Montana New Members 2019

Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.-At large)

DATE OF BIRTH: April 17, 1961
RESIDENCE: Bozeman, Mont.
OCCUPATION: Lawmaker
EDUCATION: B.E., M.S., Stevens Institute of Technology
FAMILY: Wife, Susan; four children

Rep. Greg Gianforte is returning to Congress after defeating Democrat Kathleen Williams for Montana’s lone House seat.

Gianforte is already a national name after winning the seat for the first time in 2017 in a special election to replace former Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), who left to become President Trump’s Interior secretary.

Gianforte’s 2017 campaign gained attention after he assaulted a reporter, The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs, the night before the election. He would later plead guilty to a misdemeanor.

This year, Gianforte received support from Trump, who praised the congressman during repeated trips to Montana. During one rally, Trump joked that the incident with the reporter had helped Gianforte win.

Before political life, Gianforte was a successful businessman who amassed a fortune by founding and selling several businesses, including RightNow Technologies to Oracle for $1.8 billion in 2011.