NBC News projects Tim Sheehy has won the seat held by Jon Tester, a three-term Democratic incumbent, in a state that has shifted in Republicans’ direction in recent years.

Republican Tim Sheehy triumphed over third-term Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) in Montana’s crucial Senate race, expanding the GOP majority in the Senate. Sheehy led Tester 53% to 45% when the race was called by the Associated Press at 6:26 a.m. EST on Wednesday.

Tim Sheehy won Montana's Senate race on Wednesday, unseating the state's Democratic incumbent, Sen. Jon Tester, and flipping the seat Republican. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL new to politics, took home a victory with 53% of the vote to Tester's 45.