Montana's at-large congressional district

{{Infobox U.S. congressional district

| state = Montana

| district number = AL

| obsolete = yes

| created = 1889
1990

| eliminated = 1918
2020

| years = 1889–1919
1993–2023

}}

File:MT-Atlarge.gif

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,{{Cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-08.pdf | title=Congressional Apportionment: 2010 Census Briefs | date=November 2011 | access-date=February 2, 2014 | work=census.gov | publisher=United States Census Bureau }} 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, {{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/politics/us-census-2020-results/index.html|title=Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats|publisher=CNN|last1=Merica|first1=Dan|last2=Stark|first2=Liz|date=April 26, 2021|accessdate=April 26, 2021}} 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 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.{{cite web |title= Election Results: Gianforte Wins U.S. House Seat in Montana |url= https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/montana-house-special-election |website= New York Times |access-date= May 26, 2017}}{{explain|date=September 2020}}

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

{{main article|List of United States representatives from Montana}}

= 1889–1919: one, then two seats =

class=wikitable style="text-align:center"

! rowspan=2 | Years

! rowspan=2 | Cong
ress

! rowspan=13 |

! colspan=3 | Seat A

! rowspan=13 |

! colspan=3 | Seat B

style="height:3em"

! Member

! Party

! Electoral history

! Member

! Party

! Electoral history

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1889 –
November 8, 1889

| rowspan=2 | {{USCongressOrdinal|51}}

| colspan=3 | Seat created upon statehood

| colspan=3 rowspan=9 valign=bottom | A second seat was added in 1913.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | November 8, 1889 –
March 3, 1891

| align=left | 100px
Thomas H. Carter
{{Small|(Helena)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| Elected in 1889.
Lost re-election.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893

| {{USCongressOrdinal|52}}

| align=left | 100px
William W. Dixon
{{Small|(Butte)}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

| Elected in 1890.
Lost re-election.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897

| rowspan=2 | {{USCongressOrdinal|53|55}}

| rowspan=2 align=left | 100px
Charles S. Hartman
{{Small|(Bozeman)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899

| {{Party shading/Silver Republican}} | Silver
Republican

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901

| {{USCongressOrdinal|56}}

| align=left | 100px
Albert J. Campbell
{{Small|(Butte)}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

| Elected in 1898.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903

| {{USCongressOrdinal|57}}

| align=left | 100px
Caldwell Edwards
{{Small|(Bozeman)}}

| {{Party shading/Populist}} | Populist

| Elected in 1900.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1907

| {{USCongressOrdinal|58|59}}

| align=left | 100px
Joseph M. Dixon
{{Small|(Missoula)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1913

| {{USCongressOrdinal|60|62}}

| align=left | 100px
Charles N. Pray
{{Small|(Fort Benton)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1917

| {{USCongressOrdinal|63|64}}

| rowspan=2 align=left | 100px
John M. Evans
{{Small|(Missoula)}}

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Redistricted to the {{Ushr|Montana|1|C}}.

| align=left | 100px
Tom Stout
{{Small|(Lewistown)}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

| Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| nowrap | March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919

| {{USCongressOrdinal|65}}

| align=left | 100px
Jeannette Rankin{{cite book |title=Official Congressional Directory: 65th Congress |year=1917 |location=Washington DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |chapter=Montana |hdl=2027/mdp.39015022758265?urlappend=%3Bseq=84 |chapter-url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015022758265?urlappend=%3Bseq=84 }}{{Small|(Missoula)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| Elected in 1916.
Redistricted to the {{Ushr|MT|1|C}} 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=

class=wikitable style="text-align:center"

! Member

! Party

! Years

! Cong
ress

! Electoral history

style="height:3em"

| colspan=5 | District re-established January 3, 1993

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Pat Williams
{{Small|(Helena)}}

| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

| nowrap | January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997

| {{USCongressOrdinal|103|104}}

| Redistricted from the {{Ushr|Montana|1|C}} and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Rick Hill
{{Small|(Helena)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2001

| {{USCongressOrdinal|105|106}}

| Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired.

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Denny Rehberg
{{Small|(Billings)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2013

| {{USCongressOrdinal|107|112}}

| 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.

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Steve Daines
{{Small|(Bozeman)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2015

| {{USCongressOrdinal|113}}

| Elected in 2012.
Retired to run for the U.S. senator.

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Ryan Zinke
{{Small|(Whitefish)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | January 3, 2015 –
March 1, 2017

| {{USCongressOrdinal|114|115}}

| Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

style="height:3em"

| align=center nowrap colspan=2 | Vacant

| nowrap | March 1, 2017 –
June 21, 2017

| {{USCongressOrdinal|115}}

style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px
Greg Gianforte
{{Small|(Bozeman)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | June 21, 2017 –
January 3, 2021

| {{USCongressOrdinal|115|116}}

| Elected to finish Zinke's term.
Re-elected in 2018.
Retired to run for Governor of Montana.

style="height:3em"

| align=left | File:Matt Rosendale 117th U.S Congress.jpg
Matt Rosendale
{{Small|(Glendive)}}

| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican

| nowrap | January 3, 2021 –
January 3, 2023

| {{USCongressOrdinal|117}}

| Elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the {{ushr|MT|2|C}}.

style="height:3em"

| colspan=5 | District eliminated January 3, 2023

Recent election results

The following are official results from the general elections.{{Cite web |title=Archived Official Election Results |url=http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/index.asp |access-date=November 7, 2014 |website=Montana Secretary of State |publisher=State of Montana}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title =1998 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Rick Hill (incumbent)

| votes = 175,748

| percentage = 53.01

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Dusty Deschamps

| votes = 147,073

| percentage = 44.36

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 5,652

| percentage = 1.70

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Reform Party of the United States of America

| candidate = Webb Sullivan

| votes = 3,078

| percentage = 0.93

}}

{{Election box majority no change

| votes = 28,675

| percentage = 8.65

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

| votes = 338,733

| percentage = 52.99

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2000 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg

| votes = 211,418

| percentage = 51.50

| change = −1.51%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Nancy Keenan

| votes = 189,971

| percentage = 46.28

| change = +1.92%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = James Tikalsky

| votes = 9,132

| percentage = 2.22

| change = +0.52%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 21,447

| percentage = 5.22

| change = −3.43%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 417,916

| percentage = 59.85

| change = +6.86%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2002 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg (incumbent)

| votes = 214,100

| percentage = 64.62

| change = +13.12%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Steve Kelly

| votes = 108,233

| percentage = 32.67

| change = −13.61%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 8,988

| percentage = 2.71

| change = +0.49%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 105,867

| percentage = 31.95

| change = +26.73%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 340,272

| percentage = 54.48

| change = −5.37%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2004 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg (incumbent)

| votes = 286,076

| percentage = 64.40

| change = −0.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Tracy Velazquez

| votes = 145,606

| percentage = 32.78

| change = +0.11%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 12,548

| percentage = 2.82

| change = +0.11%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 140,470

| percentage = 31.62

| change = −0.33%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 456,096

| percentage = 71.44

| change = +16.96%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2006 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg (incumbent)

| votes = 239,124

| percentage = 58.88

| change = −5.52%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Monica Lindeen

| votes = 158,916

| percentage = 39.13

| change = +6.35%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 8,085

| percentage = 1.99

| change = −0.83%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 80,208

| percentage = 19.75

| change = −11.87%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 411,061

| percentage = 63.30

| change = −8.14%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2008 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg (incumbent)

| votes = 308,470

| percentage = 64.14

| change = +5.26%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = John Driscoll

| votes = 155,930

| percentage = 32.42

| change = −6.71%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 16,500

| percentage = 3.43

| change = +1.44%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 152,540

| percentage = 31.72

| change = +11.97%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 497,599

| percentage = 74.48

| change = +11.18%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2010 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Denny Rehberg (incumbent)

| votes = 217,696

| percentage = 60.41

| change = −3.73%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Dennis McDonald

| votes = 121,954

| percentage = 33.84

| change = +1.42%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 20,691

| percentage = 5.74

| change = +2.31%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 95,742

| percentage = 26.57

| change = −5.15%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 367,096

| percentage = 56.36

| change = −18.12%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2012 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Steve Daines

| votes = 255,468

| percentage = 53.25

| change = −7.16%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Kim Gillan

| votes = 204,939

| percentage = 42.72

| change = +8.88%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = David Kaiser

| votes = 19,333

| percentage = 4.03

| change = −1.71%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 50,529

| percentage = 10.53

| change = −16.04%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 491,966

| percentage = 72.18

| change = +15.82%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2014 United States House of Representatives election in Montana{{Cite web |title=Official General Election Results |url=http://electionresults.sos.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=FED&map=CTY |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021114427/http://electionresults.sos.mt.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=FED&map=CTY |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=November 7, 2014 |website=Montana Secretary of State |publisher=State of Montana |df=mdy-all}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Ryan Zinke

| votes = 201,436

| percentage = 55.47

| change = +2.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = John Lewis

| votes = 146,474

| percentage = 40.34

| change = −2.38%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mike Fellows

| votes = 15,105

| percentage = 4.16

| change = +0.13%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 54,962

| percentage = 15.13

| change = +4.6%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 369,047

| percentage = 54.73

| change = −17.45%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2016 United States House of Representatives election in Montana{{Cite web |title=2016 General Election |url=http://mtelectionresults.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=FED&map=CTY |access-date=December 9, 2016 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Ryan Zinke (incumbent)

| votes = 285,358

| percentage = 56.19

| change = +0.78%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Denise Juneau

| votes = 205,919

| percentage = 40.55

| change = +0.14%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Rick Breckenridge

| votes = 16,554

| percentage = 3.26

| change = -0.92%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 79,439

| percentage = 15.64

| change = −0.09%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 507,831

| percentage = 74.44

| change = +19.71%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2017 Montana's at-large congressional district special election: Montana's at-large District{{Cite web |title=2017 Special Election (unofficial results) |url=http://mtelectionresults.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=FED&map=CTY |access-date=May 26, 2017 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Greg Gianforte

| party = Republican Party (US)

| votes = 189,473

| percentage = 50.19

| change = −6.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Rob Quist

| votes = 166,483

| percentage = 44.11

| change = +3.46%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Mark L Wicks

| votes = 21,509

| percentage = 5.70

| change = +2.44%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 22,990

| percentage = 6.10

| change = −7.54%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 377,465

| percentage = 54.22

| change = −20.22%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2018 United States House of Representatives election in Montana{{Cite web |title=Official General Election Results |url=https://sosmt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018GeneralReportStateCanvass.pdf |access-date=April 6, 2019 |website=Montana Secretary of State |publisher=State of Montana}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Greg Gianforte (incumbent)

| votes = 256,661

| percentage = 50.88

| change = +0.93%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Kathleen Williams

| votes = 233,284

| percentage = 46.25

| change = +1.88%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (US)

| candidate = Elinor Swanson

| votes = 14,476

| percentage = 2.87

| change = -2.81%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 23,377

| percentage = 4.63

| change = -1.47%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 504,421

| percentage = 71.43

| change = +17.21%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin

| title =2020 United States House of Representatives election in Montana

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Matt Rosendale

| votes = 339,169

| percentage = 56.39%

| change = +5.51%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Kathleen Williams

| votes = 262,340

| percentage = 43.61%

| change = -2.64%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 76,829

| percentage = 12.78%

| change = +8.15%

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 601,509

| percentage = 79.93%

| change = +8.50%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| swing =

}}

Notes

References

[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/page/21729/ 2004 Election results for Montana At Large Congressional district]
{{cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|year = 1989|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York}}
{{cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|year = 1982|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York}}
[http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present]

At-large

Category:At-large United States congressional districts

Category:Constituencies disestablished in 2023

Category:2023 disestablishments in Montana

Category:Former congressional districts of the United States