Decision Desk HQ has officially called Montana’s Governor race for incumbent Republican Greg Gianforte, as early results show him leading Democratic challenger Ryan Busse by a wide margin.
With 6.2% of the vote counted as of 9:25 p.m., Gianforte has garnered 22,188 votes, while Busse trails with 12,777 votes. Libertarian candidate Kaiser Leib is currently in third place with 757 votes.
The Republican Governors Association issued a statement congratulating Gianforte on his re-election victory, praising his leadership and accomplishments in office.
“Governor Greg Gianforte has delivered win after win to the people of Montana, from lower taxes and record job creation to safe streets and neighborhoods,” the RGA said. “Governor Gianforte’s experience as a businessman and entrepreneur allows him to lead Montana into the future while protecting the Montana way of life. The RGA is proud to congratulate Governor Gianforte on his re-election victory and looks forward to supporting his continued efforts to keep Montana on the path of prosperity.”
Following the early declaration of victory, Gianforte thanked his supporters and emphasized his commitment to continuing his work for Montana. “It’s been an honor to serve as your governor, and I look forward to working with all Montanans to keep moving this state forward,” Gianforte said.
Gianforte’s re-election means he will serve a second term as governor, alongside his running mate and current Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras. As of now, the full results are still being counted, and additional updates are expected as more ballots are processed.