Midterm results: Ex-Trump official Ryan Zinke wins race for Montana House seat
Asher Notheis
Ryan Zinke, the former interior secretary during the Trump administration, bested Democratic opponent Monica Tranel to win his House race in Montana.
Zinke, who previously served Montana in the House, will now represent Montana’s newly created 1st District.
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The district covers roughly the western quarter of the state. Montana gained a second House seat for the first time in four decades due to strong population growth in the decade leading up to the 2020 census.
Prior to Tuesday’s election, Zinke’s and Tranel’s campaigns both focused on affordability, though Zinke also focused on inflation and spending, while Tranel focused on growth. To combat inflation, Zinke has suggested slowing federal spending and has advocated more action to lower energy costs, according to KTVH.
“The things that are hurting are inflation — energy costs too much, fertilizer’s too much,” he said during a debate in Bozeman last month.
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Ahead of the election, Tranel highlighted her four-point affordability plan, which calls for investing in the American workforce and domestic manufacturing, as well as standing up against corporate consolidation. To fix the housing situation, Tranel said during last month’s debate that she wants to expand tax credits for affordable developments and put restrictions on corporations that have been purchasing homes for investment purposes.