Gianforte Defeats Quist in Montana Special Election

 

Republican Greg Gianforte is projected to defeat Democrat Rob Quist in Montana’s special election to replace current Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The race took on a bizarre turn when Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly “body slamming” reporter Ben Jacobs of The Guardian.

With approximately 96% of votes counted, Gianforte had 188,578 votes — or 50.4% of the vote, compared to Democrat Rob Quist who had 164,549 votes — 43.9% of the vote, according to Decision Desk HQ. Libertarian Mark Wicks had 5.7%.


Note: This post has been updated to include the latest numbers.

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  1. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    KC Mulville (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    No, of course not. Gianforte was wrong. (Gear up, because a -but- is coming…)

    But … the story’s surprise is that the voters didn’t penalize the candidate for shoving the reporter. And that reveals the contrast between how a professional reporter sees this situation versus how most people see it.

    The media tried to blow this story up into proof that their insistent quest for truth was putting them in heroic danger. Most of the rest of us, I suspect, thought it proved that if you keep pushing after someone tells you to stop, you shouldn’t be surprised that it pisses them off.

    As far as I’m concerned, this is a local story that the media used to make a self-serving point. And when Gianforte won, the media’s point sputtered.

    My question is whether Gianforte will be charged with assault. The outcome of such an action would undoubtedly affect his ability to serve.

    He has been charged with misdemeanor assault (my comment just above quotes the relevant statute). Gianforte was given a citation by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and the case has now been referred to the County Attorney. The CA has the final say on the level of the charges, but I shouldn’t think he will up the charge to Aggravated Assault, a felont with some very nasty penalties. There is a possibility of a greater charge, though. Here’s the applicable statute:

    45-5-202. Aggravated assault. (1) A person commits the offense of aggravated assault if the person purposely or knowingly causes serious bodily injury to another or purposely or knowingly, with the use of physical force or contact, causes reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury or death in another.
    (2) A person convicted of aggravated assault shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 20 years and may be fined not more than $50,000, except as provided in 46-18-219 and 46-18-222.

    Having listened to the tape, read the descriptions by witnesses, and reviewed the statute, it could be argued that his use of physical force did cause “reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury.” But I don’t have all the evidence so it’s merely a surmise.

    Gianforte apologized during his acceptance speech. That’s basically an admission of guilt. I expect he’ll either plead guilty or nolo contendre, pay a fine, and do some community service (hopefully something more useful than being a member of Congress). It’s unlikely he’ll serve time in jail.

    • #31
  2. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    People don’t like reporters. Reporters are mystified since they report the news objectively from a far far left perspective.

    I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    Are you an arrogant ass with a snotty sense of entitlement that gets in people’s faces and blocks their path when they’re trying to walk somewhere?

    • #32
  3. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Douglas (View Comment):
    Are you an arrogant ass with a snotty sense of entitlement that gets in people’s faces and blocks their path when they’re trying to walk somewhere?

    No. But let’s say I am. And I’m asking Al Franken for a quote about a vote he just cast for impeachment. Does he get to punch me because I didn’t get out of the way of a politician?

    • #33
  4. KC Mulville Inactive
    KC Mulville
    @KCMulville

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):My question is whether Gianforte will be charged with assault. The outcome of such an action would undoubtedly affect his ability to serve.

    Well, he certainly didn’t cover himself in glory. I believe he was charged with assault, but little is going to happen to him. And I think he can count on being peppered with questions from now on. Politicians are like baseball players; once they think you can’t hit a curve, that’s all they’re going to throw you. He can count on in-your-face questioning, just to bait him. Time to listen to that media consultant.

    I’d like to turn the tables. I agree that Gianforte blew this one, but what does it say about reporters? How aggressive can they be? And on a larger scale, when a media outlet can be demonstrably measured to be antagonistic (NYT, WaPo), why should any candidate, office-holder, or member of the public tolerate their aggressiveness? I don’t remember the exact words, but years ago, some reporter was dogging Joe Namath, and then justified the harassment by saying, “hey, it’s my job.” Namath shot back that he didn’t have to help him do that job. A reporter’s job doesn’t obligate me.

    We all have an unwritten agreement that we allow reporters more latitude, but that’s just latitude, not carte blanche.

    • #34
  5. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    drlorentz (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    People don’t like reporters. Reporters are mystified since they report the news objectively from a far far left perspective.

    I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    It’s the 90% of bad reporters that spoil it for the other 10%. This is why we can’t have nice things.

    And @jameslileks: you should be casting blame on your peers. And you and your 10% are to blame for not holding them accountable.

    My dear, sweet parents awoke one morning to see their son on the front page of our local paper. His soccer team was accused of hazing to such an extent that not only was the season possibly going to get canceled, he might have lost his job.

    A lot of “facts” published were wrong. I called the reporter. I called the editor. They were far more interested in talking to the self-acclaimed victim.

    At a high school reunion I damn near punched the lights out of a senior someone who worked at the paper when he shrugged and said the reporter was “doing his best”.

    No. He wasn’t. He thought he had a story and the senior someones were trying to sell papers.

    Just who is holding reporters accountable?

    We are entering a new low of yellow journalism and if you 10% don’t step up, don’t blame me for throwing you all into the same slop bucket and treating you accordingly.

    • #35
  6. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Douglas (View Comment):
    Are you an arrogant ass with a snotty sense of entitlement that gets in people’s faces and blocks their path when they’re trying to walk somewhere?

    No. But let’s say I am. And I’m asking Al Franken for a quote about a vote he just cast for impeachment. Does he get to punch me because I didn’t get out of the way of a politician?

    C’mon James, there’s a difference between not getting out of a politician’s way and not getting out of a politician’s way.  When reporters are not only allowed, but encouraged, to be as obnoxious as possible, you can’t expect that every politician is always going to behave in the way they did in the past.  There was a time when politician’s didn’t behave this way, but the reporters weren’t behaving this way either.  The fact is, there’s not much decorum and gravitas in the lion pit.

    And I daresay I could get  you to throw a punch at me, if I get to give you a couple months of provocation.  In fact, I bet it wouldn’t take nearly that long.  I can be pretty damn obnoxious.  (Ask around).

    Was what he did right?  Of course not.  But I’m not quite ready to crucify the guy just yet.  He was charged.  Assuming he doesn’t go to prison, and as they charged a misdemeanor he won’t, then he can serve just fine.  He won’t even be the worst person there.

    • #36
  7. Robert McReynolds Member
    Robert McReynolds
    @

    Jamie Lockett (View Comment):

    KC Mulville (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    No, of course not. Gianforte was wrong. (Gear up, because a -but- is coming…)

    But … the story’s surprise is that the voters didn’t penalize the candidate for shoving the reporter. And that reveals the contrast between how a professional reporter sees this situation versus how most people see it.

    The media tried to blow this story up into proof that their insistent quest for truth was putting them in heroic danger. Most of the rest of us, I suspect, thought it proved that if you keep pushing after someone tells you to stop, you shouldn’t be surprised that it pisses them off.

    As far as I’m concerned, this is a local story that the media used to make a self-serving point. And when Gianforte won, the media’s point sputtered.

    My question is whether Gianforte will be charged with assault. The outcome of such an action would undoubtedly affect his ability to serve.

    Nah, we have had Congressmen serve from jail before:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Lyon

    • #37
  8. Robert McReynolds Member
    Robert McReynolds
    @

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Douglas (View Comment):
    Are you an arrogant ass with a snotty sense of entitlement that gets in people’s faces and blocks their path when they’re trying to walk somewhere?

    No. But let’s say I am. And I’m asking Al Franken for a quote about a vote he just cast for impeachment. Does he get to punch me because I didn’t get out of the way of a politician?

    James, we all know you could take Franken. I mean the guy is a slimy putz.

    • #38
  9. profdlp Inactive
    profdlp
    @profdlp

    Robert McReynolds (View Comment):
    James, we all know you could take Franken. I mean the guy is a slimy putz.

    Yeah, but you’d have to actually touch him.  Ewwwwww…

    • #39
  10. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    Come on, honestly, nobody’s really surprised are they?

    • #40
  11. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    [Redacted.]

    • #41
  12. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Judges are a lot like journalists.  They’re going to be surprised when years of bad behavior lead to people no longer giving them deference.

    • #42
  13. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):
    Live video of Quist conceding to Gianforte.

    Well, now he has Congressional immunity…

    • #43
  14. Isaac Smith Member
    Isaac Smith
    @

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    People don’t like reporters. Reporters are mystified since they report the news objectively from a far far left perspective.

    I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    No.  Only if you say/do something that transforms it into you, personally, have it coming.

    • #44
  15. Penfold Member
    Penfold
    @Penfold

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Douglas (View Comment):
    Are you an arrogant ass with a snotty sense of entitlement that gets in people’s faces and blocks their path when they’re trying to walk somewhere?

    No. But let’s say I am. And I’m asking Al Franken for a quote about a vote he just cast for impeachment. Does he get to punch me because I didn’t get out of the way of a politician?

    Yes, he does.  If he’s willing to do the time for the crime.  In the meantime, I assume you’re are also willing to reap the consequences of your actions as well, nursing a black eye.  Is it right?  No.  Is it what it is?  Yes.

    • #45
  16. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    What kind of body slam did he give the reporter?  In pro wrestling – which is fake wrestling, just like fake news – there are two kinds of body slams.  One you pick up your opponent and slam him to the ground.  The other is when you have the opponent on the ground and leap and slam your body on top of him.

    Somehow I find it hard to imagine Gianforte did either of these.  So what exactly did he do that constitutes a body slam?  Or is that just sensationalism against a Republican?  If it were a Democrat, would the media have called it a “bump” which caused the poor Dem to fall?

    • #46
  17. NigelT Member
    NigelT
    @NigelT

    It’s never good to lose your cool like that, but it’s also not the end of the world. I wasn’t there so I’ll not judge. Let the justice system work and the chips will fall where they may.

    • #47
  18. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    I believe Gianforte should be punished for his action* – and punished every bit as severely as the Middlebury students who sent a professor to the hospital. Anything else would be a farce.

    * Assuming he is convicted in a court of law. He is presumed innocent until then, and witnesses may have missed extenuating circumstances which lead to acquittal.

    Seawriter

    • #48
  19. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Why do I have a smile from ear to ear from this win?  I don’t excuse Gianforte’s physical abuse, but characterizing the altercation as a “body slam” is just nonsense.  It was the press trying to shape the news.  I posted as such here.

    • #49
  20. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Seawriter (View Comment):
    I believe Gianforte should be punished for his action* – and punished every bit as severely as the Middlebury students who sent a professor to the hospital. Anything else would be a farce.

    * Assuming he is convicted in a court of law. He is presumed innocent until then, and witnesses may have missed extenuating circumstances which lead to acquittal.

    Seawriter

    Based upon the conduct of the reporter in question, and the repeated requests to stop, I think Gianforte is not necessarily completely in the wrong.

    I care about this as much as I do hearing about paparazzi getting popped every now and again.  Poor behavior has consequences, and not everybody is going to have the patience of a saint saintly for their patience.

    Giantforte should pay his 500 dollar fine and the reporter should remember poor behavior = ouchies.  Pain is called learning.

     

    The summary I read may not be 100% correct, so my judgement may be fine tuned.

    • #50
  21. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    I guess we know who The Rock’s running mate will be.

    • #51
  22. NigelT Member
    NigelT
    @NigelT

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    People don’t like reporters. Reporters are mystified since they report the news objectively from a far far left perspective.

    I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    No! Wouldn’t want to risk messing up that pretty face!

    • #52
  23. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Manny (View Comment):

    Somehow I find it hard to imagine Gianforte did either of these. So what exactly did he do that constitutes a body slam? Or is that just sensationalism against a Republican? If it were a Democrat, would the media have called it a “bump” which caused the poor Dem to fall?

    From the recorded audio, the reporter didn’t sound particularly hurt. His voice after the altercation had more of an, “I can’t believe you did that,” tone rather than one of being in pain.

    • #53
  24. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):
    People don’t like reporters. Reporters are mystified since they report the news objectively from a far far left perspective.

    I’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    No James, you should get loved–not shoved.

    • #54
  25. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Jamie LockettMy question is whether Gianforte will be charged with assault. The outcome of such an action would undoubtedly affect his ability to serve.

    And you would be wrong. Only the members of the House determine their members fitness and ability to serve. (Article I, Section 5, 1 & 2.) Before a member can be jailed he/she must either lose election or be expelled from the House. Otherwise state authorities cannot interfere with a Federal office holder fulfilling his Constitutional duties.

    • #55
  26. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    Somehow I find it hard to imagine Gianforte did either of these. So what exactly did he do that constitutes a body slam? Or is that just sensationalism against a Republican? If it were a Democrat, would the media have called it a “bump” which caused the poor Dem to fall?

    From the recorded audio, the reporter didn’t sound particularly hurt. His voice after the altercation had more of an, “I can’t believe you did that,” tone rather than one of being in pain.

    Oh thanks.  I did not hear the audio.  That gives credence to my argument.

    • #56
  27. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    James LileksI’m a reporter. I don’t report from a far far left perspective. Should I get shoved when reporting because my profession is tainted, and in general, we have it coming?

    Your First Amendment right is not a license to be a jerk. If you show up on private property and are asked to leave and you are not acting under authority (i.e., the police have not granted you the right to accompany them on to said private property) you are subject to physical removal. Violently if necessary.

    If you burst into a private meeting and shoved your phone in my face, yes, I have the right to take that phone and shove it down your throat.

    • #57
  28. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    James LileksNo. But let’s say I am. And I’m asking Al Franken for a quote about a vote he just cast for impeachment. Does he get to punch me because I didn’t get out of the way of a politician?

    It depends where you are. Back when I was in college those of us choosing careers in media were required to take a law class that spelled out, not just our rights under the Constitution, but the rights of the people we were going to deal with.

    Rule number one: Public and Private spaces are inherently different and your actions may be legal one place and blatantly illegal in the other. If you’re not in a public space, if you are not invited, if you are acting aggressively yourself, yes, Senator Franken not only has the right to put you on your rear end he should be applauded for doing so.

    If Franken is on the street, in a hallway, or in a space where you were specifically invited as a credentialed member of the press, then no, your body is inviolable.

    The thing is, as a reporter you should know these things. If you don’t then that’s a problem. If you do then you’re not shooting straight with the question.

    • #58
  29. Von Snrub Inactive
    Von Snrub
    @VonSnrub

    I’d rather he hadn’t attacked the report physically, and had the insight to attack him verbally. He apologized and will be fined. We need to move on. But what’s the alternative, there’s no room to teach our side a lesson when the opposition cares more for Mexican’s than Montanan’s. They guy lost the gubernatorial race, and appeared to be a weak candidate overall.

    What are voter’s supposed to do when the alternative is communism and open borders?

     

    • #59
  30. EaglesNest Inactive
    EaglesNest
    @EaglesNest

    What I would like to know is how the hell did the media think that Gianforte was possibly going to lose, despite the loss of their precious endorsements — when two-thirds of the votes in this ruby red state had already been cast and the opponent had plenty of his own peccadilloes?

    If the Twitterazis try to use this result as an indictment of red-state voters, we should respond that it is more an indictment of mail-in and early voting.

    • #60
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