In the elections on November 5, the residents of Montana will decide the most prominent U.S. Senate race and possibly determine which party will control the upper chamber. Trump won Montana in 2016 and 2020 with 57% of the votes, and the Democrats have not campaigned in the state this time.
The Democrats face a challenge to maintain their majority in the Senate, as Republicans are likely to win the seat left vacant by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin in West Virginia. In Montana, Democratic Senator Jon Tester is seeking a fourth term, strongly competing against Republican Tim Sheehy. There will also be a referendum on abortion rights and other contests for president and governor.
Montana is one of the 10 states that will vote on abortion rights. Tester and Bullock, in previous elections, received a significantly higher percentage of votes than Biden and Clinton in the state. Republicans often win in certain counties, and losses in others like Lewis & Clark or Cascade could be concerning for Tester in this election.
The vote counting process in Montana begins before election day, and results are expected to be released after midnight. In the 2018 midterm elections, mail-in voting was significant and reached 98% in 2020 due to the pandemic. The results of the presidential elections in Montana are less competitive than the Senate race.
Tester has invested significantly in his campaign, while Sheehy has contributed personal funds. Cascade is a key county in these elections. In summary, elections in Montana will be crucial in determining the balance in the Senate, and results are expected after midnight on election day.
