Zinke, Tranel, and Hayes vie for victory in a closely watched congressional battle with high stakes and contrasting platforms.
Zinke, Tranel, and Hayes vie for victory in a closely watched congressional battle with high stakes and contrasting platforms.
Incumbent Ryan Zinke (R), Monica Tranel (D), and Dennis Hayes (L) are running in the general election for Montana’s 1st Congressional District on November 5, 2024. This is a rematch of the 2022 election.
Zinke was first elected in 2022, defeating Tranel 49.6% to 46.5%. Montana’s 1st Congressional District was created after the 2020 redistricting cycle. Montana previously had a single, at-large district after redistricting in 1990. Zinke previously represented Montana’s At-Large Congressional District from 2015 to 2017.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) supports Tranel as part of its Red to Blue program that backs challengers to Republican incumbents. The DCCC did not target the district in 2022. In response to the DCCC’s support, Tranel said, “Montanans are tired of the chaos and know I will represent our community.” Zinke says his political record shows his experience in “serving our great nation and state” and that he is “a champion of the issues most important to Montana.”
Zinke served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump (R) from 2017 to 2019. He resigned amid federal investigations into his real estate dealings in Montana and his conduct in office. He served as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer for 23 years and served in the Montana Senate from 2009 to 2013. Zinke is campaigning on his experience as Secretary of the Interior, saying he worked towards “restoring the voice of state, tribal and local communities in land and wildlife management decisions” and increasing access to public lands. He is also campaigning on his military experience, and he says he “made sure veterans receive the care and respect they deserve.” Zinke says that, during his time as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, he has focused on “restoring accountability to federal spending.” Zinke says his “decisions are based on upholding the Constitution” and that he would defend the Second Amendment and personal liberties as a result.
Tranel is an attorney. She represented the United States in rowing at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Tranel is campaigning on her legal experience, saying she has “taken on out-of-state billionaires and corporate monopolies to stop them from ripping off Montanans” as an attorney. Tranel says she would “work to create an economic environment where our local and small businesses can thrive” and that she believes corporations have hurt the economy. Tranel says people “trying to find a home to rent or buy are being priced out of Montana” and that she supports providing tax credits and financing options for housing. Tranel says she believes Montana residents should have more access to public lands and that she would ensure “wealthy, out-of-state corporate interests are not able to trade out or close off our public lands.”
According to second-quarter 2024 reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Zinke raised $6.8 million and $3.8 million, and Tranel raised $3.1 million and $1.0 million.
All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Republicans have a 220 to 211 majority with four vacancies. As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election.
Daily Kos calculated the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 52.2%- 45.3%.
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