Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has won a second term as Montana’s governor, Decision Desk HQ projects.
Gianforte, a former member of the House, won his initial term in the governor’s mansion in 2020, becoming the first Republican to hold that office in Big Sky Country in two decades.
His win this cycle was largely expected. Montana has trended increasingly red over the past 10 years; former President Trump won the state by 16 points in 2020.
The state did see a competitive race between Sen. Jon Tester (D) and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, with most polls over the last several weeks showing the Republican leading.
Gianforte has been the subject of controversy in the past. In 2017, he drew headlines when he attacked a reporter and slammed him to the ground the night before Gianforte’s victory in a 2017 special House election. Gianforte pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault and received a deferred 180-day sentence as part of his punishment.
