U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is facing a challenging campaign in Montana, a state growing increasingly conservative. Despite being a three-term senator, Tester trails Republican Tim Sheehy, a political newcomer. Tester, however, is no stranger to tight races, recalling his narrow victory over Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns in 2006.
Tester emphasizes grassroots efforts, urging over 200 supporters in Billings to mobilize voters. “It’s the ground game,” Tester said. “It’s the energy.” His campaign highlights the stark differences between himself and Sheehy, accusing Sheehy of avoiding public scrutiny. “They won’t hold a press conference. He’s hiding in a bunker three weeks before an election,” Tester criticized.
Tester’s campaign focuses on key issues such as reproductive freedom, the economy, and veterans’ affairs. He highlights the PACT Act, which he co-led, and legislation to protect veterans’ pensions. “The truth is that I am one of the most bipartisan and most effective senators in D.C.,” Tester stated, attributing his success to his Montana roots as a third-generation farmer.
Tester warns against Sheehy’s healthcare stance, suggesting that Sheehy’s views could threaten Medicare and Medicaid. “Understand what pure privatization of healthcare means: Medicare and Medicaid go away,” Tester said. Politifact has found Tester’s claims about Sheehy’s stance mostly false.
Tester criticizes Sheehy’s association with the Property and Environmental Research Center, which supports transferring public lands to private entities. Tester argues this threatens Montana’s outdoor economy. He also condemns Sheehy’s anti-abortion stance, stating that the overturning of Roe vs. Wade was the biggest rights removal he has seen. “If you want a judge or a bureaucrat or a politician to make that decision for you, then he’s your man,” Tester said.
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