A closer look: New Kalispell precinct goes all blue while one Whitefish area leans red in governor's race

A voting bloc in downtown Kalispell bucked the prevailing conservative trends in the 2024 election, emerging as an island of blue amid Northwest Montana's overwhelming sea of red. 

Data shows Kalispell's newly drawn precinct 25 favored Democrats in each of the major statewide and federal races. The area includes a portion of downtown Kalispell from Fourth Street East to 14th Street East, and from First Avenue West toward Woodland Avenue. It previously was split between former precincts 3 and 4. 

Residents in the new precinct favored Monica Tranel over Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke 52% to 45%, and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester over challenger Tim Sheehy 54% to 43%. In the gubernational race, the area supported Democrat Ryan Busse over Gov. Greg Gianforte 51% to 47%. A little over 1,100 ballots were cast in the precinct.