Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy criticized his opponent, Democrat Sen. Jon Tester, for his connections to lobbyists during a debate ahead of the election. Tester is seeking to retain his Senate seat in Montana, a red state that could potentially determine which party controls the Senate. Recent polls show Sheehy leading before Election Day, highlighting the close race. Sheehy pointed out Tester’s ties to lobbyists in Washington, D.C. during the debate and highlighted the donations Tester has received from lobbyists during this election cycle.
Tester is the only remaining Democrat holding high office in Montana, and Republicans, including former President Trump, have supported Sheehy’s campaign in hopes of defeating the vulnerable incumbent and winning back control of the Senate. With the need for only two more seats to gain the majority, Republicans see Montana as a key state in determining the outcome of the Senate. Trump’s significant victory in Montana in 2020 further emphasizes the state’s importance in the current election cycle, with Sheehy trying to tie Tester to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as a strategy to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of illegal immigration.
During the campaign, Tester has distanced himself from Harris and criticized some of the administration’s policy decisions, such as opposing tighter pollution rules for coal plants and calling for more action on immigration. Sheehy, on the other hand, highlighted his military service and criticized the administration for its handling of the southern border crisis. Both candidates also discussed their stance on abortion, with Tester expressing support for reinstating Roe v. Wade and Sheehy acknowledging past insensitive remarks about Native Americans but refusing to apologize.
The Montana Senate race has become a focal point in the battle for Senate control, with Sheehy and Tester engaging in a highly contested race. Sheehy’s criticism of Tester’s ties to lobbyists and his attempts to connect the incumbent to the unpopular policies of the current administration are key aspects of the campaign. Tester’s efforts to distance himself from Harris and criticize certain policy decisions demonstrate his strategy in reaching voters in the red state of Montana. As the election approaches, the outcome of this race could have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
