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Ryan Keith Zinke is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Montana's 1st congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Zinke served in the Montana Senate from 2009 to 2013 and as the U.S. representative for the at-large congressional district from 2015 to 2017. He served as the United States secretary of the interior under president Don…
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business · American politician (born 1961) · naval officer · politician · business executive · businessperson · also Ryan Zinke, Ryan Keith Zinke, Zinke
Born 1 November 1961 · Q7384672
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Ryan Zinke speaks on harassment within the Department of the Interior
'US Department of the Interior' governmental YouTube Channel · Public domain
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Over the past eight years … hunting, and recreation enthusiasts have seen trails closed and dramatic decreases in access to public lands across the board. It worries me to think about hunting and fishing becoming activities for the land-owning elite. This package of secretarial orders will expand access for outdoor enthusiasts and also make sure the community
better management of federal land
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“Over the past eight years … hunting, and recreation enthusiasts have seen trails closed and dramatic decreases in access to public lands across the board. It worries me to think about hunting and fishing becoming activities for the land-owning elite. This package of secretarial orders will expand access for outdoor enthusiasts and also make sure the community”
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“better management of federal land”
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The Independent: Former Trump Cabinet secretary Ryan Zinke to retire due to health concerns
Yahoo: Former Trump Cabinet secretary Ryan Zinke won't seek reelection to a Montana US House seat
Zinke announced he would not seek re-election in 2026
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Career landmark: United States representative (2025).
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Zinke defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election again with 52% of the vote to Tranel's 45%
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Campaign: 2024 congressional election.
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Zinke voted against House Concurrent Resolution 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U
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Career landmark: United States representative (2023–2025).
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Campaign: 2022 congressional election.
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KHQ: Ryan Zinke files to seek new term in Congress
Politico reported that he no longer resided at his Whitefish house and spent more time in Santa Barbara
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“s 1st congressional district, which was reconstituted after the 2020 census. He defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election. 2024 congressional election In 2024, Zinke defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election again with 52% of the vote to Tranel”
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Trump announced that Zinke would leave "the Administration at the end of the year"; he later tweeted that he would name the new Secretary of the Interior the following week
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Trump announced that Zinke would leave his post as of January 2, 2019, to be replaced by his deputy, David Bernhardt
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Claimed: “The Navajo people who “live close” to Bears Ears National Monument “were all in support” of President Trump’s decision to shrink the protected land.” — rated False by FactCheck.org.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Claimed: “"The carbon footprint on wind [energy] is significant."” — rated Misleading by FactCheck.org.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Claimed: ““Under the previous administration it was … $100 to fill a car. American energy has delivered. Now it’s $60. That’s $40 you have in your pocket … that you wouldn’t have.”” — rated False by PolitiFact.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
“environmental terrorist groups”
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As in 2017, Zinke proposed budget cuts to the Interior Department for fiscal year 2019, mostly from the Bureau of Land Management, U
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke posed with an elephant he shot.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “A photograph shows Ryan Zinke posing with a dead elephant.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Claimed: ““Our country has inherited an energy-dependent country from previous generations, and in recent years, we've struggled to be self-sufficient in producing low-cost, abundant and reliable energy.”” — rated Four Pinocchios by The Washington Post.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
In the Montana special election to fill Zinke's vacated House seat, Republican nominee Greg Gianforte defeated Democratic nominee Rob Quist, with 49
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Becoming the first SEAL and the first Montanan since statehood to occupy a Cabinet position
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And he was confirmed by the full Senate by a 68–31 vote on March 1
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The last day of the Obama administration, that banned the use of lead bullets and lead fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges
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Career landmark: United States Secretary of the Interior (2017–2019).
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Zinke took steps to unwind a 2015 plan that protected the greater sage-grouse
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In a speech to the National Petroleum Council, Zinke said that one-third of Interior Department employees were disloyal to Trump and that "[he's] got 30 percent of the crew that's not loyal to the flag"
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Career landmark: United States representative (2017–2017).
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At the recommendation of Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr
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Zinke ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 7 and faced the Democratic nominee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau in the general election on November 8
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As a congressman, Zinke appeared on the radio show Where's Obama's Birth Certificate, known for its promotion of birther conspiracy theories
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Campaign: 2016 House election.
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Zinke voted for an amendment proposed by Representative Dave Loebsack that provided for the expansion of the use of digital learning through the establishment of a competitive grant program to implement and evaluate the
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Career landmark: United States representative (2015–2017).
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The Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding coordination between Zinke's campaign and SOFA
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Campaign: 2014 House election.
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“s at-large congressional district, a seat vacated when the incumbent, Steve Daines, successfully sought a seat in the U.S. Senate. During the Republican primary, Zinke attracted attention for calling Hillary Rodham Clinton”
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With his friend former Navy SEAL Gary Stubblefield taking his place
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Zinke hosted a radio show in which he engaged with and promoted fringe conspiratorial views, including birtherism (the contention that Obama was not born in the United States)
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Election lost: 2012 election for lieutenant governor.
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Zinke founded a super PAC named Special Operations for America, or SOFA, to support Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign
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Campaign: 2012 election for lieutenant governor.
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Signed a letter calling global warming "a threat multiplier for instability in the most volatile regions of the world" and saying that "the clean energy and climate challenge is America's new space race"
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While in the Montana Senate, Zinke was one of nearly 1,200 state legislators who signed a letter to President Barack Obama and Congress calling for "comprehensive clean energy jobs and climate change legislation
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Career landmark: member of the State Senate of Montana (2009–2011).
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Zinke formed the consulting company On Point Montana
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Serving from 2009 to 2013, representing the city of Whitefish
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Zinke said he "support[s] increased coal production for electrical generation and believe[s] it can and should be done with adequate environmental safeguards" and that he "believe[s] the use of alternate energy sources a
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“support[s] increased coal production for electrical generation and believe[s] it can and should be done with adequate environmental safeguards”
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Was selected to establish the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, serving as dean of the graduate school until his retirement from active duty in 2008
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Zinke formed Continental Divide International, a property management and business development consulting company
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Zinke was the deputy and acting commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula
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Studied at University of San Diego, Master of Science (2003).
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And a Master of Science degree in global leadership from the University of San Diego in 2003
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Studied at National University, Master of Business Administration (1991).
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Received orders to United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) and completed a specialized selection and training course
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Played for Oregon Ducks football (1984).
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Studied at University of Oregon, Bachelor of Science (1984).
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Born 1961-11-01.
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“s congressional election. Personal life Zinke married Lolita Hand on August 8, 1992. Both had been married before; Hand was a widow with a young daughter. He and Hand also have two children together. He is Catholic. Zinke splits his time among Washington, D.C.; Whitefish, Montana, his hometown; and Santa Barbara, California, his wife”
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s 1st congressional district, which was reconstituted after the 2020 census. He defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election. 2024 congressional election In 2024, Zinke defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election again with 52% of the vote to Tranel
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