The 2020 Montana gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the next governor of Montana, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and various state and local elections. It resulted in voters selecting Greg Gianforte over Mike Cooney. Incumbent Democratic governor Steve Bullock was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term in office, and he ran unsuccessfully for Montana's Class II Senate seat.
Bullock's lieutenant governor, Mike Cooney, was the Democratic nominee, while the Republican nominee was Montana's at-large representative Greg Gianforte, who won the election, making him the first Republican governor of Montana since Judy Martz left office in 2005. This was the only gubernatorial seat to change partisan control in the 2020 elections. This election marked the first time since the 1920s that Republicans controlled all state constitutional offices and a majority of the legislature.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Mike Cooney, lieutenant governor of Montana and former Secretary of State of Montana and candidate in 2000 Running mate: Casey Schreiner, minority leader of the Montana House of Representatives
Eliminated in primary Whitney Williams, businesswoman and daughter of former U.S. Representative Pat Williams Running mate: Buzz Mattelin, farmer and president of the National Barley Growers Association
Withdrawn Reilly Neill, former state representative Casey Schreiner, minority leader of the Montana House of Representatives (running for lieutenant governor)
Declined Ryan Busse, businessman Wilmot Collins, mayor of Helena and former 2020 candidate for the U.S. Senate John Heenan, attorney and candidate for Montana's at-large congressional district in 2018 Michael Punke, writer and former U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization Brian Schweitzer, former governor of Montana (endorsed Williams) Kathleen Williams, former state representative and nominee for Montana's at-large congressional district in 2018 (running for the U.S. House)
Endorsements
Polling Polls with a sample size of <100 have their sample size entries marked in red to indicate a lack of reliability.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeCooney ReillyNeill CaseySchreiner WhitneyWilliams Other /UndecidedMontana State University BillingsMontana State University Billings October 7–16, 2019 40 (LV) –19% 2% 6% 11%62%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Greg Gianforte, incumbent U.S. representative for Montana's at-large congressional district and nominee for governor of Montana in 2016 Running mate: Kristen Juras, businesswoman and attorney
Eliminated in primary Tim Fox, Attorney General of Montana Running mate: Jon Knokey, former state representative Albert Olszewski, state senator and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 Running mate: Kenneth Bogner, state senator
Withdrawn Gary Perry, former state senator Corey Stapleton, Secretary of State of Montana, candidate for governor of Montana in 2012 and candidate for the U.S. House in 2014 (running for the U.S. House) Pete Ziehli
Declined Matt Rosendale, Montana State Auditor and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018 (running for the U.S. House) Ryan Zinke, former United States Secretary of Interior and former U.S. representative for Montana's at-large congressional district
Endorsements
Polling Polls with a sample size of <100 have their sample size entries marked in red to indicate a lack of reliability.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TimFox GregGianforte AlbertOlszewski Other /UndecidedMontana State University BillingsOctober 7–16, 2019 99 (LV) –25% 33%9%32%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing August 28–30, 2019 433 (RV) ± 4.7% 29% 56% 15% –Moore InformationMoore Information July 7–10, 2019 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 17% 56% 5% 23%
Results
Other candidates Libertarian Party Nominee Lyman Bishop, founder and CEO of Hoplite Armor Running mate: John Nesper
Withdrawn Ron Vandevender, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2016 and nominee for governor in 2012
Green Party Disqualified Robert Barb Running mate: Joshua Thomas
Results
General election Debate HostDate & TimeLink(s)ParticipantsMike Cooney (D)Greg Gianforte (R)Montana PBSOctober 6, 20206:00pm MDT
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 23, 2020Inside ElectionsOctober 28, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 28, 2020RCPNovember 2, 2020270towinNovember 2, 2020
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeCooney (D) GregGianforte (R) Other /UndecidedChange ResearchChange ResearchOctober 29 – November 2, 2020920 (LV)± 3.5%44% 48% 6%Montana State University BillingsMontana State University BillingsOctober 19–24, 2020546 (LV)± 4.2%45%45%11%Siena College/NYT UpshotSiena College/NYT UpshotOctober 18–20, 2020758 (LV)± 4.4%44%48%8%Strategies 360/NBCMTStrategies 360/NBCMTOctober 15–20, 2020500 (LV)± 4.4%41%48% 11%RMG Research/PoliticalIQRMG Research/PoliticalIQ October 15–18, 2020800 (LV)± 3.5%45%48%5%47%46%5%43%50%5%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 4–7, 2020500 (LV)± 3.7%41%54%5%Montana State University BozemanMontana State University Bozeman September 14 – October 2, 20201,605 (LV)± 3.9%42%47%11%Siena College/NYT UpshotSiena College/NYT UpshotSeptember 14–16, 2020625 (LV)± 4.8%39%45%16%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) August 18–23, 2020600 (LV) –46%47% –Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeJuly 31 – August 2, 2020584 (LV)± 4.0%41%50%10%Civiqs/Daily KosCiviqs/Daily Kos July 11–13, 2020 873 (RV) ± 4.2%44%47%9%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 9–10, 2020 1,224 (V) ± 2.8% 42%46% 12%University of MontanaUniversity of Montana June 17–26, 2020 517 (RV) ± 4.3% 36%46% 18%The Progress Campaign (D)The Progress Campaign (D) April 14–21, 2020 1,712 (RV) ± 4.6%41%43%16%
with Mike Cooney, Tim Fox, Greg Gianforte, Albert Olszewski, Ron Vandevender and Whitney Williams Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Democraticcandidates Republicancandidates RonVandevender (L)University of MontanaUniversity of Montana February 12–22, 2020 498 (LV) ± 4.4%35.1%61.7%1.3%
with Mike Cooney, Tim Fox, Greg Gianforte, Reilly Neill, Albert Olszewski, Gary Perry, Casey Schreiner and Whitney Williams Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Democraticcandidates RepublicancandidatesUniversity of MontanaUniversity of Montana September 26 – October 3, 2019 303 (RV) ± 5.6% 40%60.1%
with Tim Fox, Matt Rosendale, Corey Stapleton, Kathleen Williams and Whitney Williams Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Democraticcandidates Republicancandidates Other /UndecidedUniversity of MontanaUniversity of MontanaFebruary 21 – March 1, 2019293 (RV)± 5.7%32.4%48.4%19.2%
Results
By county CountyMike CooneyDemocraticGreg GianforteRepublicanVarious candidatesOther partiesMargin Total votes#%#%#%#%Beaverhead1,668 29.49%3,77966.81%209 3.70%2,111 37.32%5,656Big Horn2,51352.42%2,078 43.35%203 4.23%–435 –9.07%4,794Blaine1,61951.94%1,365 43.79%133 4.27%–254 –8.15%3,117Broadwater928 22.64%3,03273.97%139 3.39%2,104 51.33%4,099Carbon2,498 35.30%4,30360.81%275 3.89%1,805 25.51%7,076Carter91 10.62%74887.28%18 2.10%657 76.66%857Cascade15,922 39.97%22,22155.79%1,690 4.24%6,299 15.81%39,833Chouteau1,048 35.26%1,81661.10%108 3.63%768 25.84%2,972Custer1,619 27.58%3,97167.65%280 4.77%2,352 40.07%5,870Daniels217 21.51%76876.11%24 2.38%551 54.61%1,009Dawson1,124 23.29%3,52473.02%178 3.69%2,400 49.73%4,826Deer Lodge2,74756.37%1,881 38.60%245 5.03%–866 –17.77%4,873Fallon218 14.02%1,28882.83%49 3.15%1,070 68.81%1,555Fergus1,567 24.11%4,73772.89%195 3.00%3,170 48.78%6,499Flathead20,387 34.08%37,21362.20%2,225 3.72%16,826 28.13%59,825Gallatin36,78851.84%31,368 44.21%2,802 3.95%–5,420 –7.64%70,958Garfield48 5.90%75192.37%14 1.72%703 86.47%813Glacier3,73065.62%1,709 30.07%245 4.31%–2,021 –35.56%5,684Golden Valley80 15.90%40981.31%14 2.78%329 65.41%503Granite659 31.47%1,34864.37%87 4.15%689 32.90%2,094Hill3,146 43.80%3,64250.71%394 5.49%496 6.91%7,182Jefferson2,791 34.16%5,09762.38%283 3.46%2,306 28.22%8,171Judith Basin281 20.88%1,01775.56%48 3.57%736 54.68%1,346Lake6,885 41.50%8,91353.72%794 4.79%2,028 12.22%16,592Lewis and Clark21,02249.53%19,969 47.05%1,449 3.41%–1,053 –2.48%42,440Liberty268 24.75%78872.76%27 2.49%520 48.01%1,083Lincoln3,001 25.64%8,27970.72%426 3.64%5,278 45.09%11,706Madison1,877 30.83%3,99265.57%219 3.60%2,115 34.74%6,088McCone165 14.77%92182.45%31 2.78%756 67.68%1,117Meagher256 23.02%82374.01%33 2.97%567 50.99%1,112Mineral706 27.66%1,71567.20%131 5.13%1,009 39.54%2,552Missoula43,42660.66%25,448 35.55%2,711 3.79%–17,978 –25.11%71,585Musselshell450 15.68%2,31880.77%102 3.55%1,868 65.09%2,870Park5,364 46.32%5,79850.07%418 3.61%434 3.75%11,580Petroleum44 12.57%29985.43%7 2.00%255 72.86%350Phillips412 17.36%1,90880.40%53 2.23%1,496 63.04%2,373Pondera912 30.43%1,98166.10%104 3.47%1,069 35.67%2,997Powder River162 14.35%94383.53%24 2.13%781 69.18%1,129Powell849 26.64%2,21269.41%126 3.95%1,363 42.77%3,187Prairie160 21.92%54474.52%26 3.56%384 52.60%730Ravalli8,883 31.17%18,55765.11%1,063 3.73%9,674 33.94%28,503Richland1,017 17.67%4,50678.31%231 4.01%3,489 60.64%5,754Roosevelt1,96148.94%1,859 46.39%187 4.67%–102 –2.55%4,007Rosebud1,236 32.99%2,36363.06%148 3.95%1,127 30.08%3,747Sanders1,870 24.65%5,34670.47%370 4.88%3,476 45.82%7,586Sheridan634 31.45%1,30064.48%82 4.07%666 33.04%2,016Silver Bow11,49561.23%6,490 34.57%788 4.20%–5,005 –26.66%18,773Stillwater1,263 22.06%4,29274.96%171 2.99%3,029 52.90%5,726Sweet Grass553 22.59%1,80173.57%94 3.84%1,248 50.98%2,448Teton1,053 28.58%2,49767.76%135 3.66%1,444 39.19%3,685Toole468 22.10%1,54672.99%104 4.91%1,078 50.90%2,118Treasure89 19.35%35877.83%13 2.83%269 58.48%460Valley1,182 27.82%2,89968.24%167 3.93%1,717 40.42%4,248Wheatland251 23.68%76772.36%42 3.96%516 48.68%1,060Wibaux105 17.95%46579.49%15 2.56%360 61.54%585Yellowstone31,152 37.18%48,58657.99%4,051 4.83%17,434 20.81%83,789Totals250,86041.56%328,54854.43%24,2004.01%77,68812.87%603,608
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Cascade (largest city: Great Falls) Hill (largest city: Havre) Lake (largest city: Polson) Park (largest city: Livingston)
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Lyman Bishop (L) for Governor
Greg Gianforte (R) for Governor