teton Toole Treasure Valley Wheatland Wibaux Yellowstone