Matt Rosendale

Matt Rosendale
Born	Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. 7 7, 1960
Birthplace	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, real estate developer
Known for	U.S. Representative from Montana (2021–2025), Montana State Auditor (2017–2021)
Education	Chesapeake College (attended)
Children	3

Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American politician and former real estate developer who served as the U.S. Representative from Montana from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Rosendale's political career spanned more than a decade of service in Montana government, beginning in the Montana House of Representatives and rising through the Montana Senate, where he served as majority leader, before winning statewide office as Montana State Auditor. Born and raised in Maryland, Rosendale relocated to Montana in the 2000s and established himself as a rancher and real estate developer before entering politics. His tenure in Congress was marked by a staunchly conservative voting record and alignment with the Freedom Caucus, as well as a willingness to break with party leadership on key votes. Rosendale's political trajectory included two unsuccessful bids for higher office — a 2014 campaign for the U.S. House and a 2018 campaign for the U.S. Senate — before he won Montana's at-large congressional seat in 2020. His congressional career ended in 2025 after he withdrew from both a Senate race and a House reelection bid in early 2024, citing defamatory rumors and a death threat.

Early Life

Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. was born on July 7, 1960, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the Eastern Shore region of Maryland, where he attended Chesapeake College, a community college in Wye Mills, Maryland. Rosendale did not complete a degree at Chesapeake College.

Prior to entering politics, Rosendale worked in real estate development in Maryland. He later relocated to Montana, where he established himself as a rancher and continued his involvement in real estate. He settled in the eastern part of the state, in the area around Glendive, where he operated a ranch and became involved in the local community.

Rosendale's move from Maryland to Montana later became a recurring subject in his political campaigns. Opponents frequently characterized him as an out-of-state transplant, while Rosendale emphasized his years of ranching and business activity in eastern Montana as evidence of his commitment to the state. His background in agriculture and ranching provided him with connections to Montana's rural communities and agricultural economy, which formed a significant part of his political base throughout his career.

Education

Rosendale attended Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland, a community college on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He did not complete a degree at the institution. No additional formal educational credentials have been publicly documented.

Career

Montana State Legislature (2011–2017)

Rosendale began his career in elected office in 2011, when he took his seat in the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 38th district. He succeeded Dennis Getz in the position and served a single two-year term through January 2013.

In 2012, Rosendale ran for and won a seat in the Montana Senate, representing the 18th district. He succeeded John Brenden and took office in January 2013. During his time in the Montana Senate, Rosendale rose to a leadership position, serving as the Senate majority leader from 2015 to 2017.

As a state legislator, Rosendale sponsored and supported several conservative policy measures. Among his legislative efforts were bills related to direct primary care, a healthcare model that allows patients to pay physicians directly through periodic fees rather than through insurance. The concept was twice vetoed by the governor during Rosendale's time in the legislature. He also sponsored legislation during the 2013 session on various policy areas.

Rosendale served in the Montana Senate until January 2017, when he was succeeded by Steve Hinebauch following his election to the office of state auditor.

2014 Congressional Campaign

In 2014, while still serving in the Montana Senate, Rosendale ran for Montana's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He competed in the Republican primary but was unsuccessful in his bid. The race marked his first attempt at federal office and established name recognition that he would build upon in subsequent campaigns.

Montana State Auditor (2017–2021)

In 2016, Rosendale entered the race for Montana State Auditor, the office that also serves as the state's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI). The incumbent, Monica Lindeen, did not seek reelection, leaving the seat open.

Rosendale won the Republican primary and then the general election. Polling during the campaign showed Rosendale with a significant lead over his Democratic opponent, Jesse Laslovich, with one survey indicating a 10-point advantage, though approximately 24 percent of voters remained undecided at the time the poll was conducted.

As state auditor, Rosendale oversaw the regulation of Montana's insurance and securities industries. He served under Governor Steve Bullock and held the position from January 2, 2017, until January 3, 2021. During his tenure, Rosendale continued to promote policies related to healthcare affordability, including the advancement of direct primary care models that he had championed in the state legislature. He also used the office as a platform to advocate for reduced regulatory burdens on Montana businesses and consumers.

2018 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2018, Rosendale launched a campaign for the United States Senate seat held by incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester. Rosendale won the Republican primary, positioning himself as a conservative challenger aligned with President Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Rosendale sought to closely align himself with Trump and the president's policy agenda. Trump held a rally in Great Falls, Montana, in July 2018, at which Rosendale appeared and received the president's endorsement. The race was closely watched nationally as one of several competitive Senate contests that could determine control of the chamber.

Despite Trump's support and significant national attention, Rosendale lost to Tester in the November 2018 general election. The defeat was Rosendale's second unsuccessful bid for federal office, following his 2014 House campaign.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–2025)

Election to Congress

In June 2019, following his loss in the Senate race, Rosendale announced he would again seek Montana's at-large congressional seat in the 2020 election. This time, Rosendale secured the Republican nomination and won the general election, succeeding Greg Gianforte, who had been elected governor of Montana. Rosendale took office on January 3, 2021.

After the 2020 census, Montana regained a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since 1993. Following redistricting, Rosendale chose to run in Montana's new 2nd congressional district, which encompassed the eastern portion of the state. He won election to the new seat in November 2022.

Congressional Tenure

During his time in Congress, Rosendale established himself as a member of the conservative wing of the Republican caucus. He was associated with the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative and libertarian Republican members known for their opposition to establishment Republican leadership on various fiscal and policy matters.

Rosendale served on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. In this role, he oversaw hearings on the Department of Veterans Affairs' electronic health record modernization project, a multibillion-dollar initiative that faced significant implementation challenges. In July 2022, he delivered opening remarks at an oversight hearing examining the project's progress and problems.

Rosendale was also a vocal supporter of the PACT Act, legislation designed to expand healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during military service.

His congressional voting record reflected a consistently conservative orientation, and he was at times willing to oppose Republican leadership when he believed proposed legislation or procedural measures conflicted with conservative principles. This approach earned him both allies among the party's right flank and critics who viewed his stance as obstructionist.

2024 Senate and House Campaigns

On February 9, 2024, Rosendale announced his candidacy for the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Montana, seeking to challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester once again. However, the campaign proved short-lived. Only six days after his announcement, on February 15, 2024, Rosendale ended his Senate bid. The withdrawal came after former President Donald Trump endorsed his Republican primary opponent, Tim Sheehy, effectively consolidating national Republican support behind Sheehy's candidacy.

Following the end of his Senate campaign, Rosendale initially pivoted to seeking reelection to his House seat in Montana's 2nd congressional district. However, on March 8, 2024, he announced that he was withdrawing from the House race as well. In a statement, Rosendale cited defamatory rumors being circulated about him and a death threat that had been made against him as reasons for his decision to exit electoral politics entirely for the cycle.

Rosendale's decision to withdraw from both races effectively ended his congressional career. He served out the remainder of his term, which expired on January 3, 2025. He was succeeded by Troy Downing, who won the 2024 election for Montana's 2nd congressional district.

Personal Life

Rosendale has three children, including a son named Adam. He resides in Montana, where he has maintained his ranching operations in the eastern part of the state. His move from Maryland to Montana has been a subject of public discussion throughout his political career, with Rosendale emphasizing his decades of residency and involvement in Montana's agricultural and business communities.

Following his departure from Congress, Rosendale has remained engaged in Montana politics. In September 2025, he endorsed Sid Daoud as a candidate for mayor of Kalispell.

Legacy

Rosendale's political career in Montana encompassed service at the state legislative, statewide executive, and federal levels over more than a decade. His trajectory from the Montana House to the Montana Senate, where he served as majority leader, to the state auditor's office and then to Congress reflected a steady advancement within the Republican Party's ranks in Montana politics.

As a member of Congress, Rosendale's legacy is closely associated with the conservative wing of the Republican Party. His willingness to challenge party leadership and prioritize ideological principles over pragmatic compromise was a defining characteristic of his time in the House. The Montana Free Press characterized "principle over practicality" as a significant part of Rosendale's legacy, along with "some of the chaos that resulted" from that approach.

His oversight work on the Veterans Affairs Committee, particularly regarding the troubled electronic health record modernization program, represented one of the substantive policy contributions of his congressional tenure. His advocacy for veterans' healthcare, including support for the PACT Act, also formed part of his legislative record.

Rosendale's 2024 withdrawal from both the Senate and House races — the former after just six days and the latter citing threats and rumors — marked an abrupt conclusion to a political career that had been characterized by persistence, including multiple unsuccessful bids for higher office before ultimately reaching Congress. His departure illustrated the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party, particularly the influence of Donald Trump's endorsement decisions on primary contests.