Update: Hours after Republican Matt Rosendale (R-MT) announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate race in Montana, former and potentially future President Donald Trump expressed support for Tim Sheehy, who entered the race last June and who also has the support of National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem also endorsed Sheehy on Friday: Fox News reported.
BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump approved @SheehyforMT pic.twitter.com/iW9gZRCWc3
— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) February 9, 2024
Original: After considerable speculation, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) has decided that he will indeed challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, hoping for a rematch from 2018, when Tester defeated Rosendale by 3.5 points. Montana is considered one of Republicans’ top-flight seats in 2024, if not the top pick-up, along with the Ohio Senate race. Not only are the stakes high in this must-win race, but Rosendale’s candidacy also creates a sticky situation for Senate Republicans, especially National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, who also hails from Montana.
Daines has already endorsed Tim Sheehy in the race. Sheehy, CEO of Bridger Aerospace and a former Navy SEAL, announced his candidacy last June.
“It is unfortunate that instead of building seniority for our great state in the House of Representatives, Matt chooses to abandon his seat and create a divisive primary. Tim Sheehy has my full support because he is the best candidate to fight Jon Tester. Whichever party wins. “The Montana Senate seat will control the U.S. Senate in 2024, and Republicans cannot risk nominating the candidate who gave Jon Tester the biggest victory of his career,” Daines said in a statement.
Daines had it too he previously told CNN last December: “I like Matt Rosendale. I hope he stays in this chamber and gains seniority.”
Rosendale has represented the 2nd Congressional District since last year, and Montana gained a fresh seat. He represented the entire district of the state from 2021-2023.
What also seems to be a drama is the support for Rosendale from announcer Mike Johnson (of Los Angeles). How Punchbowl reported Friday morning:
Speaker Mike Johnson Quick turnaround in Montana Senate race — abandoning plans of support Representative. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) expected offer — it was the last embarrassing moment of indecision for the speaker.
But even after Johnson abandoned his planned endorsement, Rosendale insists the speaker still supports him.
“I have great relationship with Mike Johnson,” Rosendale told us in an interview Thursday. “He said, ‘I support Matt Rosendale and I’ll send him a check to prove it.'”
Of course, it comes for us reported Johnson plans to formally endorse Rosendale for the Senate. Shortly after our story broke, Johnson suddenly changed obviously due to powerful opposition from senior Senate Republicans. The episode caused panic in Johnson’s orbit.
Johnson he said he would do it give money to Rosendale but don’t support anyone in the race.
As we know, Johnson’s endorsement would irritate the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, and the Republican Senate campaign arm. Senate Republicans support Tim Sheehy in the contest for an incumbent senator. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Several Republicans privately and publicly lamented that Rosendale’s candidacy would hurt the GOP’s chances of winning the seat.
Rosendale — whom Tester easily defeated in 2018 — said he had never personally spoken to Johnson about the endorsement. Rosendale claimed he first texted Johnson at noon Wednesday mentioning the endorsement. That evening, Johnson told Rosendale he would support him.
“We went from support to no support to Mike calling me last night and saying he supported me and [then that] will not be able to provide support. Thin. Great,” Rosendale said.
Rosendale also fired reports that his vote for the Israel aid bill was in exchange for Johnson’s support. The Montana Republican, typically a fiscal hawk, said he voted for the bill simply to support Israel.
Annoyed Rosendale then criticized the national media for failing to ask who was spreading the rumors of a quid pro quo with Johnson.
Here’s an fascinating fact:
“We know why they are lying because the Senate committee, which includes Mitch McConnell and Steve Daines, is apoplectic about the potential of Matt Rosendale sitting in the United States Senate and making the same changes in the Senate that I was able to make in the house “
APPROX Then.
Rosendale’s escape, even when there was only speculation, was already a cause for drama and concern.
Townhall has previously discussed the candidacy with Republican strategists, including one who said last month that “Republicans are right to remain skeptical of Matt Rosendale for a number of reasons,” pointing to interest from the majority leader’s allies in Senate President Chuck Schumer (D-NY) interested in running for Rosendale, his lack of fundraising skills and that “all Rosendale does is alienate Republicans.” The strategist also warned that “Rosendale has done nothing to address the issues that caused it to lose the 2018 race.”
Pro-Trump speaker Alex Bruesewitz was also scheduled to speak at the Montana GOP convention this weekend, but he told Townhall that pressure from Rosendale and his allies caused him to withdraw the invitation.
In response to Rosendale’s nomination for the Senate seat, Bruesewitz told Townhall that “Matt Rosendale pledged loyalty to Mitch McConnell when he last ran for the Senate, and now he’s acting like he’s some kind of outsider.” He is a politician with a swampy career who has shown disloyalty to President Trump and the MAGA movement. “I am sure the MAGA movement will vigorously oppose this posturing.”
Shortly after Rosendale shared with X on Friday that he was running for office, he boasted the endorsement of Gun Owners of America. His pinned post also highlights the contrast between him and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY).
Gun Owners of America is proud to endorse Matt Rosendale for U.S. Senate.🇺🇸@MattForMontana is a battle-hardened patriot who will fight in Washington, D.C., against anti-gun activists and Democrats trying to infringe on your rights. https://t.co/OogAVe5yhq pic.twitter.com/MU7sKoZBim
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) February 9, 2024
Mitch McConnell and Uniparty have controlled the Senate for too long and are the architects of the $34 trillion debt.
It’s high time they realized that the people of Montana don’t take orders from Washington, we send orders to Washington! pic.twitter.com/cUoK9P4aV5
— Matt Rosendale (@MattForMontana) February 9, 2024
The race is still considered by forecasters to be “Drop it off“race.
Tester is already posting and fundraising for Rosendale’s announcement.
It’s official – Matt Rosendale has just started a campaign against me. Again.
This will be the most exorbitant and competitive race in Montana history. I’m no stranger to tough fights, but I’m going to need your lend a hand. Can I count on you to join me?
— Jon Tester (@jontester) February 9, 2024
Come on. pic.twitter.com/qc8thMr1U4
— Jon Tester (@jontester) February 9, 2024
