The 1952 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1952. Incumbent
Governor of MontanaJohn W. Bonner, who was first elected governor in
1948, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the
Democratic primary and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by
J. Hugo Aronson, a
State Senator and the
Republican nominee. A close election ensued, with Aronson narrowly defeating Bonner to win the first of his two terms as governor.