Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is a businessman-turned-politician serving as the 25th governor of Montana since January 2021. Before entering politics, Gianforte co-founded RightNow Technologies in 1997, a software company headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, which grew to become the largest commercial employer in the town with over 500 high-paying jobs. RightNow Technologies was sold to Oracle in 2012 for over $1.8 billion, marking a significant achievement in Gianforte’s entrepreneurial career[1][4]. Gianforte’s political career began in 2017 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In 2020, he was elected governor with the largest margin for a first-term Montana governor since 1920, and was re-elected in 2024, becoming the first Republican governor in Montana to secure a second term since 1996[1][3]. As governor, Gianforte has prioritized economic growth, job creation, and conservative policy initiatives. His administration delivered historic tax cuts, achieved a debt-free state status, and increased funding for education and law enforcement. Under his leadership, Montana has seen record lows in unemployment and unprecedented business growth. Gianforte has also expanded public access to over 100,000 acres of Montana’s public lands, reflecting his commitment to preserving the state’s outdoor heritage[1][5]. Gianforte’s tenure has included controversial legislative actions such as lifting the statewide mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting vaccine requirements for businesses, banning sanctuary cities, restricting abortion access, and enacting policies affecting transgender individuals in schools. He has also increased gubernatorial control over judicial appointments and supported measures easing challenges to government regulations on religious grounds[2][3]. Known for his advocacy of Montana’s energy and natural resource sectors, Gianforte criticizes federal clean energy policies, framing them as detrimental to Montana’s