Zinke defeats Lewis in Montana U.S. House election
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 10 years, 2 months AGO
<p>Ryan Zinke, a Whitefish Republican running for U.S. House, gives his victory speech after defeating Democrat John Lewis and Libertarian Mike Fellows on Tuesday evening, November 4, in Whitefish. Zinke first Montana congressman elected from Flathead County. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Ryan Zinke gets a kiss from his wife Lola, after receiving word that he had won the race for U.S. House on Tuesday at Whitefish Lake Lodge in Whitefish.</p>
<p>Ryan Zinke, a Whitefish Republican running for U.S. House, right, talks with Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson while waiting for the results in the U.S. House race on Tuesday, November 4, in Whitefish. Zinke defeated Democrat John Lewis and Libertarian Mike Fellows to become the first Montana congressman elected from Flathead County. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
HELENA (AP) — Republican Ryan Zinke has defeated Democrat John Lewis to win Montana’s U.S. House election.
Zinke’s victory on Tuesday keeps Montana’s only congressional seat under the control of the Republican Party, where it has been since the mid-1990s. Zinke is the first Montana congressman elected from Flathead County or northwest Montana.
Zinke is a former Navy SEAL and state senator from Whitefish. He ran on the message that the U.S. must improve its economy and reassert its standing as the world’s leader by becoming energy independent.
Lewis was a longtime aide to former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus. He criticized Zinke for hardening positions on guns, abortion and climate change.
Zinke also was criticized by Democrats for receiving support from a super PAC he founded.
The third candidate in the race was Libertarian Mike Fellows.
