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HELENA — National Democrats have increased their investment in this month's Montana special congressional election, but whether it will make a difference remains to be seen as Republicans have thrown surprisingly large amounts of money to protect a seat their party has held for two decades.

Earlier this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that it would spend another $400,000 to help candidate Rob Quist, a musician and first-time office seeker. The money will be used to pay for television ads and field workers to push Democrats to vote in the May 25 special election to fill Montana's only seat in the U.S. House.

The latest spending is on top of the $200,000 the committee pledged last month amid frustration by some national and Montana Democrats who scolded their party for not doing more to support candidates running in special elections across the country.

But as progressives push back against advances from conservatives, Republican groups are taking no chances and are pouring large amounts of money into campaigns, even in relatively safe districts like the one in Montana.