The Latest: Montana's U.S. Senate race too close to call
Voters fill out their ballots at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Billings, Mont. Races for U.S. Senate and House top the ballot in Montana. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Lynne Fitzgerald talks about the Montana U.S. Senate and House races in front of a polling station at MetraPark in Billings, Mont., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Election worker Rose Crowley drops a ballot into a ballot box at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Billings, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
An election worker is seen inserting a ballot into a locked ballot box at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Billings, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Doran Hatcher, left, speaks about his support for Republicans including President Donald Trump in front of a polling station at MetraPark in Billings, Mont., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
An election worker directs a voter toward a booth to fill out his ballot at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Billings, Mont. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
The Latest on the general election in Montana (all times local):
11:45 p.m.
Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and Republican Matt Rosendale are locked in a Montana U.S. Senate race that’s too close to call with votes still being counted.
Election results were still coming in Tuesday night. Rosendale was following the returns with supporters in Helena, while Tester told his supporters to go home for the night.
Tester is seeking a third term and faced a stiff challenge after President Donald Trump took a personal interest in defeating him.
The president vowed last spring that Tester would pay at the polls for sinking his first nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary.
Republican and Democratic groups spent tens of millions of dollars in an attempt to influence the election.
The Montana seat was one of 10 held by Senate Democrats seeking re-election in states Trump won in 2016.
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11:15 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte has a lead over Democratic challenger Kathleen Williams, but Montana’s U.S. House race is too close to call with votes left to be counted.
Election results are still coming in Tuesday night as the candidates follow the returns with their supporters at separate watch parties in Bozeman.
Gianforte is seeking his first full term after winning a special election 17 months ago to finish the term of Ryan Zinke, who resigned to become Interior Department secretary.
Gianforte is best known for pleading guilty to assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs in 2017. The attack emerged as a campaign issue when President Donald Trump praised Gianforte for it during an October rally.
Williams is a former state lawmaker who benefited from a fundraising surge in the final months of the race. She sought to become the first Democrat in Montana’s only House seat in 22 years.