Republicans sweep Montana

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.