Three-term Democrat Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.) failed to win a fourth term Tuesday as he was defeated by his opponent, former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy.
Sheehy won with 53% of the votes, compared to Tester with 45.2%, per the Associated Press.
The race in Montana was one of the decisive races that was key in Republicans taking control in the Senate, Fox News reported.
Early on in the cycle, the race was viewed as an opportunity for Republicans to pick up a seat.
Sheehy threw his hat in the ring in June 2023. He sought “a new generation of leaders to step up” in Congress.
After announcing his candidacy, Sheehy received support from several Republicans, including Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Barrasso of Wyoming.
Sheehy previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America and the Pacific region. He earned the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and a Purple Heart.
He also owns several businesses and is married to a U.S. Marine veteran and has four children.
President-elect Donald Trump hailed Sheehy as an “American Hero” in February.
The former school teacher was elected to the Montana Senate in 2006. He owns a family farm in Big Sandy.Â
Republicans took back control of the U.S. Senate, and control over the House of Representatives remains up for grabs.
