Zinke exudes confidence as he awaits election results in Whitefish

WHITEFISH – As votes were still being counted Tuesday evening, the mood at U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke's election watch party at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish was one of calm confidence.

Nearly 100 people joined the Republican congressman and basked in the red, white and blue balloons as they admired the dining room at Logan's Grill. Signs with slogans such as “Make America Great Again, Again!”, “Send the SEALs” and “Warriors for Zinke” hung on the walls, as well as banners supporting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy and former President Donald Trump.

“We feel good,” Zinke told the crowd just before midnight. “We are exceeding what we should.”

Ahead of the November 5 election, Zinke saw a significant lead over his Democratic opponent, Monica Tranel, in several October polls. The Montana State University-Billings Mountain States poll showed Zinke with a seven-point lead over Tranel. However, an Impact Research poll in October showed Zinke with a one-point lead.

Zinke's team said Tuesday before polls closed that internal polls showed Zinke leading Tranel beyond the margin of error.

“As a military commander, I didn’t care whether you were a Republican or a Democrat,” he said before all the votes were counted. “I don’t care now, but I do care if you love this country.”

Among those in attendance Tuesday night were Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson, county commissioners Brad Abell and Randy Brodehl and state Rep. Courtenay Sprunger. Zinke, dressed in a suit and black cowboy hat, walked in just before 7:30 p.m

Attendees began arriving at 7 p.m., many wearing a wide variety of Zinke or Trump merchandise.

As polls neared close across the state, The Hill gave Zinke an 83 percent chance of re-election to Montana's western congressional district. In the last election cycle, Zinke beat Tranel with 3% of the vote.

Tranel secured 115,265 votes in the district in 2022, compared to 123,102 votes for Zinke.

“Fight. Fight. Fight.” Zinke posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday morning. “Tonight we are taking our country back.”

Zinke, of Whitefish, was first elected to Congress in 2014. A retired US Navy SEAL, like Sheehy, he served as Secretary of the Interior under the Trump administration. He resigned from his post after a federal investigation into reports that he had abused his office and failed to meet ethical obligations.

After being re-elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, Zinke joined the House Budget Committee.

This is Tranel's second congressional campaign. Originally from eastern Montana, Tranel is a former Olympic rower and attorney. Tranel spent election night at the Union Club in Missoula.

“People are ready for change. Montana deserves representation that will listen to you. The polling stations are open until 8 p.m. – be sure to vote!” Tranel posted on X on Tuesday.

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at [email protected] or 758-4459.