Montana Sees Red as GOP Sweeps 2024
UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon
Senator Jon Tester conceded Montana's U.S. Senate race Wednesday, thanking supporters and saying he felt "blessed" to have served for more than 20 years in both the Senate and before that in the Montana Legislature.
"I've had a great 18 years in the United States Senate. I've met some incredible people along the way," Tester said. "And had the opportunity to do some great things to help move this state forward, move the country forward. I wish Senator-elect Sheehy all the best because quite frankly it's really important that we have good leadership in Washington DC."
Although there was still a slim chance Tester would pull out the come-from-behind surge that re-elected him in 2012 and 2018, ultimately the margins just weren't there. While Tester carried the state's urban counties like Bozeman, Missoula, Butte, and Helena, Sheehy dominated the rural counties and was able to swing the Great Falls vote, which had been Tester's previous salvation in close races.
ORIGINAL STORY:
GOP Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy remains in the driver's seat as the final votes continue to be tallied in Montana's U.S. Senate race, while it remains to be seen whether incumbent Jon Tester can pull off another large-county driven comeback.
As of early this morning, Sheehy mailed a 38,000 vote lead over the Big Sandy Democrat, a margin of 53% to 45%. The margin had been even larger until some 40,000 ballots joined the total from Missoula County, where Tester was picking up nearly 66% of the vote.
Tester was also leading in Bozeman and Butte, which has given him victories before, but trailing in Great Falls and the Flathead. Predictably, he was trailing 56-to-41 percent in Billings.
Sheehy declaring victory
For his part, Sheehy thanked Tester in his remarks early this morning, pledging service and unity.
"To those who did not vote for me, I will also serve you just like I did in the military," Sheehy pledged. "I took an oath to serve all Americans, and I'll take an oath here to serve all Montanans. So I will earn your vote in the future if you didn't vote for me, I will work to earn your support and future elections. Because we have to save this country and to save it we got to come together and figure out how to heal this country."
We're expecting to hear from Tester sometime this morning.
Republicans hold Montana Congressional seats
The Senate race brought the only real competition of the night, as Ryan Zinke was beating Monica Tranel for the western Montana House seat, and Republican Troy Downey was declared an early Congressional winner in the east.
Gianforte secures second term
Governor Greg Gianforte declared victory early, capturing nearly 60% of the vote over Ryan Busse."Finally, I want to thank all Montanans for their continued trust and support and tonight I reaffirm to you that I will continue to serve all Montanans because I truly believe we have more in common than separates us."
Other state races go GOP
Secretary of State Christi Jacobson and Attorney General Austin Knudsen held a similar margin of victory in their respective re-election bids.
Abortion amendment wins
The "red wave" also has voters rejecting CI-126, giving more choices during primary elections, and CI-127, the complicated idea of changing the application of majority vote.
The only bright spot for left-leaning voters was the passage of CI-128, which will give voters a broader choice during Primary elections, was approved with 58%-percent of the ballots.
Montana remains "Trump Country"
President Donald Trump was the choice of 58% of Montanans as part of his nationwide victory. That's just short of the 60% Montana record still held by Ronald Reagan), with Kamala Harris supported by just 39% through the count early this morning.
The Pros and Cons of Living in Montana
Sometimes a place's strengths are the same as its weaknesses.