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Ryan K. Zinke

U.S. House · MT-1 · Republicans · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · MT-1

Target Ryan

Biography

Overview

Ryan Zinke is a Republican U.S. representative for Montana's 1st congressional district, serving since 2023. He previously served in the Montana Senate (2009–2013), the U.S. House (2015–2017), and as Secretary of Interior under President Trump (2017–2019). A retired Navy SEAL commander, Zinke was the first SEAL elected to the U.S. House. He is known for his positions on natural resources, public lands management, and defense issues.

Career

As Secretary of Interior (2017–2019), Zinke opened federal lands for oil, gas, and mineral extraction; reduced national monuments Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante; and rescinded restrictions on lead bullets in wildlife refuges. As a congressman, he opposed the Affordable Care Act and environmental regulations while supporting military deployment against ISIS. His tenure as Interior Secretary drew ethics investigations; the Inspector General concluded he violated ethical rules. In March 2026, Zinke announced he would not seek re-election.

Prior political experience

Zinke was elected to the U.S. House at-large in 2014 with 55.4% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee John Lewis. He ran unopposed in the 2016 Republican primary and defeated Democrat Denise Juneau with 56% in the general election. In 2022, he ran in the newly drawn Montana 1st district and defeated Democrat Monica Tranel. He defeated Tranel again in 2024 with 52% of the vote to her 45%.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress+0.441

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.130
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 339 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
2ndU.S. House MT-12025–presentIn progressRyan K. Zinke—
1stU.S. House MT-12023–2025Term ended—Ryan K. Zinke

Committee assignments

  • Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • East Asia and Pacific
    House· 2025–present
  • Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
    House· 2025–present
  • Middle East and North Africa
    House· 2025–present
  • House Committee on Foreign Affairs
    House· 2025–present
  • House Committee on Appropriations
    House· 2025–present

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
2024U.S. House MT-1Pending52.30%