Montana State Legislature

Leadership

Names of legislative leaders are followed by their party affiliation and town or county of residence. Note that, before 1974, the lieutenant governor also served as Senate president.

D = Democrat
R = Republican

Sources:
Atlas of Montana Elections 1889-1976, compiled by Ellis Waldron and Paul B. Wilson, 1978.
House and Senate Floor Journals, 1889-2007.
Montana Directory of Public Affairs, compiled by Ralph E. Owings, 1956.
Vertical files, Montana Historical Society.

Senate

Session	Senate President	President Pro Tem	Majority Leader	Minority Leader
2023	Jason Ellsworth R-Hamilton	Kenneth Bogner R-Miles City	Steve Fitzpatrick R-Great Falls	Pat Flowers D-Belgrade
2021	Mark Blasdel R-Kalispell	Jason Ellsworth R-Hamilton	Cary Smith R-Billings	Jill Cohenour D-East Helena
2019	Scott Sales R-Bozeman	Mark Blasdel R-Kalispell	Fred Thomas R-Stevensville	Jon Sesso D-Butte
2017	Scott Sales R-Bozeman	Bob Keenan R-Bigfork	Fred Thomas R-Stevensville	Jon Sesso D-Butte
2015	Debby Barrett R-Dillon	Frederick (Eric) Moore R-Miles City	Matthew Rosendale R-Glendive	Jon Sesso D-Butte
2013	Jeff Essmann R-Billings	Debby Barrett R-Dillon	Art Wittich R-Bozeman	Jon Sesso D-Butte
2011	Jim Peterson R-Buffalo	Bruce Tutvedt R-Kalispell	Jeff Essmann R-Billings	Carol Williams D-Missoula
2009	Robert Story R-Park City	Dan McGee R-Laurel	Jim Peterson R-Buffalo	Carol Williams D-Missoula
2007	Mike Cooney D-Helena	Dan Harrington D-Butte	Carol Williams D-Missoula	Corey Stapleton R-Billings
2005	Jon Tester D-Big Sandy	Dan Harrington D-Butte	Jon Ellingson D-Missoula	Bob Keenan R-Bigfork
2003	Bob Keenan R-Bigfork	Walter McNutt R-Sidney	Fred Thomas R-Stevensville	Jon Tester D-Big Sandy
2001	Tom Beck R-Deer Lodge	Walter McNutt R-Sidney	Fred Thomas R-Stevensville	Steve Doherty D-Great Falls
1999	Bruce Crippen R-Billings	Tom Beck R-Deer Lodge	John Harp R-Kalispell	Steve Doherty D-Great Falls
1997	Gary Aklestad R-Galata	Bruce Crippen R-Billings	John Harp R-Kalispell	Mike Halligan D-Missoula
1995	Bob Brown R-Whitefish	Gary Aklestad R-Galata	John Harp R-Kalispell	Mike Halligan D-Missoula
1993	Fred Van Valkenburg D-Missoula	J.D. Lynch D-Butte	Greg Jergeson D-Chinook	Bruce Crippen R-Billings
1991	Joe Mazurek D-Helena	J.D. Lynch D-Butte	Fred Van Valkenburg D-Missoula	Bruce Crippen R-Billings
1989	Jack Galt R-Martinsdale	Matt Himsl R-Kalispell	Delwyn Gage R-Cut Bank	Bill Norman D-Missoula
1987	Bill Norman D-Missoula	George McCallum R-Niarada	Fred Van Valkenburg D-Missoula	Gary Aklestad R-Galata
1985	Bill Norman D-Missoula	Chet Blaylock D-Laurel	Fred Van Valkenburg D-Missoula	Stan Stephens R-Havre
1983	Stan Stephens R-Havre	Allen Kolstad R-Chester	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon	Chet Blaylock D-Laurel
1981	Jean Turnage R-Polson	Allen Kolstad R-Chester	Stan Stephens R-Havre	Chet Blaylock D-Laurel
1979	William Mathers R-Miles City	Allen Kolstad R-Chester	Stan Stephens R-Havre	Chet Blaylock D-Laurel
1977	W. Gordon McOmber D-Fairfield	Cornie Thiessen D-Lambert	Terry Murphy D-Cardwell	Jean Turnage R-Polson
1975	W. Gordon McOmber D-Fairfield	Carroll Graham D-Lodge Grass	Neil Lynch D-Butte	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon
1974	W. Gordon McOmber D-Fairfield	P.J. Keenan D-Anaconda	Neil Lynch D-Butte	Jim Moore R-Two Dot
1973	Bill Christiansen* D-Hardin	Cornie Thiessen D-Lambert	Neil Lynch D-Butte	Jim Moore R-Two Dot
1971	Tom Judge D-Helena	William Hafferman D-Libby	Dick Dzivi D-Great Falls	William Mathers R-Miles City
1969	Tom Judge D-Helena	Gordon McGowan D-Highwood	Eugene Mahoney D-Thompson Falls	James Haughey R-Billings
1967	Ted James R-Great Falls	Edward Dussault D-Missoula	Eugene Mahoney D-Thompson Falls	Jean Turnage R-Polson
1965	Ted James R-Great Falls	Eugene Mahoney D-Thompson Falls	Edward Dussault D-Missoula	Sumner Gerard R-Ennis
1963	None**	David James D-Joplin	William Groff D-Victor	J.S. Brenner R-Grant
1961	Tim Babcock R-Billings	Richard Nixon D-Hogeland	Richard Nixon D-Hogeland
1959	Paul Cannon D-Butte	David James D-Joplin	David James D-Joplin	Rex Hibbs R-Billings
1957	Paul Cannon D-Butte	David James D-Joplin	David James D-Joplin	Donovan Worden R-Missoula
1955	George Gosman R-Beaverhead Co	Glenn Larson R-Thompson Falls	Glenn Larson R-Thompson Falls
1953	George Gosman R-Beaverhead Co	Donovan Worden R-Missoula	Donovan Worden R-Missoula
1951	Paul Cannon D-Butte	Charles Mahoney R-Jordan	Charles Mahoney R-Jordan
1949	Paul Cannon D-Butte	G.M. Moss R-Whitefish	G.M. Moss R-Whitefish
1947	Ernest Eaton R-Polytechnic	Tom Burke R-Billings	Tom Burke R-Billings
1945	Ernest Eaton R-Polytechnic	H.A. Simmons R-Red Lodge	H.A. Simmons R-Red Lodge
1943	Ernest Eaton R-Polytechnic	W.E. Keeley R-Deer Lodge	W.E. Keeley R-Deer Lodge
1941	Ernest Eaton R-Polytechnic	W.E. Keeley R-Deer Lodge
1939	Hugh Adair D-Lewis & Clark Co	Leonard Plank D-Chester
1937	Hugh Adair D-Lewis & Clark Co	Leonard Plank D-Chester	Harry Meyer D-Butte
1935	Ernest Eaton*** R-Polytechnic	W. Elmer Holt D-Miles City
1933	Frank Cooney D-Missoula	Tom Kane R-Corvallis
1931	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon	Tom Kane R-Corvallis
1929	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon	Tom Kane R-Corvallis
1927	W.S. McCormack R-Flathead Co	James Griffin R-Chinook
1925	W.S. McCormack R-Flathead Co	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon
1923	Nelson Story, Jr. R-Gallatin Co	W.E. Harmon R-Bozeman
1921	Nelson Story, Jr. R-Gallatin Co	R.P. Heren R-Miles City
1919	W.W. McDowell D-Silver Bow Co	John Edwards R-Forsyth
1917	W.W. McDowell D-Silver Bow Co	John Edwards R-Forsyth
1915	W.W. McDowell D-Silver Bow Co	John Edwards R-Forsyth
1913	W.W. McDowell D-Silver Bow Co	Charles Muffly D-Winston
1911	William Allen R-Deer Lodge	Edward Donlan R-Missoula
1909	William Allen R-Deer Lodge	T.M. Everett R-Harlem
1907	Edwin Norris D-Beaverhead Co	Benjamin White R-Dillon
1905	Edwin Norris D-Beaverhead Co	Benjamin White R-Dillon
1903	Frank Higgins D-Missoula	Wesley Biggs D-Helena
1901	Frank Higgins D-Missoula	G.H. Stanton D-Great Falls
1899	Archibald Spriggs Populist-Meagher Co	Thomas Cullen D-Glendive
1897	Archibald Spriggs Populist-Meagher Co
1895	Alexander Botkin R-Lewis & Clark Co
1893	Alexander Botkin R-Lewis & Clark Co	Elmer Matts D-Missoula
1891	John Rickards R-Silver Bow Co	William Thornton D-Anaconda
1889	John Rickards R-Silver Bow Co

* Before 1974, the lieutenant governor served as presiding officer of the Senate.

** In 1963, there was no president of the Senate because there was no lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Tim Babcock had become acting governor upon the death of Gov. Donald Nutter on Jan. 25, 1962.

*** Gov. John Erickson was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1933 upon the death of Thomas Walsh. Lt. Gov. Frank Cooney became acting governor. State Sen. Ernest Eaton was elected president pro tem but served as Senate president.

House

Session	House Speaker	Speaker Pro Tem	Majority Leader	Minority Leader
2023	Matt Regier R-Kalispell	Rhonda Knudsen R-Culbertson	Sue Vinton R-Billings	Kim Abbott D-Helena
2021	Wylie Galt R-Martinsdale	Casey Knudsen R-Malta	Sue Vinton R-Billings	Kim Abbott D-Helena
2019	Greg Hertz R-Polson	Wylie Galt R-Martinsdale	Brad Tschida R-Missoula	Casey Schreiner D-Great Falls
2017	Austin Knudsen R-Culbertson	Greg Hertz R-Polson	Ron Ehli R-Hamilton	Jenny Eck D-Helena
2015	Austin Knudsen R-Culbertson	Lee Randall R-Broadus	Keith Regier R-Kalispell	Chuck Hunter D-Helena
2013	Mark Blasdel R-Kalispell	Austin Knudsen R-Culbertson	Gordon Vance R-Belgrade	Chuck Hunter D-Helena
2011	Mike Milburn R-Cascade	Janna Taylor R-Dayton	Tom McGillvray R-Billings	Jon Sesso D-Butte
2009	Bob Bergren D-Havre	Franke Wilmer D-Bozeman	Margarett Campbell D-Poplar	Scott Sales R-Bozeman
2007	Scott Sales R-Bozeman	Debby Barrett R-Dillon	Michael Lange R-Billings	John Parker D-Great Falls
2005	Gary Matthews D-Miles City	None	House Leaders: Dave Wanzenried D-Missoula Roy Brown R-Billings	Floor Leaders: Michael Lange R-Billings John Parker D-Great Falls
2003	Doug Mood R-Seeley Lake	Jeff Laszloffy R-Laurel	Roy Brown R-Billings	Dave Wanzenried D-Missoula
2001	Dan McGee R-Laurel	Doug Mood R-Seeley Lake	Paul Sliter R-Somers	Kim Gillan D-Billings
1999	John Mercer R-Polson	Doug Mood R-Seeley Lake	Larry Grinde R-Lewistown	Emily Swanson D-Bozeman
1997	John Mercer R-Polson	Marian Hanson R-Ashland	Larry Grinde R-Lewistown	Vicki Cocchiarella D-Missoula
1995	John Mercer R-Polson	Marian Hanson R-Ashland	Larry Grinde R-Lewistown	Ray Peck D-Havre
1993	John Mercer R-Polson	Marian Hanson R-Ashland	Larry Grinde R-Lewistown	Ted Schye D-Glasgow
1991	Hal Harper D-Helena	Dave Brown D-Butte	Jerry Driscoll D-Billings	John Mercer R-Polson
1989	John Vincent D-Bozeman	Kelly Addy D-Billings	Hal Harper D-Helena	Jack Ramirez R-Billings
1987	Bob Marks R-Clancy	Dennis Iverson R-Whitlash	Thomas Hannah R-Billings	John Vincent D-Bozeman
1985	John Vincent D-Bozeman	House Republican Leader: Bob Marks Clancy	Hal Harper D-Helena	Jack Ramirez R-Billings
1983	Dan Kemmis D-Missoula	Joe Brand D-Deer Lodge	John Vincent D-Bozeman	Bob Marks R-Clancy
1981	Bob Marks R-Clancy	Art Lund R-Scobey	Harrison Fagg R-Billings	Dan Kemmis D-Missoula
1979	Harold Gerke D-Billings	Joe Brand D-Deer Lodge	Ann Mary Dussault D-Missoula	Jack Ramirez R-Billings
1977	John Driscoll D-Hamilton	Joe Brand D-Deer Lodge	Peter "Mike" Meloy D-Helena	Bob Marks R-Clancy
1975	Pat McKittrick D-Great Falls	Francis Bardanouve D-Harlem	John Driscoll D-Hamilton	Lloyd Lockrem, Jr. R-Billings
1974	Harold Gerke D-Billings	None	Larry Fasbender D-Fort Shaw	Oscar Kvaalen R-Lambert
1973	Harold Gerke D-Billings	Walter Laas D-Chester	Larry Fasbender D-Fort Shaw	Oscar Kvaalen R-Lambert
1971	James Lucas R-Miles City	John Pierce R-Billings	James Harrison, Jr. R-Helena	Bill Christiansen D-Hardin
1969	James Lucas R-Miles City	Tom Haines R-Missoula	William Mather R-Billings	John Hall D-Great Falls
1967	James Felt R-Billings	John Leuthold R-Molt	James Lucas R-Miles City	Gordon Twedt D-Rudyard
1965	Ray Wayrynen D-Butte	Gordon Twedt D-Rudyard	Charles Cerovski D-Lewistown	James Lucas R-Miles City
1963	Frank Hazelbaker R-Dillon	Fred Broeder, Jr. R-Kalispell	Alex Blewett, Jr. R-Great Falls
1961	Clyde Hawks R-St. Xavier	Tom Haines R-Missoula	Jerome Anderson R-Billings
1959	John MacDonald D-Jordan	John Emmons D-Anaconda	Charles Cerovski D-Lewistown	Sumner Gerard R-Ennis
1957	Eugene Mahoney D-Thompson Falls	John MacDonald D-Jordan	Fred Barrett D-Chester	R.F. Juedeman R-Shelby
1955	Leo Graybill D-Great Falls	John Emmons D-Anaconda	Eugene Mahoney D-Thompson Falls
1953	Dean Chaffin R-Bozeman	R.H. Gebhardt R-Billings	R.H. Wiedman R-Polson
1951	Ory Armstrong R-Kalispell	Leonard Esp R-Big Timber	Joseph McElwain R-Deer Lodge
1949	Leo Graybill D-Great Falls	N.A. Peterson D-Valier	Henry Loble D-Helena
1947	Charles Scofield R-Biddle	Dean Chaffin R-Bozeman	Ory Armstrong R-Kalispell
1945	George O'Connor R-Fromberg	Frank Hazelbaker R-Missoula	Ralph Bricker R-Great Falls	David James D-Joplin
1943	George O'Connor R-Fromberg	Neil Parker R-Bigfork	R.C. Dillavou R-Billings	Paul Cannon D-Butte
1941	E.J. Stromnes D-Great Falls	Paul Cannon D-Butte	E.J. Byrne D-Galata	E.G. Toomey R-Helena
1939	D.M. Manning D-Hysham	Jasper DeDobbeleer D-Glasgow	Archie McLeod D-Great Falls	Ben Miles R-McLeod
1937	H.D. Rolph D-Joplin	George Monahan D-Livingston	Sam Spiegel D-Butte
1935	W.P. Pilgeram D-Armington	H.D. Rolph D-Joplin	E.J. Byrne D-Galata
1933	Dennis Dellwo D-Charlo	Herbert Haight D-Suffolk	Albert Besancon D-Missoula
1931	W.R. Flachsenhar R-Terry	Steve Arnold R-Broadview	W.B. Leavitt R-Miles City
1929	Ralph Bricker R-Windham	Elmer Johnson R-Glasgow	W.R. Flachsenhar R-Terry
1927	Glenn Davis R-Carlyle	G.M. Moss R-Whitefish	Ralph Bricker R-Windham
1925	Ralph Bricker R-Windham	C.F. Holt R-Great Falls	William Ruffcorn R-Glasgow
1923	Calvin Crumbaker R-Fort Benton	A.O. Gullidge R-Terry	Charles Swift R-Hysham
1921	Fred Gibson R-Livingston	Percy Dodds R-Whitefish	Edward Johnson R-Anaconda
1919	O.W. Belden R-Lewistown	Ronald Higgins R-Missoula
1917	Jas. F. O'Connor D-Livingston	Thomas Kehoe D-Billings
1915	George Ramsey D-Helena	J.E. McNally D-Butte
1913	Alexander MacDonald D-Kalispell	Joseph Kirschwing D-Great Falls
1911	W.W. McDowell D-Butte	R. Lee Word D-Helena
1909	W.W. McDowell D-Butte	Edward Burke D-Anaconda
1907	E.W. King R-Bozeman	W.R. Allen R-Anaconda
1905	Wyllis Hedges R-Fergus Co	Marcus Hewett R-Basin
1903	Benjamin White R-Dillon	Aaron Conner R-Darby
1901	Frank Corbett D-Butte	John Baker D-Helena
1899	Henry Stiff D-Missoula	Edwin Lamb D-Silver Bow Co
1897	Jacob Kennedy D-Deer Lodge Co
1895	Wilbra Swett R-Silver Bow Co
1893	Thomas Matthews Populist-Silver Bow Co	A.F. Bray Populist-Butte City
1891	Harry Comly D-Lewis & Clark Co	R.G. Humber D-Deer Lodge Co
1889	Charles Blakely**** D-Gallatin Co Aaron Witter R-Beaverhead Co

**** In 1889, voting irregularities led to a dispute over the outcome of legislative elections in Silver Bow County. The dispute was never resolved because the law didn't clearly explain how to certify the election of legislators. So each party sent its own five legislators from Silver Bow County to Helena, and Montana actually had a Democrat House and a Republican House, which met separately.