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Dennis Ray Rehberg (born October 5, 1955) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party. He served as the lieutenant governor of Montana from 1991 to 1997 and as the
U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...
for from 2001 to 2013. Rehberg was the Republican nominee for the
United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
in
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
and
2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
, losing to Democratic incumbents
Max Baucus Maxwell Sieben Baucus ( Enke; born December 11, 1941) is an American politician who served as a United States senator from Montana from 1978 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a U.S. senator for over 35 years, making him the long ...
50% to 45% and
Jon Tester Raymond Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956) is an American politician and farmer who served from 2007 to 2025 as a United States Senate, United States senator from Montana and from 2005 to 2007 as president of the Montana Senate. A member of the ...
49% to 45%, respectively. He subsequently became a co-chairman at Mercury, a
Washington D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
lobbying Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agency, regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by va ...
firm. In 2024, Rehberg ran for Congress in Montana's 2nd congressional district, but was defeated in the Republican primary.


Early life, education, and ranching career

Rehberg was born in
Billings, Montana Billings is the most populous Lists of populated places in the United States, city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, i ...
, the son of Patricia Rae (née Cooley) and Jack Dennis Rehberg. His ancestry includes German, Irish, and Scottish. He attended Billings West High School and
Montana State University Montana State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana, United States. It enrolls more students than any other college or university in the state. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's d ...
before transferring to
Washington State University Washington State University (WSU, or colloquially Wazzu) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington, United States. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest Land-grant uni ...
where he earned his
Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
in
public administration Public administration, or public policy and administration refers to "the management of public programs", or the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day",Kettl, Donald and James Fessler. 2009. ''The Politics of the ...
. From 1996 to 2001, Rehberg managed the Rehberg Ranch near Billings. He oversaw a herd of 500 cattle and 600 cashmere goats. After being elected to Congress, Rehberg gave up ranching, citing the difficulty of managing a herd whilst travelling between Montana and
Washington D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...


Early political career


Staffer

In 1977 he began working as an intern in the Montana State Senate, and two years later he joined the
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
staff of Montana U.S. Congressman Ron Marlenee as a legislative assistant. In 1982, Rehberg returned to farming, until running for the State House in 1984.


Montana legislature

Rehberg was elected then to the Montana State House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991, where he served three terms for the 88th district. He defeated eight term incumbent Harrison Fagg in the Republican primary. In the legislature, he considered himself to be a fiscal conservative, and he advocated balancing the state budget without any tax increases. He was the only freshman member to serve on the House Appropriations Committee. He declined to run for a fourth term to his state legislative seat in 1990. He was succeeded by Royal C. Johnson in the State House.


Lieutenant governor

In July 1991, Rehberg was appointed lieutenant governor by Governor
Stan Stephens Stanley Graham Stephens (September 16, 1929 – April 3, 2021) was a Canadian-American politician, journalist, and broadcaster who served as the 20th Governor of Montana from 1989 until 1993 as a member of the Republican Party. Biography Born i ...
. He was subsequently elected to a full term in 1992. As lieutenant governor, Rehberg sought to bring government back to the local level by traveling to all 56 counties every year. He chaired the Drought Advisory Committee and the Task Force credited with reforming Worker's Compensation, the Montana Rural Development Council, and several health care initiatives. Rehberg stepped down from his post to run for U.S. Senate. He was succeeded as lieutenant governor by fellow Republican Judy Martz.


1996 U.S. Senate election

He ran for a seat in the
United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
against incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator
Max Baucus Maxwell Sieben Baucus ( Enke; born December 11, 1941) is an American politician who served as a United States senator from Montana from 1978 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a U.S. senator for over 35 years, making him the long ...
, but lost, 50% to 45%.


U.S. House of Representatives


Elections

;2000 Incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman
Rick Hill Richard Allan Hill (born December 30, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Montana. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Montana in 2012. Early life ...
of
Montana's at-large congressional district From 1993 to 2023, Montana was represented in the United States House of Representatives by one at-large List of United States congressional districts, congressional district, among the 435 in the United States Congress. The district was the mo ...
decided to retire after two terms in 2000. Rehberg decided to run and won the Republican primary with 74% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Democratic State School Superintendent Nancy Keenan 52%–46%. ;2002 He won re-election to a second term with 65%, against Steven Dickman Kelly. ;2004 He won re-election against Tracy Velazquez to a third term with 64%. ;2006 He won re-election to a fourth term against Democratic state representative Monica Lindeen 59%–39%. ;2008 He won re-election to a fifth term against Democratic state representative John Driscoll 64%–32%. ;2010 He won re-election to a sixth term against Democrat Dennis McDonald 60%–33%.


Tenure

;National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act (H.R. 1505) In 2012 Rehberg co-sponsored H.R. 1505, which would waive environmental laws that would otherwise prevent the
Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions invol ...
from constructing roads, fences, and forward operating bases in national parks and wilderness areas within 100 miles of the international border. Homeland Security would not have to inform affected parties before pursuing these activities. The bill's dissenters claim that it "employs a manufactured conflict with border security to weaken nvironmental laws" The Department of Homeland Security called the bill "unnecessary and bad policy" since DHS already has a memorandum of understanding allowing them to enter these lands without prior approval. ;Economic record On April 15, 2011, Rehberg was one of four Republican members of Congress to vote against
The Path to Prosperity ''The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America's Promise'' was the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party's budget proposal for the federal government of the United States in the fiscal year 2012. It was succeeded in March 2012 by "The ...
. ;Pell grants and school lunches After having scrutinized the Pell Grant program as one that was 'expanding' too quickly, congressman Rehberg set his sights on the free school lunch program as a program where there was potential of taxpayers being ripped off, although the state Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau expressed the real concern that not enough families that qualify request the assistance. ;Iraq War Rehberg voted for the
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,gray wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gr ...
on the endangered species list. On environmental issues, Rehberg has also been given low ratings by interest groups. Environment America gave him an 8% rating in 2008, and 27% rating in 2009. Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund gave him a 13% rating. In his position statement on Economic Development, he said "Our ontana'scoal and natural gas reserves stretch for hundreds of years into the future, and we can turn them into much needed energy." Dennis Rehberg states opposition to the Shays-Meehan bill from 1998, of which he says it "stripped freedom of speech rights from Montana citizens." Aside from the bill, he makes a point to say he supports full and open disclosure laws for campaign finance reform. ;LGBT issues Rehberg opposes same-sex marriage, and supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. He voted against the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, a bill that amends the Federal definition of a hate crime to include gender identity and sexual orientation. The bill passed, 237 to 180. In the December 26, 1994, issue of ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'', p. 83, then lieutenant governor Rehberg was quoted as saying, "The problem with AIDS is: you got it, you die. So why are we spending money on the issue?" when discussing cuts to the state's hospital budget.


Committee assignments

;112th Congress (2011–2012) * Committee on Appropriations ;111th Congress (2009–2010) * Committee on Appropriations ** Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development ** Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (chairman) ** Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch ;110th Congress (2007–2008) * House Committee on Appropriations ** Subcommittee on House Committee on House Committee on Financial Services and General Government ** Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education ;109th Congress (2005–2006) * House Committee on Appropriations ** Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies - ** Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Export Financing and Related Programs ** Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies


Caucus memberships

* Congressional Rural Caucus * Co-chair, Small Brewers Caucus * Co-chair, Congressional Baby Caucus * Co-chair, Northern Border Caucus * Former Chair, Drought Advisory Committee * Firefighter Caucus * Forest Caucus * House Vice Chair, Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Congressional Caucus * Liberty Caucus * Northwest Energy Caucus *
Republican Study Committee The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is a congressional caucus of conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives. In November 2024, Representative August Pfluger was elected as the chair of the RSC, ...
*
Tea Party Caucus The Tea Party Caucus (TPC) was a congressional caucus of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives, consisting of its most conservative members. It was founded in July 2010 by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann i ...
* Sportsmen's Caucus * Western Caucus * International Conservation Caucus


2012 U.S. Senate election

On February 6, 2011, Rehberg announced that he would challenge Senator
Jon Tester Raymond Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956) is an American politician and farmer who served from 2007 to 2025 as a United States Senate, United States senator from Montana and from 2005 to 2007 as president of the Montana Senate. A member of the ...
(D-MT) in 2012. The outcome of the race was expected to have a significant impact on which party controlled the United States Senate during the 113th Congress. According to ''
Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...
'', it was a "race that pundits are saying could be a tough challenge for Tester." Political scientist
Larry Sabato Larry Joseph Sabato (; born August 7, 1952) is an American political scientist and political analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he is also the founder and director of the Center for ...
predicted a narrow Rehberg victory, pointing out that Rehberg had led in 10 of 13 recent polls. However, Tester eventually defeated Rehberg, 48.7% to 44.8%.


2014 U.S. House election

When after one term in the U.S. House
Steve Daines Steven David Daines ( ; born August 20, 1962) is an American politician and former corporate executive serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Montana, a seat he has held since ...
ran for the U.S. Senate, Rehberg considered running for his old House seat, but ultimately declined. The seat was ultimately won by Republican
Ryan Zinke Ryan Keith Zinke ( ; born November 1, 1961) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Zinke served in the Montana Senate from 2009 to 2013 and as the U.S. re ...
.


2024 U.S. House election

Rehberg ran in 2024 in the primary for
Montana's 2nd congressional district Montana's second congressional district is a congressional district in the United States House of Representatives that was apportioned after the 2020 United States census. The first candidates ran in the 2022 United States House of Representati ...
, which was held by Representative
Matt Rosendale Matthew Martin Rosendale Sr. (born July 7, 1960) is an American politician and former real estate developer who represented Montana in the United States House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Rosendale ser ...
. Rehberg was criticized by foreign policy experts and human rights activists over the fact that he previously lobbied as a registered foreign agent at the firm Mercury Public Affairs for
Hikvision Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., often shortened to Hikvision, is a Chinese partly State-owned enterprise, state-owned manufacturer and supplier of video surveillance equipment for civilian and military purposes, headquartered in ...
, a Chinese state-owned video surveillance company that was sanctioned by the U.S. government for aiding China's government in the detainment and surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China Rehberg lobbied for Hikvision against U.S. sanctions while working at Mercury, though claimed to the Washington Examiner in May 2024 that he "has no knowledge or idea of what happened” in China with Hikvision, seeking to distance himself from the company's activities. Rushan Abbas, a Uyghur American activist and advocate from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China, said it's “extremely disappointing” Rehberg prioritized “profit from China’s blood money over human rights and human dignity." “Unless he denounces or publicly apologizes for what he did, he should not be elected to represent the American people,” Rushan Abbas told the Washington Examiner.


Personal life

Rehberg married his high school sweetheart, Jan, a water attorney who represents farmers and ranchers. They have been married for over 25 years and have three children, A.J., Katie, and Elsie. He is an
Episcopalian Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protes ...
.


Wealth

With a net worth of between $6.5 and $54 million, Rehberg was the fourteenth-richest U.S. Representative in the House in 2008. In an April 2011 town hall meeting video released by the
Montana Democratic Party Montana Democratic Party (MDP) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Montana and one of the two major political parties in the state. The party as of 2024 is chaired by Robyn Driscoll. The National Committeeman is Jorge ...
, he told an audience member that he was "land-rich and cash-poor" and "struggling like everyone else."


Boating crash

On the night of Thursday, August 27, 2009, while in the area for a series of town hall forums on healthcare, Rehberg was a passenger in a boating accident near Bigfork, Montana on
Flathead Lake Flathead Lake (, ) is a large natural lake in northwest Montana, United States. The lake is a remnant of the ancient, massive glacial dammed lake, Glacial Lake Missoula, Lake Missoula, of the era of the last interglacial. Flathead Lake is a nat ...
. Montana State Senate Majority Whip Greg Barkus was driving the boat. Rehberg, Barkus and his wife Kathy, and two Rehberg aides, Dustin Frost and Kristin Smith, were hospitalized in Kalispell following the accident, which took place sometime between 10pm and midnight. Frost, Rehberg's then 27-year-old state director in Montana, suffered a brain injury. Frost was in a coma for more than a week. Rehberg sustained a broken ankle and rib fractures. Law enforcement agents investigated the cause of the accident, including "how fast the boat was going, who was driving, and 'whether alcohol and drugs were involved.'" Barkus "was found to have a blood alcohol content of .16 two hours after the accident. Despite the fact that, according to a witness quoted in the criminal complaint, Barkus had been drinking scotch and
wine Wine is an alcoholic drink made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented fruit. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made f ...
at a lakeside restaurant that night, Rehberg later said he 'was surprised to learn the results of Greg's blood alcohol test'." Rehberg released his BAC, measured several hours after the crash, at an alleged 0.05 percent. Barkus, who had other driving violations and previously had plea bargained a DUI case down, ultimately pleaded no contest to a felony criminal endangerment charge. He was given a four-year deferred sentence, probation, paid $4,000 in restitution and a $25,000 fine.


Lawsuit against the City of Billings

In July 2010, Rehberg's corporation that has developed a subdivision on his former ranch land sued the City of Billings for calling back firefighters from protecting trees and some scrub brush. The City of Billings had recently annexed a significant amount of undeveloped grass-land, including Rehberg's ranch, and had not developed a firefighting policy for wildfires, which are significantly different from structure fires. When the fire flared again, the city firefighters had to return to put out the fire after significant damage was done. While the suit was filed in July, Rehberg and his wife did not push forward with litigation, given the political pressures of the 2010 Congressional campaign. The city of Billings spent nearly $21,000 defending itself against the lawsuit before it was dropped by Rehberg.


Memberships

* Member, Billings Chamber of Commerce * Member, Billings Downtown Rotary Club * Former Chair, Montana Rural Development Council * Member, Montana Stockgrowers Association * State Chair, Muscular Dystrophy Association * National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization.


Electoral history


References


External links


Congressman Denny Rehberg
official U.S. House website * * * , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Rehberg, Denny 1955 births American Episcopalians American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent Candidates in the 1996 United States elections Candidates in the 2012 United States elections Lieutenant governors of Montana Living people Members of Congress who became lobbyists Montana State University alumni Politicians from Billings, Montana Ranchers from Montana Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Montana Tea Party movement activists United States congressional aides Washington State University alumni Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives 20th-century members of the Montana Legislature