Abortion-rights measure on Montana ballot boosts Tester’s Senate chances: DSCC chairman

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) faces a tough reelection battle against Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, but Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) thinks that now that abortion is on the ballot, it will drive out more voters in favor of the Democrat. 

Peters shared in an interview with CNN that the abortion measure could work in Tester’s favor. 

“It’s certainly very powerful to turn people out,” Peters said. “It’s going to be a big reason why people are voting and why they’re going to vote for Jon Tester and other candidates.”

The abortion measure in Montana intends to enshrine a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that states a pre-viable abortion is protected under a person’s constitutional right to privacy. 

In 2023, Republicans passed a law stating that the right to privacy does not protect a right to abortion; however, this has not yet been challenged in court.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, seven states have posed abortion protections to voters, and abortion rights have won out each time. 

Montana will join several other states, including Arizona and New York, in determining whether reproductive rights will be protected. 

RealClearPolling’s average has Sheehy leading Tester by 5 percentage points.

Tester’s seat is considered to be one of the most important Senate races this election cycle. The Democrats control the Senate by a 51-49 margin. If Tester loses his seat, Democrats could lose their majority.