LinkedIn

Gov. Gianforte announces run for second term 

Greg is originally from the Philadelphia suburbs. He received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and his master's degree in computer science from Stevens Institute of Technology. He has a honorary doctorate degree in computer science from Montana State University-Bozeman and a honorary doctorate degree in engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. He and his wife have four children. 

Greg was previously the managing director at Bozeman Technology Incubator, a consultant at Oracle, CEO and founder of RightNow Technologies, president and founder of Brightwork, and a technical staff member at AT&T Bell Labs.

Ballotpedia, Greg Gianforte

Greg Gianforte is currently governor of Montana. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term. He ran for for governor of Montana in 2016 and did not win then. He previously served in the U.S. House, representing Montana's at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2021.

Candidate website

Governor Greg Gianforte

AP News, Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte seeks second term

Supports economic growth through job creation, tax cuts, and entrepreneurship, prioritizing increased education funding, higher teacher salaries, and enhanced law enforcement resources, while also expanding public land access in Montana.

Supports economic growth through job creation, tax cuts, and entrepreneurship.

Committed to fiscal responsibility and ensuring the budget holds the line on new state spending and cuts taxes.

As governor, reduced the top income tax rate, authorized up to $1,250 in one-time rebates to tax payers, and passed a property tax rebate of up to $675.

- Supports economic growth through job creation, tax cuts, and entrepreneurship.
- Committed to fiscal responsibility and ensuring the budget holds the line on new state spending and cuts taxes.
- As governor, reduced the top income tax rate, authorized up to $1,250 in one-time rebates to tax payers, and passed a property tax rebate of up to $675.

Economy

Supports increased education funding and higher teacher salaries.

Wants to improve access to education for student, provide high-quality education, and expand trades education and apprenticeship opportunites.

- Supports increased education funding and higher teacher salaries.
- Wants to improve access to education for student, provide high-quality education, and expand trades education and apprenticeship opportunites.

Education

Facebook

Said, "I'm deeply troubled and frustrated by reports of illegal immigrants being flown into Montana. I've repeatedly pressed Joe Biden to tell governors when he ships illegal immigrants to our states."

Supports Israel, saying that "Montana stands with them against this unprovoked attack from Iran."

- Said, "I'm deeply troubled and frustrated by reports of illegal immigrants being flown into Montana. I've repeatedly pressed Joe Biden to tell governors when he ships illegal immigrants to our states."
- Supports Israel, saying that "Montana stands with them against this unprovoked attack from Iran."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

As of June 16, 2025, Greg Gianforte’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Wants to end human trafficking and increase resources for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis.

Plans to combat the drug epidemic by cracking down on violators.

Said, "Our investment to bolster treatment services in local detention centers has served over 3,000 Montanans. We're providing folks in the criminal justice system with tools to stay clean, sober, and healthy upon release."

- Wants to end human trafficking and increase resources for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis.
- Plans to combat the drug epidemic by cracking down on violators.
- Said, "Our investment to bolster treatment services in local detention centers has served over 3,000 Montanans. We're providing folks in the criminal justice system with tools to stay clean, sober, and healthy upon release."

Public Safety

Energy & the Environment

Committed  to increasing access to healthcare and bringing down costs of prescription drugs and healthcare.

Promotes competition in the healthcare marketplace and expanding teleheath services.

Opposes abortion, and supports legislation that limits access to it.

- Committed  to increasing access to healthcare and bringing down costs of prescription drugs and healthcare.
- Promotes competition in the healthcare marketplace and expanding teleheath services.
- Opposes abortion, and supports legislation that limits access to it.

Healthcare

Twitter

Instagram

Youtube

Greg Gianforte

Tanner is a lifelong resident of Montana, and is married with five children. 

Tanner  is the owner of Tanner Smith Construction.

Tanner J. Smith is currently serving in the Montana House of Representatives. He has been on the Somers/Lakeside District 29 school board and has represented HD11 as a state representative.

Plans to alleviate Montanans' frustration with rising property taxes by reverting to 2019 values and taxing based on purchase price, addressing the shift from natural resource revenue to residential taxation, which disproportionately affects middle-class, renters, and elderly.

Aims to lower property taxes by assessing property tax based on what the owner paid, rather than the current market value.

Plans to make up for the tax deficit created through lower property taxes with higher taxation of natural resources.

- Aims to lower property taxes by assessing property tax based on what the owner paid, rather than the current market value.
- Plans to make up for the tax deficit created through lower property taxes with higher taxation of natural resources.

The candidate's website says, "Committed to providing quality education to strengthen and equip students with the skills necessary for success and competitive pay for teachers"

Aims to provide competitive pay for teachers. 

- Aims to provide competitive pay for teachers. 

Said, "On week one of my Administration, I will declare a State of emergency... If the Federal Government won’t enforce our laws, then I WILL enforce them HERE in our State... It’s an emergency for our law enforcement men and women that deal with the illegals and their illegal activities daily... I will use our National Guard dressed in plain clothes to wrangle these folks up and escort them out of our State. Borders, Language and Culture are the Bedrock of American and Montana. Come here legally or don’t come at all."

Believes that the amount of illegal immigration occurring constitutes a state of emergency, and wants to deploy the National Guard to lower such activity.

- Believes that the amount of illegal immigration occurring constitutes a state of emergency, and wants to deploy the National Guard to lower such activity.

Supports Mike Johnsons "SAVE Act" to secure election integrity.

- Supports Mike Johnsons "SAVE Act" to secure election integrity.

Said, "Our Second Amendment rights have never been under attack like they are today... We also see how a corrupt government that WON’T close the border is making things unsafe...."

Opposes gun control and supports Second Amendment rights. 

- Opposes gun control and supports Second Amendment rights. 

Said, "This will be our way to start reducing fuels in the forests and return to logging again. Montana is on the precipice of a major forest fire catastrophe, and we WILL lose structures, towns, and human lives. ..."

Aims to implement legislation encouraging logging and burning the byproducts in biomass incinerators to produce electricity, saying that "the forests are burning every summer so burning them slowly in a controlled environment and making electricity helps everyone."

- Aims to implement legislation encouraging logging and burning the byproducts in biomass incinerators to produce electricity, saying that "the forests are burning every summer so burning them slowly in a controlled environment and making electricity helps everyone."

Believes in the availability of medical marijuana, but stringent regulation of recreational marijuana.

- Believes in the availability of medical marijuana, but stringent regulation of recreational marijuana.

Tanner Smith

- The Governor is the chief executive of the state and is tasked with faithfully carrying out the laws of the state. 
- The Governor prepares the annual state budget, meaning they recommend how money gets divided between various government divisions, such as police, education, healthcare, and roads. This budget must be approved by state lawmakers.
- The Governor has significant power over what laws get made in the state. They advocate for their legislative agenda. They also can veto legislation passed by the state legislature. 
- The Governor is elected for a four-year term, with a limit of 2 terms every 16 years.

The chief executive of the state, who plays a significant role in the laws made every year

Montana Governor, Republican Primary

Election results

Candidates (2)

Compare candidates