# Montana's at-large congressional district

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, 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, 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.

## 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
### 1889–1919: one, then two seats

| Years | Cong ress | Seat A | Seat A | Seat A | Seat B | Seat B | Seat B |
| Years | Cong ress | Member | Party | Electoral history | Member | Party | Electoral history |
| March 4, 1889 – November 8, 1889 | 51st | Seat created upon statehood | Seat created upon statehood | Seat created upon statehood | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| November 8, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Thomas H. Carter (Helena) | Republican | Elected in 1889. Lost re-election. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | William W. Dixon (Butte) | Democratic | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| 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. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 53rd 54th 55th | Charles S. Hartman (Bozeman) | Silver Republican | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | Albert J. Campbell (Butte) | Democratic | Elected in 1898. Retired. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | Caldwell Edwards (Bozeman) | Populist | Elected in 1900. Retired. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| 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. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| 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. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. | A second seat was added in 1913. |
| 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 | John M. Evans (Missoula) | Democratic | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Redistricted to the 1st district. | Jeannette Rankin(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 (Bozeman) | 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 | 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.
1998 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 28,675 | 8.65 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 338,733 | 52.99 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2000 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 21,447 | 5.22 | −3.43% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 417,916 | 59.85 | +6.86% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2002 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 105,867 | 31.95 | +26.73% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 340,272 | 54.48 | −5.37% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2004 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 140,470 | 31.62 | −0.33% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 456,096 | 71.44 | +16.96% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2006 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 80,208 | 19.75 | −11.87% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 411,061 | 63.30 | −8.14% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2008 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 152,540 | 31.72 | +11.97% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 497,599 | 74.48 | +11.18% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2010 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 95,742 | 26.57 | −5.15% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 367,096 | 56.36 | −18.12% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2012 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 50,529 | 10.53 | −16.04% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 491,966 | 72.18 | +15.82% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2014 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 54,962 | 15.13 | +4.6% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 369,047 | 54.73 | −17.45% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2016 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 79,439 | 15.64 | −0.09% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 507,831 | 74.44 | +19.71% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2017 Montana's at-large congressional district special election: Montana's at-large District :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 22,990 | 6.10 | −7.54% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 377,465 | 54.22 | −20.22% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2018 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 23,377 | 4.63 | −1.47% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 504,421 | 71.43 | +17.21% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2020 United States House of Representatives election in Montana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Matt Rosendale | 339,169 | 56.39% | +5.51% |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Williams | 262,340 | 43.61% | −2.64% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76,829 | 12.78% | +8.15% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 601,509 | 79.93% | +8.50% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |