One Year Until Election Day: State of the GOP MT-SEN Primary
One year out from Election Day, Montana Republicans continue to brace for a bruising, expensive U.S. Senate primary that is sure to weaken whichever flawed candidate emerges from their intraparty fight.
Ultra-wealthy transplant Tim Sheehy’s rocky start to his campaign has been marked by ethics questions, gaffes, and brutal headlines about his toxic positions that are out of step with Montana. Meanwhile, former Republican Secretary of State Brad Johnson jumped into the race last month, and rumoredrematch candidate Rep. Matt Rosendale has been building support across the state and ruthlessly attacking Sheehy for being a member of the “D.C. cartel”and McConnell’s handpicked candidate.
OUT-OF-TOUCH WITH MONTANANS
Tim Sheehy is the poster guy for everything Montanans are frustrated with. He’s an ultrawealthy Montana newcomer who has bought several luxury properties across the state, at a time when housing costs for Montana families are skyrocketing and people increasingly feel that the state they love has become a playground for the rich. From calling to transfer off our federal public lands to claiming more bears than people live here, the more Montanans find out about Sheehy, the more it becomes clear that he doesn’t understand Montana’s way of life.
Wall Street Journal: Montana Has Had It With Rich Outsiders. Will That Help Jon Tester Win Re-Election?
HuffPost: Montana GOP Senate Candidate Embraces A Toxic Position On Public Lands
Daily Montanan: Senate candidate Tim Sheehy falsely states more bears than people in Montana
Business Insider: GOP Senate candidate uses Kentucky photo to tout his support for Montana agriculture — then quickly replaces it when asked about it
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Sheehy makes his millions off of government contracts, and now he’s running for the job that would oversee that very funding. Sheehy is already a D.C. insider: Just days before launching his campaign, he was caught meeting with nearly two dozen D.C. lobbyists long before he ever met with Montanans. And Sheehy stinks like a swamp after it was revealed that he leveraged his personal relationship with Rep. Ryan Zinke to win himself lucrative government contracts (that $5 million annual salary won’t pay for itself!).
NBC News: Montana GOP Senate candidate keeps his CEO job — but his company won’t say how he avoids conflicts
Daily Beast: This Top GOP Recruit Has a Swampy Connection to a Trumpy Rep
Bloomberg Gov: Key GOP Senate Recruit Seeks Job Overseeing His Largest Customer
American Independent: Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy decries lobbyist money, takes $42,000 from lobbyists
CAN’T BE TRUSTED
The amazing shapeshifting Sheehy will do or say anything to get elected. As he stares down a potentially long, bruising primary, Sheehy has raced to change, delete, or cover up positions that will be big weaknesses in a GOP primary.
ABC News: Language on climate change, ESG removed from company website of Montana GOP Senate candidate
Daily Beast: GOP Senate Candidates Who Want You to Forget About Their Past Trump Criticism
National Journal: Republicans face ESG conundrum
Jewish Insider: Top GOP Senate recruit in Montana shies away from past support for Ukraine
MESSY PRIMARY
A long, expensive primary will drain resources and leave the surviving Republican candidate weak and embattled heading into a highly competitive general election. Montana Republicans have refused to coalesce around any one candidate, in spite of national Republicans’ best efforts: 37 fellow elected Republicans, including top legislative leadership endorsed Rosendale, as well as Montana Republican Party executive board members like Brad Tschida.
Daily Caller: ‘Establishment Vs. Grassroots’: Montana Conservatives Balk At Republican Leadership’s Senate Pick For 2024
Helena Independent Record: 37 GOP state legislators, including leadership, call on Rosendale for Senate
Montana Free Press: Hardline GOP legislators push Trump for Rosendale endorsement
As we mark one year until Election Day, it’s clear: National Republicans’ top pick Tim Sheehy is a flawed candidate who is facing a messy intraparty fight, while third-generation dirt farmer Jon Tester continues to stand tough and put together the coalition needed to win.
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