Billionaires are investing millions in the Montana Senate race, with 12 billionaires donating over $1 million in total to groups backing GOP candidate Tim Sheehy or opposing incumbent Jon Tester. Sheehy, a businessman and former Navy SEAL, has received significant support from donors like hedge funder Ken Griffin, who has donated to organizations focused on Montana. Other billionaires are backing Sheehy through conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity Action, which supports Republican candidates in various states. These donations are helping Sheehy maintain a small polling lead over Tester.
Monica Robinson, a spokesperson for the Tester campaign, criticized Sheehy’s donors, accusing them of trying to turn Montana into their “personal playground.” Sheehy’s campaign did not respond to these comments. Sheehy has also invested nearly $2.5 million of his own money in his campaign, further boosting his chances. Tester, a farmer who emphasizes his rural roots in ads, has also received support from his own group of billionaire donors.
Among the billionaires supporting Sheehy, the Waltons, heirs to the Walmart fortune, have donated significant amounts to Americans for Prosperity Action. Other donors include Blackstone cofounder Steve Schwarzman, insurance billionaire Patrick Ryan, and Jimmy John’s founder Jimmy Liautaud. The donations to Sheehy’s campaign have helped him maintain momentum in the race against Tester as election day approaches.
Overall, the donations from billionaires have played a significant role in shaping the Montana Senate race, with big checks making a big difference in a small state like Montana. Sheehy’s campaign has been boosted by the support from wealthy donors, allowing him to compete with Tester, who also has his own group of billionaire supporters. As the race heats up, the influence of money in politics, particularly from billionaires, continues to be a key factor in determining the outcome of the election.
