title: Jim Hamilton (politician)
text: # Jim Hamilton (politician)
  
  Jim Hamilton is an American politician, serving in the Montana House of Representatives since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Hamilton represents District 61.
  
  Hamilton is running for re-election to a fourth term in the 2022 Montana House of Representatives election.
  
  ## Montana House of Representatives
  
  ### Tenure
  
  Early in 2017, Hamilton supported increasing the tobacco tax by $1.50 per pack of cigarettes. The bill failed to pass out of the tax committee.
  
  Hamilton opposed the tax plan put forward by national members of the Republican Party in 2017, arguing that these would worsen the state's deficit. This came after legislators from the Montana Republican Party dramatically curbed spending in the state to make up for budget shortfalls.
  
  In 2021, Hamilton co-sponsored a "move over, slow down" bill to strengthen laws protecting first responders directing traffic, after two tow truck operators were killed in an accident. He also opposed a push by Republican state legislators to impose a strict dress code in the House of Representatives, which would have mandated suits and ties.
  
  ### Committee assignments
  
  * Appropriations Committee
  * Joint Interim Committee on Revenue
  * Joint Legislative Finance Committee
  * Joint Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
  * Legislative Administration Committee (Vice Chair)
  * Rules Committee
  
  ## Personal life
  
  Hamilton resides in Bozeman, Montana. He is married, and has two children.
  
  ## Electoral history
  
  ### 2016
  
  Montana House of Representatives 61st district general election, 2016 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Democratic | Jim Hamilton | 3,787 | 55.06% |
  | | Republican | Neal Ganser | 2,804 | 40.77% |
  | | Libertarian | Francis Wendt | 287 | 4.17% |
  | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,878 | 100% |
  | | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
  
  ### 2018
  
  Montana House of Representatives 61st district general election, 2016 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Democratic | Jim Hamilton (incumbent) | 4,906 | 74.9% |
  | | Libertarian | A. Alexander Fetto | 1,648 | 25.1% |
  | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,554 | 100% |
  | | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
  
  ### 2020
  
  Montana House of Representatives 61st district general election, 2020 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Democratic | Jim Hamilton (incumbent) | 6,200 | 100% |
  | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,200 | 100% |
  | | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
  