Pat Flowers (politician)

Pat Flowers
Minority Leader of the Montana Senate
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
Preceded byJill Cohenour
Member of the Montana Senate
from the 32nd district
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byJedediah Hinkle
Personal details
BornPatrick Joseph Flowers[1]
(1956-03-02) March 2, 1956
PartyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Hedvig Rappe-Flowers (died 2007)
Melissa Blessing
Children4 (including 2 stepchildren)
EducationUniversity of Montana (BS, MS)

Patrick Joseph Flowers (born March 2, 1956) is an American politician who has served in the Montana Senate representing District 32 since 2019. He is a member of the Montana Democratic Party and has served as Minority Leader of the Senate since 2023.[2]

Early life and career

Flowers was born in Akron, Ohio and graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science in forestry as well as a Master of Science in forest economics.[3] After graduating, he worked at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation including as chief of the Forestry Management Bureau. He then worked as the Region 3 supervisor of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for 31 years before retiring in August 2014.[4]

Electoral history

2018

Montana Senate 32nd district general election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Flowers 5,979 50.38%
Republican Jedediah Hinkle (incumbent) 5,552 46.79%
Libertarian Francis Wendt 336 2.83%
Total votes 11,867 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

2022

Montana Senate 32nd district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Flowers (incumbent) 5,572 52.30%
Republican Randy Chamberlin 5,082 47.70%
Total votes 10,654 100%
Democratic hold

Personal life

Flowers was married to Hedvig Rappe-Flowers, a Nordic skier and artist who immigrated to Montana from Sweden as a teenager, until her death from cancer in 2007. They have two daughters, Erika and Nicole.[5] He currently resides in Belgrade, Montana, with his wife Melissa Blessing and has two stepdaughters.[3]

References

  1. ^ https://www.leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/5050
  2. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (November 12, 2024). "Montana Legislature elects leadership for 2025 session". KTVH-TV. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Lawmakers of Montana 2025 Legislative Session" (PDF). Montana State Legislature. January 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  4. ^ Lundquist, Laura (August 15, 2014). "FWP supervisor counts bison among career successes". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Edwards, Becky (2007). "RIP: Hedvig Rappe-Flowers". Outside Bozeman. Retrieved December 24, 2025.