Ann Bukacek's election to the Public Service Commission keeps the board all-Republican.

Montana lawmakers will elect party leaders on Wednesday ahead of the 2023 legislative session slated to begin in January.

If current vote tallies hold, Montana legislative Republicans are claiming supermajority status after the midterm election. According to unofficial results, they’ll pick up at least three seats in the state Senate and further solidify their stronghold in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2023 legislative session.

A Gallatin County election official says a large number of voters dropping off absentee ballots in person on Election Day is partly why it took longer to count ballots.

The Republican beat Democrat Monica Tranel by four points to conclude the state’s highest-profile race of the 2022 election cycle.

Montana voters rejected a referendum proponents said was necessary to protect survivors of botched abortions. Opponents called it redundant to infanticide laws already on the books.

Unofficial election results show Ann Bukacek received 56% of votes over Democrat John Repke, who received 43%. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday about 85% of votes have been counted.

The amendment adds “electronic data and communications” to the list of things protected by the state Constitution from unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement.

The highly politicized race became the most expensive in Montana history for the state Supreme Court.

Unofficial results show LR-131, a referendum for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, has received 54% against it, and 46% of votes in favor.