Former President Donald Trump endorsed first-time candidate Tim Sheehy in Montana’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, hours after Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale entered the race.
The ex-president showered praise on Mr. Sheehy, an aerospace millionaire and veteran, writing Friday on his Truth Social platform that the businessman is “far more likely” to beat longtime incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote. “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.”
Republicans view the race in red Montana as a must-win to regain control of the upper chamber.
An endorsement from Mr. Trump could give Mr. Sheehy an edge in what is sure to be a competitive primary fight. Mr. Sheehy also has endorsements from Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Rep. Ryan Zinke, who served as Secretary of the Interior under Mr. Trump.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rosendale has styled himself as a staunch supporter of Mr. Trump’s agenda and has promised to be a foil to the Senate’s top Republican, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Mr. McConnell has long been at odds with Mr. Trump, who is poised to recapture the GOP nomination for president.
“I love President Trump. But he needs actual fighters in the U.S. Senate to enact his Agenda 47 — and that’s me and not Mitch McConnell’s hand pick, Tim Sheehy,” Mr. Rosendale wrote on X. “I’m going to win this primary, defeat Jon Tester in November and together we will Make America Great Again!”
Mr. Rosendale announced his candidacy Friday after months of speculation.
His late entrance into the race is a move typical of the rebellious lawmaker, who was one of the Gang of Eight that ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and sent the chamber into a tailspin for nearly a month.
Sen. Steve Daines, Montana Republican and chairman of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, handpicked aerospace millionaire and veteran Tim Sheehy to run against Mr. Tester.
Mr. Daines and other Republicans hoped to avoid a costly primary fray for the first-time candidate, but Mr. Rosendale’s choice to ignore his colleagues and jump into the race has thrown a wrench into their plans.
Mr. Sheehy also boasts a campaign war chest brimming with cash and is a proficient fundraiser compared with Mr. Rosendale, who has often struggled to raise money.
“Both successful businessmen and political outsiders, President Trump and Tim Sheehy cannot be bought and are the conservative warriors we need to put the people of Montana first, drain the swamp and save our country from the mess Joe Biden and Jon Tester created,” a spokesperson from Mr. Sheehy’s campaign told The Washington Times.
But Mr. Rosendale has been capable of winning elections in Montana, with over a decadelong political career in the state.
Republicans are concerned that if Mr. Rosendale succeeds against Mr. Sheehy, they will suffer another defeat from Mr. Tester, who beat Mr. Rosendale by 3.5 points in 2018.
Montana Democrats are salivating at the prospect of Mr. Rosendale and Mr. Sheehy beating each other up ahead of the June 4 primary.
“Buckle up for the battle of the out-of-staters, because Mitch McConnell and the [National Republican Senate Committee’s] greatest nightmare in Montana came true,” Hannah Rehm, a spokeswoman for the Montana Democratic Party, told The Times. “Over the coming months, Montanans are going to see how out of touch Maryland Matt and Transplant Tim are with our state.”
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.