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.

Tim Sheehy, a wealthy Republican businessman, was dogged by controversies during the campaign. But Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, could not outrun the demographic shift in his deep-red state.

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%-45% when the race was called by the Associated Press at 6:26 a.m. EST on Wednesday.