State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale has won the primary election to take on incumbent Democrat Jon Tester in the general election in November.

Democrat Kathleen Williams narrowly defeated John Heenan and will try to wrest Montana’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives away from Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte.

Political newcomer Josh Slotnick defeated fellow Democrat Jean Curtiss and will become Missoula County Commissioner.

Missoula Elections Coordinator Dayna Causby said the turnout for the primary election was better than she expected.

“Things have been going really well,” said Causby. “The voters have really shocked us by how much they have decided to vote during this primary. As of 8:00 p.m. we’re at least at a 50 percent voter turnout, and that does not include poll numbers, that’s just absentee ballots by mail.”

Causby said the weekend rush of voters made the difference.

“They really flocked in on Sunday, and we received a lot on Saturday, the drive-through drop off has just been moving,” she said. “However, people were confused with the three ballots. They actually voted all three ballots and returned all three, but unfortunately all those ballots had to be thrown out.”

The upcoming general election in November will only have one ballot.

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