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Former Trump administration Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke defeated Democrat Monica Tranel and will represent the newly created 1st Congressional District of Montana. Montana gained the new district this year after reapportionment based on the 2020 census.
The Associated Press called the race for Zinke with the former Trump administration official defeating Tranel by 49.7 percent to 46.4 percent or about 8,000 votes.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the people of Western Montana for once again placing their trust in me to fight for them in Washington, D.C. The voters saw through the vicious lies and deceit of my opponent and radical political groups,” Zinke said in a statement.
“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me on Election Day and all those who volunteered with our campaign to get the word out. For those of you who did not vote for me, my door is always open and you’ll find me to have an open ear, open mind, and shoot straight when we disagree,” he added.
“One key promise is we have to assert the power of the purse,” he said. “We’ve got to show we can control the budget. Right now the budget is out of control.”
BREAKING NEWS: Republican Ryan Zinke is the projected winner over Democrat Monica Tranel in Montana congressional race https://t.co/Dl7C9lDwuB pic.twitter.com/IGfHsXu0nl
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 10, 2022
Zinke received a full endorsement from former President Donald Trump prior to the election.
“Under Ryan Zinke’s leadership at the Department of the Interior, the U.S. achieved Energy Dominance, increased federal energy revenues, and responsibly opened federal acreage for energy production. He was instrumental in expanding public access to public lands for recreation and rebuilding our National Parks and Forests infrastructure. As Montana’s Congressman for the new 2nd District, Ryan will fight against the Radical Left Democrats who continually block the America First policies we put in place. He will be a strong leader for the great Patriots of Montana. Ryan has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Congress!” Trump said in a statement.
Zinke thanked the 45th president for his endorsement at the time.
“I am deeply honored to have President Trump’s complete and total support and endorsement for Montana’s new congressional seat. Together, President Trump and I fought liberal special interests to restore sanity to public land management, rebuild public lands infrastructure, take care of our forests, and make United States ENERGY DOMINANT. In a few short months of Biden/Pelosi regime we’ve seen their radical plan for complete power and control. Our Western values and way of life are worth defending. I look forward to getting back in the saddle and fighting for Montana and the America First Policies,” Zinke said.
Republicans performed well in the state overall.
Republicans tightened their control in Montana, picking up a newly created U.S. House seat in the midterm election as former Trump Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke narrowly captured the state’s western district and incumbent Matt Rosendale rolled over his opponents in the east. Voters delivered two consolation prizes to Democrats with the rejection of an abortion-related referendum and the defeat of a Republican loyalist seeking election to Montana’s nonpartisan Supreme Court. The judicial contest drew a deluge of cash from conservative groups and trial lawyers,” Chron reported.
“But the election that concluded Tuesday left political power firmly in the GOP’s grasp: A potential supermajority at the state Legislature could enable the party to propose referenda to amend the Montana Constitution. Rosendale, Zinke and other Republicans followed the same playbook used in past elections, tying their opponents to national Democrats such as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while also tapping into voter anxiety over crime and the troubled economy,” the outlet added.
With the GOP poised to potentially take the majority in the U.S. House, Zinke said Republicans “have to deliver.”
“One key promise is we have to assert the power of the purse,” he said. “We’ve got to show we can control the budget. Right now the budget is out of control.”
