BILLINGS – The first poll in Montana’s U.S. House race showed incumbent Republican Greg Gianforte trailing Democratic challenger Kathleen Williams by six points.
Gravis Marketing, a nonpartisan research firm, conducted a random survey of 469 likely voters across Montana from June 11 through June 13.
In the House race, 49% polled favored Williams, a state lawmaker from Bozeman, while tech entrepreneur Gianforte was favored by 43% of those polled. An additional 8% were uncertain.
Rep. Gianforte is running in his first re-election campaign after winning a special election last May for the seat vacated by U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
Pollsters also asked voters whom they would favor if the election for U.S. Senate were held today.
Incumbent Democrat Jon Tester was favored by 51% while GOP challenger Matt Rosendale was favored by 44% of those polled. Five percent were uncertain.
Of those polled, 51% were female and 49% were male. The Gravis poll — which did not include the Green and Libertarian parties — had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5%.
