Former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy has overwhelmed three-term Democrat Sen. Jon Tester within the Montana Senate race, flipping a key race as Republicans are set to take again management of the Senate, the Related Press initiatives.
His win will increase the Republican majority within the Senate to not less than 52, per the Related Press projections.
All eyes have been on the Large Sky State’s aggressive Senate race that noticed three-term Senator Tester, the one statewide Democrat elected in Montana, dealing with former Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy.
Early on within the cycle, the Montana race was deemed considered one of Republicans’ finest pickup alternatives and considered one of Democrats’ most weak seats of the 2024 cycle.
Sheehy launched his Senate bid completely with Fox Information Digital in June 2023, calling for “a new generation of leaders to step up” in Congress in his bid to oust the crimson state Democrat.
MONTANA SENATE RACE COULD BE GOP’S BEST BET TO TIP BALANCE OF POWER
Sen. Jon Tester, left, and Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy. (Getty Pictures/Sheehy for Senate)
The Navy SEAL rapidly obtained the backing of outstanding GOP members after asserting his candidacy, together with Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Invoice Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and John Barrasso of Wyoming.
Earlier than getting into the political scene, Sheehy served in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America and the Pacific area, receiving the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Fight and a Purple Coronary heart. On prime of proudly owning a number of companies, the veteran shares 4 youngsters along with his Marine veteran spouse, Carmen Sheehy.
MONTANA MIGHT DECIDE THE SENATE
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Sheehy, who he described as an “American Hero,” in February, after Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale launched a short-lived bid for the seat.
U.S. Senate candidate from Montana Tim Sheehy speaks throughout the second day of the 2024 Republican Nationwide Conference on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)
Tester, a former college trainer, was first elected to the Montana Senate in 2006. The Democrat owns a household farm in Large Sandy the place he lives along with his spouse, Sharla.
Tester has taken a extra reasonable stance on points throughout his time within the Senate, brazenly breaking with the Biden-Harris administration on a number of points all through the years. The Democrat withheld an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris after she turned the occasion’s nominee.
Tester outraised Sheehy all through the election cycle, however the newest polling main as much as Election Day discovered that the Republican nominee was main the race.
Simply two months forward of Election Day, two prime political handicappers shifted the Senate race in Sheehy’s favor.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester prepares to debate GOP challenger Tim Sheehy on campus on the College of Montana in Missoula, Montana, on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (The Missoulian)
The Cook dinner Political Report, an impartial nonpartisan elections handicapper, not too long ago shifted the race from “toss-up” to “lean Republican,” whereas Sabato’s Crystal Ball on the College of Virginia’s Middle for Politics moved the race to “leans Republican.”
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Democrats have been defending 23 Senate seats this cycle, greater than double the variety of Republicans who’re defending 10 seats within the chamber.
