John E. Erickson (Montana politician)

John Edward Erickson (March 14, 1863 – May 20, 1946) was an American politician from Montana. He served as the 11th Governor of Montana from 1925 to 1933 and as a United States Senator from Montana from 1933 to 1934.

Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, Erickson moved to Montana in 1886. He worked as a lawyer and served as the mayor of Choteau, Montana, from 1905 to 1911, and as a district judge from 1911 to 1925.

As Governor of Montana, Erickson, a Democrat, focused on fiscal conservatism and attempted to address the state's economic woes during the early years of the Great Depression. He also championed progressive reforms, including improvements to education and infrastructure.

In 1933, Erickson was appointed to the U.S. Senate following the death of Senator Thomas J. Walsh. He served for a little over a year before resigning in November 1934, reportedly due to disagreements with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies.

Following his Senate service, Erickson returned to private law practice. He died in Helena, Montana, in 1946.