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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Gianforte wins U.S. House race in Montana, aplogizes for ‘misake’

In this March 6, 2017, file photo, Greg Gianforte, right, receives congratulations from a supporter in Helena, Mont., after winning the Republican nomination for Montana’s special election for the U.S. House. (Matt Volz / Associated Press)
In this March 6, 2017, file photo, Greg Gianforte, right, receives congratulations from a supporter in Helena, Mont., after winning the Republican nomination for Montana’s special election for the U.S. House. (Matt Volz / Associated Press)

Gianforte, a technology entrepreneur, defeated Democrat Rob Quist to continue the GOP’s two-decade stronghold on the congressional seat. Democrats had hoped Quist, a musician and first-time candidate, could have capitalized on a wave of activism following President Donald Trump’s election.

Instead, the win reaffirmed Montana’s voters support for Trump’s young presidency in a conservative-leaning state that voted overwhelmingly for him in November.

Gianforte was a strong favorite throughout the campaign and that continued even after authorities charged him with misdemeanor assault on Wednesday. Witnesses said he grabbed Ben Jacobs, a reporter for the Guardian newspaper, and slammed him to the ground after being asked about the Republican health care bill.

Gianforte dropped out of sight after he was cited by police and ignored calls on Thursday by national Republicans for him to apologize to the reporter. More here.



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.