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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.
Contents
- United States Senate
- Delegates from Montana Territory
- Members of the United States House of Representatives
- Living former Members of the US House of Representatives from Montana
- Living former US Senators from Montana
- References
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
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.
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, and Daines was elected in 2014 with 57.9% of the vote.
Delegates from Montana Territory
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. Delegates only served in the House of Representatives as there was no representation in the Senate until Montana became a state.
Members of the United States House of Representatives
Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years by popular vote within a congressional district. 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; Montana had had two districts from 1913 to 1993.
There have been 33 people, including just one woman, who have served as representatives from Montana: 15 Democrats, 17 Republicans and 1 Populist. Montana's current House seat is vacant.
Living former Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana
As of April 2015, 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.
Living former U.S. Senators from Montana
As of February 2017, 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.