Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte wins GOP primary in bid for reelection

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) won the GOP primary in his election campaign Tuesday, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ.

Gianforte, who was elected in 2020 and is running for a second term, fended off a challenge from his right by defeating state Rep. Tanner Smith (R) in the Republican contest. 

Smith sought to paint himself as more conservative than Gianforte in the primary, telling viewers in a video on the social platform X that “I am your true conservative Republican option” and taking harder stances to the right on issues such as opposing Medicaid expansion in the state.  

Gianforte has his own conservative credentials, including endorsements from the Nation Rifle Association, and has offered his staunch support for former President Trump. He slammed the New York jury verdict in Trump’s hush money case as a “sham” and alleged “this is yet another attempt by Democrats to use the courts & lawfare to do what they can’t do at the ballot box.”

At the same time, he took more comparatively moderate positions, including supporting Medicaid expansion that includes work requirements for able-bodied adults.  

Gianforte is set to face Democrat Ryan Busse, a former firearms executive, in November.