(CN) – Republican Greg Gianforte won Thursday's special election for its one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives despite being charged with assaulting a reporter this week.
Greg Gianforte, a wealthy businessman from New Jersey, got 50.4 percent of the votes to Democrat Rob Quist's 43.9 percent, with 98 percent of the ballots counted. Libertarian Mark Wicks got 5.7 percent. The House seat was left vacant when Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, resigned in March to become President Donald Trump's secretary of the Interior.
Ginaforte won despite the bizarre late Wednesday night fracas at Gianforte's campaign headquarters in Bozeman. Ben Jacobs, a reporter for British news outlet The Guardian, approached Gianforte and asked him for his opinion on Trump's budget that was released Wednesday and how it would affect health care for Americans.
According to Jacobs' recording of the interview, which was posted on The Guardian's website, Gianforte can be heard yelling at Jacobs followed by crashing sounds. Jacobs can be heard saying his glasses were broken and he wanted to call the police.
“I'm sick and tired of you guys,” a voice identified as Gianforte's says on the recording. “The last guy who came in here did the same thing. Get the hell out of here. Get the hell out of here.”
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin provided a written statement about six hours after the attack on Jacobs. Gianforte could face a maximum $500 fine or 6 months in jail if convicted. The sheriff's statement said the reporter's injuries did not meet the legal definition of felony assault.
Gianforte was in a private office preparing for an interview with Fox News when Jacobs came in without permission, campaign spokesman Shane Scanlon told the Associated Press.
Scanlon said Jacobs provoked the incident, but his account of the incident differed from that of the news reporters on the scene and Jacobs’ audio recording.
Gianforte kept a low profile Thursday. But at a press conference, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Gianforte should apologize.
“There is no time a physical altercation should occur with the press,” Ryan said. “That's wrong and should not have happened. I think he should apologize. I know he has his own version and I know he has more to say, but there's no call for this under any circumstance.
“The people of Montana are going to decide today who they will send to Congress. I'm going to let the people of Montana decide who they want as their representative.”
And on Thursday, Montanans began deciding. Kenny Ketner voted earlier this week for Quist, and said it was mainly a vote against Trump.
“I think it is important to resist the Trump agenda,” Ketner said. “Health care is probably my number one concern; what the Republican Congress wants to do will leave millions of people uninsured. Plus, Trump’s budget this week shows cuts to all sorts of national spending, from agriculture subsidies to education.”
Katie Carroll, a first-time voter who turned 18 in November 2016, said Wednesday’s assault convinced her and her friends about the importance of voting, and they chose Quist.
“I don’t like his aggressive nature and he didn’t handle pressure very well,” she said. “That’s not a good trait for a politician.”
Even long-time Republican Gary Stoddard said he is supporting Quist.