This article has been updated to include a post by Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) about his decision to withdraw from the race.
Six days after announcing his U.S. Senate run in Montana to challenge vulnerable Democratic incumbent Jon Tester, Republican Matt Rosendale has already suspended his campaign. – POLITICO reported on Thursday evening which Rosendale confirmed to them.
SCOOP: Rep. Matt Rosendale is suspending his Montana Senate bid just days after entering the race, he confirms to us
WITH/@allymutnick @burgessev https://t.co/EBqY8syzQQ
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 15, 2024
“By my calculations, with my opponent’s Trump support and lack of resources, the hill was simply too steep. I spoke with Senator Daines earlier this week and we both agree that this is the best path for Republicans to regain the majority in the U.S. Senate.”
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 15, 2024
We hear there is skepticism among House officials about whether he will even run for a House seat again.
His stmt only says, “I will return home to Montana with my family in the next few days and will prayerfully consider what happens next.”
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 15, 2024
Rosendale’s hasty withdrawal from the race is not shocking, especially since other Republicans were skeptical of his candidacy. Although there had been talk of him running for months, in 2018 he faced Tester and lost: by 3.5 points. Moreover, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has already endorsed Tim Sheehy, CEO of Bridger Aerospace and former Navy SEAL, who announced it last June. Speaker Steve Daines is also from Montana and urged Rosendale to remain in the House.
Given his announcement, Rosendale now appears to fully understand the odds, although it remains to be seen whether he will seek re-election to the House of Representatives. He has only represented Montana’s 2nd Congressional District since last year, and previously represented Montana’s At-Large District from 2021-2023 before it gained a fresh seat.
Just hours after Rosendale announced his candidacy last Friday, former and potentially future President Donald Trump approved Sheehy. South Dakota Governor Christie Noem also announced on Friday, she endorsed Sheehy.
An hour after POLITICO’s post was shared on X, Rosendale issued his own statement through his political account X. In his statement, he addressed his ties to and support for Trump. Rosendale faced criticism for waiting so long to endorse Trump — which he did last December — while Sheehy endorsed him months earlier.
“I have long been a supporter of the president and remain so. However, I was forced to calculate what my chances of success would be if Trump supported my opponent. “This race was already going to be difficult as I was up against Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican establishment in Washington, but I felt I could beat them because voters disagreed with how they would choose the next U.S. Senator from Montana,” his statement read in part.
Rosendale acknowledged that Trump supported Sheehy that “the hill was just too steep.”
— Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana) February 16, 2024
According to NRSC Communications Director Mike Berg, Daines common “I appreciate Matt’s many years of service to Montana. “It will take the cooperation of all Republicans to defeat Jon Tester in November.”
Daines himself also reposted POLITICO, and Sheehy also spoke out. All statements spoke about the need for a sense of unity in defeating Tester.
I appreciate Matt’s many years of service in Montana. It will take all Republicans working together to defeat Jon Tester in November. https://t.co/1C15XfRLo5
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) February 15, 2024
Matt, Montana is grateful for your service and showing Washington what it means to keep a watchful eye on reckless spending. I know that working together we will win this race and beat Jon Tester.
— Tim Sheehy (@SheehyforMT) February 15, 2024
Daines and Sheehy aren’t the only ones considering this. Pro-Trump speaker Alex Bruesewitz, who was scheduled to speak at a GOP event in Montana last week but told Townhall he was rescinded from the invitation due to pressure from Rosendale and his allies, also shared his thoughts.
Tagging both Rosendale and Sheehy, Bruesewitz also called for uniting behind Sheehy. He even offered to forgive Rosendale “for canceling my speech!”
Sam Bruesewitz is considering running for Congress to represent Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District as incumbent Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) retires.
I’m glad Matt Rosendale did the right thing and dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Montana.
It’s time for Republicans to unite behind Trump @SheehyforMT and defeat radical leftist Jon Tester.
I’ll even forgive you @MattForMontana for canceling my speech!
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) February 15, 2024
Shortly before POLITICO announced that Rosendale was leaving the show, NRSC republished Sheehy’s share article on Fox News that Sheehy released a six-figure ad touting Trump’s endorsement. A day earlier, NRSC shared such a fragment from its account.
The Montana Senate race is currently considered a “Drop it off,” how it is Ohio Senate race where vulnerable Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown is running for re-election. “Arizona is the next one.”Drop it off“, although it is not yet clear whether Senator Kyrsten Sinema, currently an independent senator, will seek re-election. Especially compared to 2022, Republicans have numerous opportunities to win seats in 2024.
I am truly honored to have President Trump’s endorsement for my U.S. Senate campaign. Together we will drain the swamp and put America first! #Testerretires https://t.co/rGRMA3M33u
— Tim Sheehy (@SheehyforMT) February 15, 2024
A former Navy SEAL is making a massive six-figure ad buy to promote Trump’s support in a key Senate racehttps://t.co/7CvBmojUNL
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) February 14, 2024
