Boise News

Mid-Term Elections

Tester Wins Montana, Capping Democratic Sweep

By Jonathan Weber , 11-08-06

Conrad Burns (right) on election night. Photo by Pete Talbot.

Updated at 11:10 am MST

Democrat Jon Tester has prevailed over three-term incumbent Conrad Burns in the Montana Senate race, handing control of the chamber to the Democrats and completing a Democratic takeover in a state that until recently was considered hard red. Tester won by a margin of 2,644 votes, enough to keep him about 400 votes away from a possible recount. For more details on the Montana races, click here.

Tester's victory was driven by a massive sweep of the relatively urban areas of Missoula, Butte, and Helena, which was enough to overcome continued Burns dominance in rural Montana. Tester, a farmer from a small town north of Great Falls and president of the Montana State Senate, generated tremendous enthusiasm among Democratic activists, who propelled him to a huge primary win and then to victory over scandal-tainted Burns - though not as comfortable a victory as many expected just a few weeks ago.

While the Rocky Mountain states followed the national Democratic tide to a great extent, the Dems did not register the kind of sweeping victories that they enjoyed in Eastern and Midwestern states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio. In Colorado, New West's Rick Martin called it an historic day for the state's Democrats: Bill Ritter won the gubernatorial race, giving the party control of both state houses and governor's mansion - and the inside track on the next Democratic convention. But in the House races the Republicans did better than they might have, with Doug Lamborn (R) easily defeating Jay Fawcett (D) in Colorado Springs and Marilyn Musgrave (R) prevailing over Angie Paccione (D). Ed Perlmutter (D) did defeat Rick O'Donnell (R) in a Denver-area district that had been considered in play but tipped Democratic in the late going. For more reports from Rick in Denver, click here.

In Wyoming, Republican incumbent Barbara Cubin appears to have squeaked out a victory over Democrat Gary Trauner. Cubin called the race a victory, but Trauner refused to concede, and is still sitting on the decision on whether or not to ask for a recount. Under Wyoming election law, the votes would be recounted if Cubin won by less than 913 votes. Democrat Dave Freudenthal, as expected, has held onto the governor's mansion and Republican Sen. Craig Thomas kept his Senate seat. For reports from Brodie in Wyoming, click here.

In New Mexico, Republican Heather Wilson appears to be holding onto her seat with over Democrat Patricia Madrid. Democrat Bill Richardson will remain Governor, as expected, and Democrat Jeff Bingaman will hold his Senate seat. For details from Emily in Albuquerque, click here.

In Idaho, where Democrats hoped for a breakthrough in the race between far-right Republican Bill Sali and moderate Democrat Larry Grant, Sali has prevailed with a 50% to 45% margin. Republican Butch Otter has stepped into the governor's mansion. Click here for more from Jill Kuraitis on the Idaho results.

On the initiative front, same-sex marriage bans won in Colorado, Idaho and South Dakota but look to be losing in Arizona. Also in South Dakota, the widely watched ban on almost all types of abortion went down to defeat. Minimum wage initiatives are won handily in Montana, Nevada, and Arizona, and not-so-handily in Colorado. Proposition 2, the eminent domain initiative, has lost in Idaho.

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