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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

MTPR On Scene At Daines Watch Party

Eric Whitney

MTPR News Director Eric Whitney is covering the Steve Daines election night watch party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bozeman tonight.

Earlier today he spoke briefly with the Republican Congressman at a press conference, after Daines and his wife Cindy voted at the county election office on Main street. 

"It's bringing back a lot of memories today," Daines said, pointing to the building across the street. "That's where I went to fifth and sixth grade right there, back when it used to be Wilson Middle School."

Most election watchers expect Daines to win by a wide margin. He won his party's primary easily, and then in August Democratic Senator John Walsh dropped out of the race, after it was discovered that he plagarized a substantial portion of his Master's thesis at the Army War College.

State Senator Amanda Curtis, who's also a math teacher in Butte, won the right to succeed Walsh as the Democrat in the race and has campaigned hard, but hasn't had the time or money to get her name and ideas in front of voters like Daines has. 

But despite his advantages, Daines spent today working the phones to turn out as many Republican voters as possible.

"We're optimistic, but we're not taking anything for granted," Daines said. "We are working hard. We will finish strong. We'll be working all the way until 8:00 tonight, running through the tape, making calls, going door to door, energizing the voters of Montana and make sure they get out and exercise their right to vote."

We'll interview Congressman Steve Daines shortly after the race's winner is declared tonight. Tune in to or stream MTPR News for local election coverage every half-hour, starting at 8pm. 

Credit Eric Whitney
Governor Steve Daines voting in Bozeman today.

Eric Whitney is NPR's Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and was the former news director for Montana Public Radio.
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