The 1952 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1952. Incumbent Governor of Montana John 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.