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Christi Jacobsen

Christi Jacobsen
22nd Secretary of State of Montana
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
GovernorGreg Gianforte
Preceded byCorey Stapleton
Personal details
Born1975 or 1976 (age 48–49)[1]
Helena, Montana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEric
Children5
EducationCarroll College (BA)
University of Montana (MPA)

Christi Jacobsen is an American politician from the state of Montana. A Republican, she is the Secretary of State of Montana, serving since 2021.

Early life and career

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Jacobsen was born in Helena, Montana, and earned her bachelor's degree from Carroll College in 1997 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Montana in 2000.[2][3]

Jacobsen served as an administrator for the Montana State Auditor's office and the Montana Department of Justice. In 2016, incoming Secretary of State of Montana Corey Stapleton announced that Jacobsen would serve as his chief of staff.[4]

Montana Secretary of State

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With Stapleton not running for reelection as Secretary of State of Montana in the 2020 elections, Jacobsen announced her candidacy. In the Republican Party primary election, she defeated fellow Republicans Forrest Mandeville, Scott Sales, and Brad Johnson.[5] She defeated Bryce Bennett, the Democratic Party nominee, in the general election.[6]

Jacobsen was sworn into office on January 4, 2021.[7] Shortly thereafter, she expressed her support for Republican legislation to end same-day voter registration in Montana for all except military and overseas voters.[8] In April 2021, Governor Greg Gianforte signed into law these restrictions; among the new restrictions was the end of same-day voter registration in Montana, as well prevention of university students from using a student ID as a voter ID to vote.[9] The new restrictions also limited ballot collection, which complicated voting in communities where election infrastructure was limited, such as the Native American community in Montana, a Democratic-leaning constituency.[10]

Jacobsen announced she was seeking reelection as Secretary of State in November 2023. Jesse Mullen was the only other announced candidate.[11] Jacobsen won a second term in the November 2024 elections.[12]

Personal life

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Jacobsen and her husband, Eric, have five children.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ "Christi Jacobsen 2020 Election Questionnaire". Montana Public Radio. May 21, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Cates-Carney, Corin (October 14, 2020). "2020 Candidate Interview: Christi Jacobsen for Secretary of State". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. ^ a b News, Havre Daily. "Pile of Republicans face off in Montana secretary of state primary". Havre Daily News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Holly Michels (November 14, 2020). "Incoming Secretary of State Corey Stapleton makes several appointments | State & Regional". mtstandard.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  5. ^ "Gianforte, Cooney ready for next leg of Montana election race". Greatfallstribune.com. January 26, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Dietrich, Eric (November 4, 2020). "Jacobsen wins race for secretary of state". Montana Free Press. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "Gianforte, 1st GOP governor in 16 years, sworn in".
  8. ^ Larson, Seaborn (2021). "Bill ending same-day voter registration gets SOS support". Helena Independent Record. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Montana governor approves ending same-day voter registration". AP NEWS. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  10. ^ Astor, Maggie (July 6, 2021). "How G.O.P. Laws in Montana Could Complicate Voting for Native Americans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Sakariassen, Alex (November 13, 2023). "Jacobsen announces re-election bid for top election office". Montana Free Press. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  12. ^ https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/elections-2024-montana-secretary-of-state-christi-jacobsen-wins-a-second-term/article_128a091a-9c62-11ef-a0cb-e7c9b5f32b34.html
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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Montana
2021–present 		Incumbent