U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke and Democrat Monica Tranel are running in the 1st Congressional District race in Montana in 2024. (Credit to Ryan Zinke (Gage Skidmore)/Monica Tranel)
Democrat Monica Tranel had taken the lead over Republican Ryan Zinke in the western Congressional district after Missoula County started reporting
The race is a rematch of 2022.
At 11 p.m., Tranel had 51% of the vote and Zinke had 46%. Libertarian Dennis Hayes had 3%.
The candidates are battling to represent Montana’s western congressional district.
Zinke, the incumbent, was Secretary of the Interior under the administration of President Donald Trump and is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL. He was elected to the House in 2014 and 2016.
Tranel had 55,403 at press time, Zinke had 49,467 votes and Hayes had 2,821.
Tranel is a Missoula lawyer and former Olympic rower who has run aggressive campaigns.
She has touted her win in a case over energy costs that kept $8 million in the pockets of NorthWestern Energy consumers as evidence she fights to win.
The utility had wanted customers to pay for replacement power costs but lost.
In the past election, Zinke was hounded by federal ethics investigations related to his activities while Secretary of the Interior that found he engaged in questionable conduct.
Zinke had characterized the probes as politically motivated.
In 2022, Zinke won with 49.6% of the vote. Tranel lost with 46.4% of the vote. Libertarian John Lamb took 3.9%.
Democrats have hoped to make gains this election season after redistricting and with a constitutional initiative to protect abortion on the ballot.
As results rolled in late Tuesday, however, Republicans were demonstrating they still had strong support in Montana.