UPDATE: 8 a.m. - November 6, 2024
Jon Tester delivered a concession speech Wednesday morning after speaking to Tim Sheehy and offering him his congratulations.
Watch below:
Republican Tim Sheehy also delivered an acceptance speech at the Armory Hotel in Bozeman early Wednesday morning:
UPDATE: 6:30 a.m. - November 6, 2024
Republican Tim Sheehy is projected to win Montana’s U.S. Senate race, according to Decision Desk HQ.
With 91% of the votes counted at about 6:30 a.m. Sheehy, a Gallatin County businessman, garnered 281,527, or 53%, while Tester received 237,456 votes.
Sheehy benefitted from a strong showing at the top of the ballot. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy.
Sheehy, 38, is a former Navy Seal and founder of Bridger Aerospace, a Gallatin County aerial firefighting firm. He leaned heavily on his military and business background in his campaign, which was his first run for public office.
With his victory, Sheehy will add to the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate following Republican victories in Ohio and West Virginia, where Democrats failed to protect their seats.
The two campaigns have spent more than $100 million since the start of 2023. Tester has a nearly four-to-one spending advantage, having doled out $79.2 million to Sheehy’s $21.9 million.
The nonpartisan group OpenSecrets has identified another $155 million in independent expenditures, split evenly among groups supporting each candidate.
UPDATE: 1:52 a.m. - November 6, 2024
Republican Tim Sheehy extended his lead over Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester after the first tallies from Yellowstone, Lewis and Clark and Flathead counties were released early Wednesday morning.
Sheehy leads 52% to 46% as of 1:45 a.m, according to Decision Desk HQ. An estimated 62% of the vote has been counted statewide.
UPDATE: 11:22 p.m. - August 5, 2024
Republican Tim Sheehy's lead shrank to 49.9% to 48% over Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester as more votes were tallied.
Both Missoula and Silver Bow counties, which typically lean Democratic, released their vote tallies, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Other large Montana counties, including Yellowstone and Cascade, which lean more Republican, have yet to release any results.
UPDATE: 8:55 p.m. - November 5, 2024
Sen. Jon Tester took the stage briefly in Great Falls to speak with reporters.
“To the folks still waiting in line your vote is very important in this race... With your help and the folks' standing in line help, we’re gonna win this damn thing," he said.
Early returns show Sheehy with a 54% to 44% lead, with less than 1% percent of all precincts reporting.
ORIGINAL REPORT
The campaigning for Montana’s most expensive political race in history is over, and both candidates are now awaiting results.
Polls have closed for the U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. The race has garnered national attention, with total spending reaching $255 million.
Sheehy, 38, is in Bozeman Tuesday night awaiting the results, while Tester is in Great Falls.
Tester, 68, is Montana's lone statewide Democrat who is seeking his fourth six-year term in office. A dirt farmer from Big Sandy, Tester has run to the middle during the campaign, almost never mentioning his party in campaign ads and focusing on his Montana roots.
Sheehy, a Gallatin County resident who grew up in Minnesota, is the founder of Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting firm. He sailed easily through this summer’s primary election with major backing from Montana’s other U.S. senator, Steve Daines.
This is his first run for public office.
Sheehy is a former Navy Seal and has placed his military and business background at the center of his campaign.
The two campaigns have spent more than $100 million since the start of 2023. Tester has a nearly four-to-one spending advantage, having doled out $79.2 million to Sheehy’s $21.9 million.
The nonpartisan group OpenSecrets has identified another $155 million in independent expenditures, split evenly among groups supporting each candidate.
Polling this year has generally shown Sheehy in the lead, though the numbers have tightened in recent weeks. Analysts have noted that Tester is facing political headwinds while he’s on the ballot during the presidential race in Montana, which former President Donald Trump, a Republican, is expected to win easily.
