Republicans sweep Montana's state and federal races

Republican candidates won every state and federal position in the Montana election Tuesday night, most by double digit margins.

More than 30 percent of precincts in the state had not yet fully reported their ballots at the time this was written, but most races have been called, or their respective front-runners have declared victory.

Montana as of the precincts counted this morning gave Republican President Donald Trump the win with 56 percent of the votes counted to former Vice President Joe Biden's 41 percent.

The race for president still is too close to call, with Biden holding a slight lead in electoral votes over Biden but neither at the 270 needed to win the presidency.

Some states still do not expect to finish counting until today, with others not expecting or even planning to finish counting until Thursday or Friday.

North Carolina, one of the states that hangs in the balance, will accept ballots postmarked by election day through Nov. 12.

Hill County mirrored the state totals in so far in statewide and federal races except for Montana superintendent of public instruction, giving the Republican candidates the win in all of the other races.

In Montana races., U.S. Sen. Steve Daines R-Mont. will retain his seat, having a lead of 10 points over his opponent, Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

Bullock release a statement offering congratulations to Daines and thanking his family for supporting him, and his staff for all the hard work they've done in the last nine months.

He said he still thinks Washington can work better and he thanked the people of Montana for trusting him in his years as attorney general and governor.

"I am not naive, but I am sufficiently idealistic enough to believe that Washington could work a lot better. Montana has been a gift to me, and given me more than I could ever give back," he said.

The Havre Daily News had not received any comments from Daines by the time this was written.

Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale beat former Rep. Kathleen Williams, D-Bozeman, with a 12 point lead in the race for Montana's sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rosendale thanked his supporters in a statement released this morning and vowed to help get Montana's health and economy on track and protect affordable health care and those with pre-existing conditions.

"This election has made one thing abundantly clear," he said, "that Montanans want solutions. They want someone who will work just as hard every day serving the public as they do providing for their family, someone who keeps their promises, and who realizes that the job of a public servant is just that, to serve the public."

Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., ran for governor instead of trying to retain his House seat, and, along with his running mate Kristen Juras, held a 12-point lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and his running mate, House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, D-Great Falls.

Cooney released a concession statement Tuesday night congratulating Gianforte on his win and saying he will work to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

"There's no doubt our priorities and our visions for Montana are different. But I wish you the best as you continue your journey in public service," he said to Gianforte in the statement.

He added that he expects Montana's new governor to act with the interests of all Montanans in mind.

Melissa Romano ran the closest race so far for state level Democrats, behind Republican incumbent Elsie Arntzen by eight points in the race for superintendent of public instruction, a rematch of the 2016 race Arntzen won.

Romano released a concession statement this morning thanking everyone who has supported her in her two races for the position, and said she hopes her opponent takes the opportunity she's been given seriously.

"This campaign was about giving a voice to Montana families who believe in quality public education," she said. "I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish. Montanans are demanding more of my opponent, and I hope she takes our message to heart."

Arntzen's campaign put out a statement saying she was humbled to be reelected and excited to get to work.

"I'm back to work and together we will put our Montana students first," she said.

That race was the only race where Hill County favored the Democrat, giving Romano 3,405 votes to Arntzen's 3,347.

Other state-level races are producing even bigger wins, with former Deputy Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen winning by 18 points over Bryce Bennett, and Austin Knudsen winning by 16 points against Raph Graybill for state Attorney General.

Jacobsen released a statement about her apparent victory thanking her family, friends and Montana voters.

"The people of Montana have spoken," she said, "and I am honored to have been chosen to make sure that Montana has clean and fair elections."

Knudsen released a statement thanking his supporters and said he will use his time to fight drug use in the state, something of great concern to him and his wife.

"I got into this race because Christie and I saw the devastation of the drug epidemic that has ravaged communities all across Montana, and we had to do everything we could to make sure that our kids, and future generations, have a chance at growing up in safer communities," he said. "This race was about law and order and protecting our Montana way of life."

Graybill released a statement this morning congratulating his opponent and thanking his supporters saying even though he didn't win, his supporters sent a message.

"I congratulate Austin Knudsen on his victory last night," he said. "His success as attorney general is Montana's success, and I wish him the very best."

The race for state Auditor has seen Troy Downing winning over Shane Morigeau by 15 points.

Morigeau said he's grateful to his supporters, and wished his opponent the best and that he hopes he will do right by the people of Montana.

"We may have lost last night, but our job is not done," he said. "We need to continue to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable among us, and to hold accountable those who put their financial interest ahead of Montanans."

The Havre Daily had not received any comment from Downing by the time this story was written.

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Havre Daily News Managing Editor Tim Leeds contributed to this report.