Tim Sheehy defeats Jon Tester in Montana Senate, NBC News projects

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana has lost re-election to businessman Tim Sheehy, NBC News projects.

Tester, the rare Democrat representing a red state, served three terms after establishing a reputation as a moderate Democrat with long ties to Montana. But his folksy persona, which includes a flat top haircut and three missing fingers from a childhood meat grinder accident, was not enough to overcome the strong partisan headwinds of a divisive presidential election that returned Donald Trump to the White House, which divided . -Ticket voting has become less common in American politics.

Sheehy, a Minnesota native who moved to Montana to start an aerial firefighting company, was endorsed by Trump in the Republican primary, leading his main opponent, Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale, to drop out shortly after.

Trump too led campaign for Sheehy in August, a rare stop in a state with four electors that has gone after the Republican presidential nominee since 1996. The campaign stop appears to have worked, however, with polls showing Sheehy pulls forward around that time, despite questions about his claim that he was shot in Afghanistan.

Sheehy also seems to have benefited from Montana’s changing political environment, which has become more and more nationalized and has put moderates from both parties on the back foot. Tester’s advantage as a Montana native and former state legislative leader was not enough to cut through the national partisanship.

Tester was one of a handful of senators whose states reliably vote for the other party’s presidential nominee, along with retiring Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a former Democrat who is now registered as self-employedand Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. The loss means Democrats will have an even harder time winning control of the Senate in future elections.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.