Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy unseats three-term Sen. Jon Tester in Montana Senate race

His win increased the Republican majority in the Senate to at least 52, according to an Associated Press count.

All eyes were on the Big Sky State Senate race that saw three-term Senator Tester, the only statewide Democrat elected from Montana, face off against former Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy.

Early in the cycle, the Montana race was considered one of the best chances to capture Republicans and the most vulnerable seats for Democrats in the 2024 cycle.

Sheehy unveiled his Senate bid exclusively with Fox News Digital in June 2023, calling for “a new generation of leaders to step up” in Congress in his bid to unseat the red-state Democrat.

MONTANA’S SENATE RACE COULD BE GOP’S BIGGEST BET TO TIP BALANCE OF POWER

The Navy SEAL quickly gained support from prominent members of the GOP after announcing his candidacy, including Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Markwayne Mullin of Arkansas. Oklahoma, Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Barrasso of Wyoming.

Before entering politics, Sheehy served in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America and the Pacific region, earning the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and the Purple Heart. In addition to owning several businesses, the veteran shares four children with his wife, a Marine veteran, Carmen Sheehy.

MONTANA CAN IGNORE THE DECISION IN SENA

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy, whom he described as an “American hero,” in February, after Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale presented a temporary bid for the seat.

U.S. Senator from Montana Tim Sheehy speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

Tester, a former school teacher, was first elected to the Montana Senate in 2006. The Democrat owns a family farm in Big Sandy where he lives with his wife, Sharla.

Tester has taken a moderate stance on issues during his time in the Senate, openly breaking with the Biden-Harris administration on several issues throughout the years. The Democrat withheld the authority of Vice President Kamala Harris after she was nominated by the party.

Tester had heavily upset Sheehy during the election cycle, but recent polls leading up to Election Day found the Republican nominee leading the race.

Just two months before Election Day, two top political handicappers swung the Senate race in Sheehy’s favor.

US Sen. Jon Tester prepares to debate GOP challenger Tim Sheehy on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, Monday, September 30, 2024. (Mississippi)

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan independent pollster, recently flipped the race from “leaning up” to “solidly Republican,” while Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics moved the race to “lean toward Republicans.”

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Democrats were defending 23 Senate seats this cycle, more than double the number of Republicans defending 10 seats in the chamber.