Over $225 million has been spent in Montana’s U.S. Senate race, with political action committees (PACs) accounting for more than half, according to finance records. By mid-October, PACs had disbursed $137.3 million supporting or opposing incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. Spending surged past $200 million when candidates reported third-quarter financials, with Tester’s disbursements at $69.6 million and Sheehy’s at $19.3 million.
Outside spending on ads and voter outreach nearly tripled since August’s end, when PAC spending was $44 million. As absentee voting began, PACs spent about $3.8 million on canvassing, with $3 million backing Tester. Tester, a three-term senator, is Montana’s last statewide Democratic official but has faced challenging polls since July. Sheehy, a Minnesota native and wealthy entrepreneur, moved to Montana a decade ago to start Bridger Aerospace in Belgrade.
Major PACs like Americans for Prosperity Action and Your Community PAC dominate canvassing efforts. The former supports Sheehy, linked to Koch brothers’ funding, while the latter, backed by Sixteen Thirty Fund, aids Tester. Among 58 PACs active in the race, 14 have spent over $118 million collectively, largely on opposition ads. Ads targeting Tester cost $50.1 million, while anti-Sheehy ads reached $48 million. Supportive ads for Sheehy and Tester amounted to $17.6 million and $13.1 million, respectively.
LAST BEST PLACE PAC
Last Best Place PAC began opposing Sheehy in September 2023, with undisclosed initial funding. Since then, it spent over $25.6 million against Sheehy and $1 million supporting Tester. A lawsuit was filed by the Campaign Legal Center against the Federal Election Commission for not investigating the PAC’s ad spending without filing a required independent expenditure report. The PAC’s sole identified official is its treasurer, Dave Lewis.
MORE JOBS, LESS GOVERNMENT
This PAC spent $22.1 million in the race, with $15.6 million opposing Tester. Major donors include Stephen Allen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone Group, contributing $5 million. Blackstone had a stake in Sheehy’s Bridger Aerospace, and other donors have connections to major industry players, like the oil and gas sector, which are influenced by the Senate Banking Committee led by Tester.
WINSENATE PAC
WinSenate PAC, fully funded by Senate Majority PAC, has a $52.8 million war chest and has spent $15.3 million against Sheehy. It shares funding and personnel links with Senate Majority PAC, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Democratic efforts in the race.
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
Associated with Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, this PAC has spent over $17.8 million, including ads contrasting Tester with Big Timber farmers. Top donors, like One Nation and Kenneth C. Griffin, also support other major PACs in Montana’s race.
AMERICAN CROSSROADS
Founded by strategist Karl Rove, American Crossroads has spent $14.5 million against Tester. Connected to the Senate Leadership Fund, both PACs are overseen by Steven Law, McConnell’s former chief of staff.
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION
Linked with the Koch brothers, this PAC has spent $3.2 million against Tester and $5.8 million supporting Sheehy, with Koch Industries and the Walton family among major donors.
MONTANA OUTDOOR VALUES ACTION FUND
In October, the PAC spent $4.6 million supporting Tester, primarily on door-to-door voter outreach. It is heavily funded by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
The DSCC, prioritizing Tester’s reelection, has spent $3.6 million against Sheehy since August.
NRA OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND
The NRA’s PAC has spent over $2.5 million, including $1.3 million supporting Sheehy, despite past oppositional history with Tester.
SENTINEL ACTION FUND
Sentinel has allocated $1.8 million supporting Sheehy and $290,053 against Tester, funded by significant contributors like Timothy Mellon and James John Liautaud.
JEFFERSON RISING
Appearing in August during a Trump rally, Jefferson Rising has spent $1.3 million opposing Tester, with funding from Timothy Dunn.
MONTANA RURAL VOTERS (WORC)
Spending $1.1 million supporting Tester, this Billings-based PAC’s donors are dark money groups that don’t disclose their identities.
TRUTH AND JUSTICE FUND COMPANY
Funded by attorneys and the American Association for Justice PAC, this group has spent $888,852 against Sheehy and $413,103 supporting Tester.
CFFE PAC
Starting late August, CFFE reported raising $5.7 million, with major contributions from Pivotal Ventures and America Votes, spending $1 million supporting Tester.
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