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It's Official - Gianforte Named Montana's Next Congressman

Greg Gianforte
Courtesy Gianforte campaign
Greg Gianforte

Montana’s Secretary of State certified the results of the May 25 special election today, naming Greg Gianforte Montana’s next congressman. Gianforte will be  sworn in as Montana’s next congressman Wednesday,  June 21 in the U.S. Capitol. The state has been without representation in the House since Ryan Zinke resigned the position in March, to become Interior Secretary in the Trump administration.

Gianforte’s win was official as of mid-day, when the Secretary of State signed the official election results.

“I, Corey Stapleton, Secretary of State, of the State of Montana, do by certify that within is a full true and complete …”

According to the official election results, Gianforte won the house seat earning 49.9 percent of the vote. That was enough to beat Democrat challenger Rob Quist who won 44.3 percent, and libertarian Mark Wicks who got 6 percent of the vote.

Gianforte is certified as the state’s next congressman days after pleading guilty and being sentenced for misdemeanor assault against a journalist. The Republican has already filed to run  again for the U.S. House in 2018.

About 55 percent of registered voters in Montana cast ballots in the special election.

 

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

Corin Cates-Carney is the Flathead Valley reporter for MTPR.