Matt Rosendale enters Montana Senate race, sparking contentious GOP primary
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
4:08 PM – Friday, February 9, 2024
Exciting news for Republican voters in Montana! Rep. Matt Rosendale has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, providing a second option in the June primary.
Rosendale (R-Mont.) will challenge GOP contender and businessman, Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, for the chance to challenge Democrat incumbent Senator Jon Tester in November. He has held the position since 2007.
Rosendale is running against the Washington establishment, President Joe Biden, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In his video announcement, he expressed his loyalty to the 2024 GOP presidential front-runner, Donald Trump.
However, Trump publicly backed Sheehy, despite having kind words for Rosendale.
“I also respect Matt Rosendale, and was very happy to endorse him in the past – and will endorse him again in the future should he decide to change course and run for his Congressional Seat,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “But in this instance, Tim is the candidate who is currently best-positioned to defeat Lazy Jon Tester, and regain the Republican Majority in the United States Senate … America First Patriot Tim Sheehy has my complete and total endorsement!” the former president continued.
For months, Rosendale has hinted at a rematch against Tester, and now it’s official. He criticized McConnell and other Senate Republicans for supporting Sheehy and trying to keep him out of the race.
“While it is truly an honor and privilege to represent the people of eastern Montana in Congress, it is difficult for me to stand by and allow Mitch McConnell and the Uniparty to sell our country short and attempt to select our next senator,” Rosendale said.
The primary race is expected to be intense and costly.
Sheehy has garnered support from prominent Republicans such as Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Ryan Zinke, Sen. John Barrasso, and Montana GOP Governor Greg Gianforte. On the other hand, Rosendale has received endorsements from Montana Senate Speaker Matt Regier and the organization Gun Owners of America (GOA).
“Today, Gun Owners of America (GOA) is excited to endorse Congressman Matt Rosendale in his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Rosendale, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020, is an avid sportsman and champion for the Second Amendment. During his time in the House, Congressman Rosendale has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise, and he has been an outstanding partner with GOA’s legislative affairs team,” the GOA website reads.
Initially, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson intended to support Rosendale but later changed his mind, possibly due to criticism from other Republicans. While Johnson will financially contribute to Rosendale’s campaign, he will not be endorsing it, according to a representative for Johnson.
Rosendale, a devoted supporter of Trump and a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, hails from Maryland. He has made controversial decisions in the past, including voting to reverse the 2020 election results and voting to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He also spoke at an Oath Keepers pro-gun demonstration in 2014.
Sheehy, on the other hand, has the advantage of self-financing his campaign and his business, Bridger Aerospace, which relies on government contracts. He retired from the Navy in 2014 and has extensive military experience.
While Sheehy has aligned with the left’s stance on climate change during his campaign, his corporation positions itself as a leader in the fight against climate change.
Rosendale has criticized Sheehy for profiting off of government contracts related to Biden’s Green New Deal.
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What factors make the Republican primary race between Rosendale and Sheehy in Montana’s U.S. Senate election highly competitive and potentially costly
Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican from Montana, has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, giving Republican voters in Montana a second option in the June primary. Rosendale will be challenging GOP contender Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, for the chance to challenge Democrat incumbent Senator Jon Tester in the November election.
Rosendale is positioning himself as a candidate who is running against the Washington establishment, President Joe Biden, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In his video announcement, he expressed his loyalty to the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump. However, despite Trump’s kind words for Rosendale, he publicly endorsed Sheehy, stating that Sheehy is currently best-positioned to defeat Senator Tester.
Rosendale has been hinting at a rematch against Tester for months, and now it is official. He has criticized McConnell and other Senate Republicans for supporting Sheehy and trying to keep him out of the race. The primary race between Rosendale and Sheehy is expected to be intense and costly.
Sheehy has garnered support from prominent Republicans such as Senator Steve Daines, Representative Ryan Zinke, Senator John Barrasso, and Montana GOP Governor Greg Gianforte. On the other hand, Rosendale has received endorsements from Montana Senate Speaker Matt Regier and the organization Gun Owners of America (GOA), who praised his commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights.
Initially, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson intended to support Rosendale but later changed his mind, possibly due to criticism from other Republicans. Although Johnson will financially support Rosendale’s campaign, he will not be endorsing it.
Rosendale, a devoted supporter of Trump and a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has made controversial decisions in the past. This includes voting to reverse the 2020 election results and voting to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He has also spoken at an Oath Keepers pro-gun demonstration in 2014.
On the other hand, Sheehy has the advantage of self-financing his campaign and his business, Bridger Aerospace, which heavily relies on government contracts. He retired from the Navy in 2014 and has extensive military experience.
While Sheehy has aligned himself with the left’s stance on climate change during his campaign, his corporation positions itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. Rosendale has criticized Sheehy for profiting from government contracts while advocating for climate change initiatives.
In conclusion, the race between Rosendale and Sheehy for the Montana U.S. Senate seat promises to be highly competitive. Both candidates have strong support from within the Republican Party, and their contrasting backgrounds and positions will make for an interesting campaign. Montana voters will have an important decision to make in the June primary, as their choice will determine who gets to challenge Democrat Senator Jon Tester in the general election.
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