Montana Republicans swept statewide offices in the 2024 election.
U.S. Senate
Tim Sheehy, a political newcomer who's not held public office before, was leading three term incumbent Tester by about eight percentage points Wednesday morning when the Associated Press called the race in the Republican's favor.
Sheehy was endorsed by Republican President-elect Donald Trump early in the race and has campaigned on a promise to help push Trump's priorities. That includes tighter restrictions at the southern border, cutting federal spending and bringing a business owner's perspective to the federal government.
Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, founded an aerial firefighting company in Bozeman called Bridger Aerospace. At an election night watch party in Bozeman, Sheehy addressed supporters and had a message for those who voted for Tester.
"If you didn't vote for me, I will work to earn your support in future elections, because we have to save this country, and to save it, we've got to come together And figure out how to heal this country. We have to disagree better, and we've got to actually move forward and stop arguing about everything. We've got to make some progress."
Tester's tenure in the U.S. Senate included chairing the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Defense Appropriation Subcommittee. He was first elected by Montanans to the state Legislature in 1998. He was then elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. The working farmer held a press conference early Wednesday morning. He congratulated Sheehy.
"I wish Senator-elect Sheehy all the best, because quite frankly, it's really important that we have good leadership in Washington D.C."
Sheehy will join Montana Sen. Steve Daines in the upper chamber. Republicans have not held both of Montana's U.S. Senate seats in more than 100 years.
Governor
Gov. Greg Gianforte won a second term. Gianforte spoke to a crowd of supporters at a GOP watch party in Bozeman soon after the AP called his win over Democrat Ryan Busse minutes, after polls closed.
"I can tell you that serving as your governor these last four years has been the greatest honor of my life — and now we get four more years!"
U.S. House
Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke has won another two-year term representing Montana’s western congressional district, according to a race call from the Associated Press.
Zinke’s rematch against Democrat Monica Tranel was called early Wednesday morning.
By mid-day Wednesday the incumbent won 53 percent of the vote to Tranel’s 44 percent.
"I was both proud and honored that Montana was able to see through the vicious attacks and focus on policy. I think both sides of the aisle know that we have to get things done," Zinke said.
This will be Zinke’s fourth term in Congress. He says he looks forward to getting back to work to improve Montana’s infrastructure, economy and housing affordability, among other issues.
Affordable housing was the centerpiece of Tranel’s campaign. During her campaign’s watch party in Missoula Tuesday night, Tranel implored voters to stay in line until they were able to vote.
“So until that last vote is cast and counted, we don’t know anything. Across the country, every vote will be cast and counted. Then, and only then, will we start talking about what the outcome is.”
As of late Wednesday afternoon, Tranel had not yet issued a statement of concession or congratulations to the Zinke campaign. A Tranel representative tells MTPR a statement would most likely be forthcoming on Thursday.
Supreme Court
Montanans have elected two new justices to the Montana Supreme Court. While nonpartisan, politicos from each party threw support behind their favored candidates.
The new chief of the court will be Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson of Townsend. Swanson has not been a judge before. He was largely backed by Republican donors and calls himself a judicial conservative. He was previously a deputy attorney under former Attorney General Tim Fox.
Swanson beat former federal Magistrate Judge Jerry Lynch of Missoula. Swanson said after the race was called by AP that he promises “to emphasize the rule of law and keep politics out of the courtroom.”
District Court Judge Katharine Bidegaray (BID-ah-gary) of Sidney offered a similar sentiment after winning election to the other open seat on the state’s high court. Bidegaray prevailed over Flathead County District Court Judge Dan Wilson of Kalispell, according to AP.
Bidegaray largely received support from Democrats in the race. She’s been a judge for 21 years and says she’s committed to protecting individual rights afforded by the Montana Constitution. After the race was called, Bidegaray said she hopes the high court can continue to have “the strength and courage” to avoid being swayed by outside pressures.
CI-128
Montanans voted in favor of enshrining abortion access in the state Constitution. Abortion providers say it’s a big win.
Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula has been spread thin as more people from states with abortion bans seek care. Tess Fields says her staff haven’t turned patients away but says care has been delayed because she doesn’t have enough staff to keep up.
“We’re going to be increasing our operations, hiring additional providers to manage the surge in patients coming from out of state.”
Fields hopes to hire two additional providers. That would expand telehealth services, and the number of days Blue Mountain can perform surgical abortions. She also wants a staff member to focus on letting out-of-state patients know they can legally get care in Montana.
Fields says despite the new constitutional protection in Montana, she still worries about continued political attacks on abortion access.
CI-126 & 127
CI-126, which would have created a top-four primary, was rejected by voters. Likewise, CI-127 failed. It would have required winning candidates to receive at least 50% of the vote.
Public Service Commission
Republican candidates won all three seats up for election to the Public Service Commission. This will keep the Five-person commission all Republican, as it has been for over a decade. The PSC is the state agency responsible for regulating monopoly utility companies.
Former State Senator Jeff Welborn, from Dillon, beat Democratic challenger Leonard Williams, to represent southwest Montana.
Former Billings State Senator Brad Molnar beat Democratic opponent Susan Bilo to represent the southeastern district.
The only incumbent candidate, Vice President Jennifer Fielder, won reelection against independent candidate Elena Evans to represent western Montana on the PSC.
Commissioners will be tasked with several large regulatory decisions in the new year, including; requests from two monopoly utilities to charge customers higher rates, approval of NorthWestern Energy owning more shares of Colstrip, and a petition to consider climate change as part of their work.
This is the only election using the current map for districts, after a district court found it was unfairly drawn to favor Republicans.
Executive offices
Republicans are celebrating wins in the rest of Montana's top executive positions.
That includes: James Brown as State Auditor, Christi Jacobsen as Secretary of State, Susie Hedalen as Superintendent of Public Instruction, Bowen Greenwood as Clerk of the Supreme Court and Austin Knudsen as Attorney General.
Knudsen said this to supporters last night as early results showed strong support for the GOP.
"What a great night to be a Republican in America, but what a great night to be a Republican in Montana. Thank you all!"
Voter turnout
Unofficial election results show more than 71% of Montana voters participated in the 2024 election. That’s similar voter turnout to previous presidential campaign years. Since 1972, the highest voter turnout was for the 2020 election, when 80% of voters cast their ballots. The average voter turnout for a presidential election year is 72%.
This election, Petroleum, Garfield and Judith Basin Counties all saw the highest percentage of voters, while Big Horn, Glacier and Roosevelt Counties had the lowest turnout rates.
While statewide races have been called by the Associated Press because there is no way trailing candidates can catch up, elections administrators are still tallying votes in several counties that saw multiple hour wait times after polls closed last night. There are over 800,000 registered voters in Montana.
