In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald J. Trump has thrown his support behind Tim Sheehy for the Republican Senate nomination in Montana. This announcement came just hours after Representative Matt Rosendale, a longtime ally of Trump, also entered the primary race.
Rosendale had been hinting for months that he would run for Senate again after losing to incumbent Jon Tester in 2018. However, national Republicans were hoping to avoid a potentially damaging intraparty fight and had thrown their weight behind Sheehy, a wealthy businessman and the establishment pick backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Trump’s endorsement of Sheehy comes as a shock to many, as he had previously supported Rosendale in the 2018 Senate race and even held a rally in Montana with him. However, Rosendale’s loss and his delayed endorsement of Trump’s presidential bid ultimately swayed the former president to throw his support behind Sheehy.
The Montana Senate primary Election is scheduled to take place on June 4, and the winner will face Democrat Jon Tester, who is seeking his fourth term. Tester has been a popular senator in the state, but the deep-red nature of Montana makes him a potentially vulnerable incumbent.
With Trump’s support now behind Sheehy, the primary race could become crucial to the Republican Party’s efforts to retake the Senate. Sheehy, a retired Navy SEAL and founder of an aerial firefighting company, fits the “central casting” look that Trump seeks in candidates, making him a favorable pick for the former president.
While Rosendale had strong support from key figures in Trump’s orbit, including Steve Bannon and Representative Matt Gaetz, his decision to enter the race from the far-right corner of the party may have contributed to Trump’s shift in support. Additionally, many of Trump’s loyalists have aligned behind Sheehy, creating a challenging situation for Rosendale.
As the primary race heats up, Montana Democrats are preparing to attack both Republican candidates as out-of-touch out-of-staters. They have labeled Rosendale, a native of Maryland, and Sheehy, who was born in Minnesota, as being out of touch with the state of Montana.
It remains to be seen how the primary race will unfold, but with Trump’s endorsement, Sheehy may have a considerable advantage heading into the elections. The dynamic in Montana’s political landscape is shifting, and the outcome of the primary race will undoubtedly have significant implications for the broader political scene in Montana.
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