Montana
House of Representatives
| District | Democrat | Republican | Other | Reporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
33.8%
McDonald
|
60.4%
Rehberg*
|
5.7%
Other
|
100% |
Major Ballot Measures
| Measure | Yes | No | Reporting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC | Hold a constitutional convention |
41.4%
|
58.6%
|
100% |
| I | Change fees and financing for big-game hunting |
54.0%
|
46.0%
|
100% |
| I | Limit fees and rates for payday and other loans |
71.6%
|
28.4%
|
100% |
| CI | Continue to prohibit any new real estate taxes |
72.6%
|
27.4%
|
100% |
State Highlights
Representative Denny Rehberg, Montana’s sole congressman, easily defeated his Democratic challenger, Dennis McDonald, in this heavily Republican state.
Voters also approved three ballot initiatives, including one that put a limit on interest rates for payday loans.
Despite his affiliation with the ruling party in Congress, Mr. McDonald sought to capitalize on anti-incumbent sentiments this year by portraying Mr. Rehberg, who has held the seat for 10 years, as a political insider. Mr. McDonald, a rancher and the former chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, also questioned Mr. Rehberg’s involvement in a boating accident last summer that resulted in serious injuries, and in charges that the driver, a state senator, had been drinking.
For their part, Republicans sought to link Mr. McDonald, a former lawyer, to an organized-crime figure and mob informant that he once represented.
Mr. McDonald, in addition to the typical television commercials and rallies, tried to attract attention to his long-shot campaign: he often showed up at campaign events atop his horse, Rowboat, and with a donkey, Justice, in tow.
KATIE THOMAS