Montana's 1st congressional district

Montana's 1st congressional district is a U.S. House district covering the western portion of the state of Montana. Created following the 2020 United States census, it is one of two districts representing Montana in the 118th United States Congress. The district is currently represented by Republican Ryan Zinke, who previously served as the United States Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump.

History

Following the 2020 United States census, Montana regained a second congressional seat, which it had lost after the 1990 United States census. The Montana Legislature, controlled by the Republican Party, passed a new congressional map in 2021, creating two districts. The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission finalized the boundaries, which were subsequently approved. The western district, numbered the 1st, encompasses the more urban and politically competitive region of the state, including cities like Missoula and Helena. Historically, when Montana had two seats from 1913 to 1993, the western district was often more favorable to Democratic candidates, such as Pat Williams. The district's creation marked a return to a political geography not seen since the 1992 United States House of Representatives elections.

Election results

The first election for the newly formed district was the 2022 election. The Republican nominee, former United States Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, faced Democratic nominee Monica Tranel, an attorney and former candidate for the Montana Public Service Commission. The race was highly competitive and expensive, with significant spending from national committees like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Zinke ultimately won with approximately 50% of the vote to Tranel's 46%, a margin closer than in the state's eastern 2nd district. The results reflected the district's mix of liberal Missoula, moderate Helena, and conservative Flathead and Ravalli counties.

List of representatives

The following individuals have represented the current incarnation of the district since its establishment in 2023. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Representative ! Party ! Term ! Congress ! Electoral history |- | Ryan Zinke | Republican | January 3, 2023 – present | 118th | Elected in 2022. Previously served as the United States Secretary of the Interior and as the U.S. Representative for Montana's at-large congressional district. |} For representatives of the historical 1st district that existed from 1913 to 1993, see that article. Notable representatives from that era include Democrat Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in the United States Congress, and Democrat Pat Williams.

Historical boundaries

The boundaries of the current district are distinct from the historical 1st district that existed for most of the 20th century. That earlier district generally covered the western third of Montana but its borders shifted after each decennial census, including the 1970 and 1980 counts. The modern district, drawn after the 2020 United States census, includes all of Montana west of the Continental Divide. It contains Flathead County, Lake County, Missoula County, Ravalli County, Granite County, Deer Lodge County, Silver Bow County, Beaverhead County, Madison County, Jefferson County, Broadwater County, Lewis and Clark County, Powell County, and Mineral County. Major population centers include Kalispell, Missoula, Butte, and the state capital, Helena.

Category:Montana's congressional districts