Republican Governor Greg Gianforte has secured a second four-year term after a challenge from Democrat Ryan Busse failed in Tuesday’s General Election. The Associated Press called the race almost as soon as polls closed at 8 in the evening even though very low percentages of votes had been counted. As of about 1 this morning with nearly 25% of precincts reporting Gianforte led Busse by 20 percentage points.
Republican Tim Sheehy has defeated over Democratic incumbent Jon Tester in Montana’s Senate race expanding the GOP majority in the Senate. Sheehy led Tester 53% to 45% when the race was called by the Associated Press at 4:26 this morning Montana time. It’s the first time since 1896 the GOP in Montana has won its Senate seats governor’s mansion and both legislative chambers at the same time.
Republican incumbent Ryan Zinke held 53% of the vote early this morning in his rematch in the western congressional district race against Democratic challenger Monica Tranel who had 44% as of 3 o’clock. At 3:28 this morning with more than 74 percent of the vote in Zinke released a victory statement and will once again represent Montana’s First Congressional District next year.
Montana Auditor Troy Downing will exchange his office in Helena for one in Washington D.C. The Associated Press declared the Republican the next Congressman from Montana as he beat Democratic challenger John Driscoll. He will replace outgoing Eastern District Republican Representative Matt Rosendale who did not seek re-election.
Cory Swanson appears to have won the seat for the Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice position with 54 percent of the vote over Jeremiah Lynch who got 46 percent. Katherine Bidegaray appears to have won the other contested seat on the court with 54 percent over Dan Wilson who received 46 percent.
Avista has entered a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with Grid United’s wholly owned entity North Plains Connector for a 10% ownership stake in the US Gigawatt east-west transmission line project that links the US eastern and western electric grids in Montana and North Dakota. The project has endpoints near Bismarck and Colstrip and will enhance the US electric energy market connectivity.
Montana gasoline prices have dropped 13 out of the past 14 weeks and this week was the largest drop of the year. According to Gas Buddy prices in Montana are 11.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 49.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. Montana is currently ranked 18th in the U.S. when it comes to the average price of gas.
The Montana Lottery has reported the state’s sports bettors wagered $7.59 million during October the first full month of NFL betting but after $7.62 million in payouts the state reported a loss of $26,938. The October figures bring Montana’s sports betting handle to more than $231.6 million since the state launched its betting market in March 2020.
This week the Kalispell City Council gave the go ahead to the Tronstad Meadows and Whitetail Crossing residential projects. The twin subdivisions are expected to include 355 single-family lots ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 square feet with 140 lots exceeding 10,000 square feet.
Researchers from the University of Montana and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality have teamed up to put low-cost user-friendly air monitors in high schools across the state. Each school gets one made by PurpleAir to put inside funded by the university and one to put outside funded by the DEQ.
