U.S. Senate Key Race: Montana

November 8, 2006, 12:48 AM ET

Democrat Tester Named Victor in Tight Race

Montana Senate President and rancher Jon Tester scored a razor-thin victory over an embattled Republican incumbent Wednesday, winning one of the two critical Senate contests that will decide whether the Democrats will control the upper house of Congress next year.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, Tester had 190,486 votes, or 48.9 percent, and Republican incumbent Conrad Burns had 188,900 votes, or 48.5 percent.

In media interviews Wednesday morning, Tester was sounding confident the Democrats would oust the three-term Republican.

"I like the position we are in, I think we are going to win," Tester told CNN.

Burns had been dogged throughout the campaign about his close ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who along with his associates gave the junior Montana Senator more campaign contributions than any other member of Congress.

Throughout the campaign, Tester argued that Burns, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, had lost touch with Montana values.

Tester had the backing of the state's senior Senator, Democrat Sen. Max Baucus, who joked about Tester's now-famous flat top haircut. If Montanans elect Tester they'll get a strong leader "with a buzz haircut" who'll "say no to the lobbyists on K Street (where many lobbying firms are located) ... and teach the prep crowd in Washington Montana values," Baucus said last week the Great Falls Tribune reported.

Early voting was hitting record numbers in the western state with more than 80,000 ballots cast by last Friday alone. Nearly 100,000 ballots, the highest ever before this election, were cast in the 2004 presidential election.

Montanans can register up to and including Election Day. Two voters who took advantage of this opportunity to register for same-day absentee ballots were Tony and Lylia Carr, who recently moved to Montana. They said the tight race gave them the incentive to get to the voting polls this year.

"We figure our two votes will make the difference," Tony told the Great Falls Tribune.

State Democratic Party leaders admit that their concerted efforts to get supporters to the polls were key to the Tester victory.
-- Online NewsHour

October 10, 2006

Incumbents Fight to Keep Senate Seats in Montana, Washington
Reporters update two competitive Senate races in Montana where Republican Sen. Conrad Burns faces tough competition from Democrat John Tester, and in Washington where Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell is vying to keep her seat against Republican businessman Mike McGavick.



-- NewsHour

September 12, 2006

Tester-Burns Debate Draws Raucous Crowd
U.S. Senate hopeful Jon Tester clashed with incumbent Republican Conrad Burns in a heated public debate for what is coming to be known as Montana's most expensive Senate race to date.

The Sunday afternoon 90-minute debate was delayed as organizers attempted to accommodate a packed Hamilton High School with nearly 700 boisterous spectators.
-- Online NewsHour

August 1, 2006

Montana Senate Race Most Expensive Yet
Montana's 2006 race to win a seat in the U.S. Senate could be the most costly yet, as both candidates report their most recent campaign financing.

Republican Senator Conrad Burns, a three-term incumbent, has reported raising close to $870,000 the last quarter, which ended June 30. That brings his total amount to more than $6.8 million, of which he reports having $2.2 million on hand.

Conrad's Democratic challenger, State Senate President Jon Tester from Big Sandy, reports earning nearly as much. Tester reports raising $864,000 during the last quarter to bring his total to $1.5 million overall and $515,000 on hand.

Burns, who is in a close race to hold onto his seat, has been tainted by allegations of too-close-ties with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
-- Online NewsHour