Republicans sweep Montana

Incumbents take the cake in the Seeley-Swan

Republicans claimed political control across all the top state races this general election cycle in Montana, including the open U.S. Senate seat, both U.S. House seats, Governor, Public Service Commission, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Auditor and Secretary of State.

More specifically, Ryan Zinke took the western U.S. House District and Troy Downing the eastern. Greg Gianforte was reelected governor. Brad Molnar, Jeff Welborn and Jennifer Fielder were elected to the state Public Service Commission. Austin Knudsen was reelected as Attorney General. Susie Hedalen won the Superintendent of Public Instruction role. James Brown was elected as State Auditor, and Christi Jacobsen reelected as Secretary of State.

Katherine Bidegaray won a seat on the state Supreme Court against Dan Wilson and Cory Swanson took the Chief Justice seat on the Supreme Court against Jeremiah Lynch.

Three-term Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Tester lost his reelection bid to Republican Tim Sheehy, aiding in the flip of the U.S. Senate from Democratic to Republican control. Senate seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Nebraska also went Republican, solidifying the chamber’s 52-44 Republican majority, as of Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m. according to the Associated Press. The U.S. House Republicans also sit with a 205-189 majority as of publication.

And, as the first president to be reelected to a second, non-consecutive term in over 130 years (Grover Cleveland being the last to do so in his second term in 1892), and the first Republican to win the popular vote (which is still being counted) since 2004 when George W. Bush was elected president, Donald Trump became the country’s 47th president.

Montanans also approved Constitutional Initiative 128, which will instill the right to abortion in the Montana state Constitution, 57.2% to 42.8% as of Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m. per the AP. The other two constitutional initiatives on the ballot regarding open primaries and majority vote failed.

Closer to home, incumbents won in each legislative race on the ballot for the Seeley-Swan, including Republican John Fitzpatrick in House District 76, Democrat Connie Keogh in HD 92 and Republican Becky Beard in Senate District 38. In SD 46 where no incumbent was running, Democrat Jacinda Morgieau was successful against Republican Charles Headley.

Incumbent Missoula County Commissioner Democrat Josh Slotnik was reelected.

Visit montanafreepress.org for the most up-to-date election results and analysis.

This story will be updated for newspaper publication next week.

This story was updated at 5:15 p.m. to include the results of the Missoula County Commission race.

Author Bio

Keely Larson, Editor

Perfectly competent at too many things

Keely's journalism career started with staff positions at the Lone Peak Lookout and The Madisonian in southwest Montana and freelancing for Dance Spirit Magazine.

In 2023, she completed a legislative reporting fellowship with KFF Health News during Montana's 68th legislative session and graduated with an MA in Environmental Journalism from the University of Montana. Keely completed a summer fire reporting internship with Montana Free Press in 2022.

Her bylines include Scientific American, Modern Farmer, U.S. News & World Report, CBS News, The New Republic, KFF Health News, Montana Free Press, Ars Technica, Mountain Journal and Outside Business Journal.

She also is a producer and editor for a Montana Public Radio podcast.

Keely received her undergraduate degrees in History and Religious Studies from Montana State University in 2017.

In her spare time, she's dancing, drinking prosecco and running around the mountains.

  • Email: pathfinder@seeleylake.com

 

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