Amazingly, the Dems hold 5 of the 6 U.S. Senate seats in the Dakotas and Montana. These are very red states.
Can anyone explain?
Pork - and the ability of the incumbent to raise money.
The Dems in question get their campaign funds from huge national donors. Any Republican challenger has to raise his money in state from a small population.
If Hoeven has any smarts he is having a "show me the money" talk with the national party.
In Montana, one Democrat won on a recount against a Republican who had ethics problems.
In South Dakota, the Democrat Senator won a sympathy vote after suffering a stroke. Before that, he won only by narrow margins.
North Dakota is Republican, but not necessarily conservative.