Montana's Republican governor, Greg Gianforte, whose administration has overseen lower personal income taxes and higher housing property taxes, is seeking reelection for a second term.
Gianforte made the announcement Tuesday, saying Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras will become lieutenant governor.
Under Gianforte, the state will pay down its debt, lower its top income tax rate, and provide personal income tax payers with the largest amount of money, as the state has run historic budget surpluses following federal stimulus spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Granted a one-time rebate of $1,250. In his first three years in office, the state added 40,000 jobs, an increase of 30,000 from pre-pandemic levels, and the unemployment rate hit a record low, according to federal labor statistics. .
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Demand has driven up the appraised value of homes, which has led to higher property taxes. Critics said Gianforte and the Republican Congress did not do enough to alleviate the increase.
Greg Gianforte, Republican of Montana, during a ceremony honoring the four aviators killed in the 1962 B-47 crash at 8,500 feet on Emigrant Peak on July 24, 2021 in Emigrant, Montana. The governor gives a speech. (William Campbell/Getty Images)
Congress passed property tax rebates of up to $675 in both 2023 and 2024 for residential homeowners, but this amount will remain the same for most Americans until 2025 when Congress finds a solution. Gianforte later said the amount would offset the increase.
“Based on what we've done so far, there is still more work to do,” Gianforte said in a statement. He said serving as governor has been “the honor of my life, and today I humbly ask for your support in my bid for reelection.”
Ryan Busse, a former gun company executive in Kalispell and a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, called Gianforte “a typical example of someone who burdened Montanans with record tax increases to give tax cuts to the wealthy.” He is one of the best politicians.''
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Busse and the Montana Democratic Party criticized Gianforte's support for bills that seek to restrict access to abortion. These laws are being challenged in court.
