Tester and Sheehy are awaiting the results of Montana's U.S. Senate race

Update 8:55 p.m

Senator Jon Tester briefly took the stage in Great Falls to speak to reporters.

“For the people still waiting in line, your vote is very important in this race… With your help and the help of the people waiting in line, we are going to win this damn thing,” he said.

Early results show Sheehy with a 54 percent to 44 percent lead, with less than one percent of all precincts reporting.

The campaign for Montana's most expensive political race in history is over and both candidates are now awaiting results.

Polls are closed in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. The race attracted national attention and total spending reached $255 million.

Sheehy, 38, is awaiting results Tuesday evening in Bozeman while Tester is in Great Falls.

Tester, 68, is Montana's only statewide Democrat seeking his fourth six-year term. Tester, a dirt farmer from Big Sandy, has run to the center during the campaign, almost never mentioning his party in campaign ads and focusing on his roots in Montana.

Sheehy, a Gallatin County resident who grew up in Minnesota, is the founder of Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting company. With strong support from Steve Daines, Montana's other U.S. senator, he easily made it through this summer's primary.

This is his first run for public office.

Sheehy is a former Navy Seal and has put his military and business background at the center of his campaign.

The two campaigns have spent more than $100 million since the start of 2023. Tester has a nearly four-to-one spending advantage, having donated $79.2 million to Sheehy's $21.9 million.

The nonpartisan group OpenSecrets has identified an additional $155 million in independent spending that will be divided evenly among the groups supporting each candidate.

Polls show Sheehy is generally in the lead this year, although numbers have declined in recent weeks. Analysts have noted that Tester faces political headwinds as he competes in Montana during the presidential election, which former President Donald Trump, a Republican, is expected to win easily.

Check back for updates on this race.