Trump, Pence work to defeat Dems for Montana House seat

May 24 (UPI) -- The top two leaders of the Trump administration made efforts Wednesday to keep a seat in the House of Representatives from being handed over to a Democrat in a historically Republican district in Montana.

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence each recorded robocalls Wednesday to residents of Montana's at-large district, which was left vacant by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

The special election Thursday will determine who will represent the district in Washington, D.C. The seat will be filled by Republican Greg Gianforte, Democrat Rob Quist or Libertarian Mark Wicks.

The vote is being viewed by many as another de facto referendum on Trump's administration, as it will be just the third U.S. congressional race since the president took office. Prior races in Kansas and Georgia were viewed similarly.

Polling data to date shows the Montana race could be a close one -- as Gianforte is leading in some surveys and Quist in others. Gianforte's largest share in any poll taken since March is 52 percent, while Quist held a 10-point lead in a survey taken this week.

In their robocalls, the president and vice president appealed to voters to keep the district Republican.

"President Trump and I need Greg working with us in Washington to cut your taxes, secure our borders and protect your Second Amendment rights," Pence said in his recording, also asking voters not to let a Democrat take their seat.

In his recording, Trump called Gianforte a "wonderful guy" and told voters they are going to have "great healthcare" and "all of the other things you so desperately want and need."

Though Montana has voted Republican in the last six presidential elections, its congressional delegation and governorship has been split. However, a victory by the Democrats would get the party closer to retaking control of the House and be a significant achievement, as Montana's at-large district hasn't voted Democratic in 20 years. The Democrats are 24 seats shy of the House majority.

"Tomorrow is your opportunity to vote to protect the lives of Montanans," Quist said Wednesday. "This is a fight for the soul of Montana -- and we need your voice to be heard. Go out and vote TOMORROW!"

Republican Ron Estes won Kansas' special election last month, 52-46 percent, but the GOP didn't perform nearly as well in Georgia's race. Democrat Jon Ossoff won 48 percent of the vote, just 2 percent shy of winning the seat outright. The nearest Republican, Karen Handel with 20 percent, will face Ossoff in a runoff June 20. Political analysts expect the GOP to fare better in the final vote, when support isn't divided among multiple candidates.