Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana has lost re-election to businessman Tim Sheehy, NBC News Projects.
Tester, the rare Democrat to represent a red state, served three terms after building a reputation as a moderate Democrat with long ties to Montana. But his folksy personality, which included a flat haircut and three missing fingers due to a meat grinder accident in his youth, wasn’t enough to overcome the strong partisan headwinds of a divisive presidential election that landed Donald Trump back in the White House . Ticket voting has become less common in American politics.
Sheehy, a Minnesota native who moved to Montana to start an aerial firefighting company, was endorsed by Trump in the Republican primaries, leading to his main opponent, Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale, dropping out shortly afterward.
Trump also campaigned for Sheehy in August, a rare stop in a four-electoral state that has favored the Republican presidential nominee since 1996. The campaign stop appears to have worked, however, as polls show Sheehy moving ahead around that time, despite questions. about his claim that he was shot in Afghanistan.
Sheehy also appears to have benefited from the changing political climate in Montana, which has become increasingly nationalized and pushed moderates from both parties to the background. Tester’s advantage as a Montana native and former state legislative leader wasn’t enough to break the national partisanship.
Tester was one of a handful of senators whose states reliably voted for the other party’s presidential candidate, along with retiring Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a former Democrat now registered as an independent, and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The loss means Democrats will have an even harder time winning control of the Senate in future elections.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
