After the Republican candidate won Montana's special election on Thursday, liberals took to social media to express their disbelief and anger at the outcome.

Republican Greg Gianforte beat Democrat Rob Quist in a special election for Montana's lone at-large House seat. The office was vacated by former Rep. Ryan Zinke (R., Mont.), who left to become interior secretary.

The election gained national attention when Gianforte was charged with assault after reportedly body-slamming Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs, one day before the election. The altercation occurred when Jacobs tried to ask Gianforte about the CBO score of the Republicans' health care bill. Witnesses of the altercation said Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck and threw him to the floor, where he continued to hit Jacobs. Gianforte was charged with assault.

Gianforte released a statement about the incident, alleging that Jacobs was aggressive. But after Gianforte declared victory, he apologized for his actions.

"When you make a mistake, you have to own up to it," Gianforte said during his victory party. "That's the Montana way. Last night I made a mistake and I took an action that I can't take back and I'm not proud of what happened. I should not have responded in the way that I did and for that I am sorry. I should not have treated that reporter that way and for that I am sorry Mr. Ben Jacobs."

Liberals on social media reacted to the news that Gianforte won despite being charged with assault.

A man body slams a reporter 4 asking a question. He gets 100k in donations and wins a congressional seat the next day. Have we come 2 this? — Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) May 26, 2017

Would've helped if the Democratic Party got behind Rob Quist. — Shaun King (@ShaunKing) May 26, 2017

Greg Gianforte retire bitch — Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) May 26, 2017

I'd like to think Greg Gianforte won because most of Montana voted weeks ago, and he'll be spending most of his term in jail. — Rus McLaughlin (@rusmclaughlin) May 26, 2017

This pretty much sums up the Greg Gianforte election and the Trump 2016 election. It was never about the economy. It's about bigotry. pic.twitter.com/26v4mmYmoP — Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 26, 2017

As goes Montana — which ranks #48 in population density and #7 in whiteness — so goes the nation. — Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff) May 26, 2017

hey voters in Montana don't take this the wrong way but i think a majority of you may be kind of stupid. 😕 — Victor Huckabee (@popesaintvictor) May 26, 2017