“Sen. Jon Tester, the last remaining statewide elected Democrat in Montana, is facing the toughest race of his career,” The Messenger reports.

“So perhaps it’s not surprising that in his first TV ad of the 2024 campaign cycle, he is reprising a theme that has brought him success before — Montana versus outsiders.”

“Sen. Jon Tester, one of three Democrats up for reelection in 2024 that represent a state former President Donald Trump won twice, announced raising $5 million in the third fundraising quarter of 2023, spanning July through September,” The Messenger reports.

“The campaign will report entering October with more than $13 million cash on hand.”

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) is planning a rematch against Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, “and while he hasn’t officially announced his campaign, he sure looks like he’s fundraising for a Senate bid,” The Messenger reports.

“A mysterious new super PAC with apparent ties to Democrats is going on air hitting Montana Republican Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy over unpaid loans — nine months before he’ll even face primary voters,” Politico reports.

“The group, Last Best Place PAC, made a $134,000 buy on broadcast and cable to run Tuesday through Sept. 25. The 30-second spot raps Sheehy, who runs an aerial firefighting company, as a multimillionaire who “got rich off government contracts” and then walked away from a $770,000 loan.”

Semafor: “While the NRSC is backing 37-year old veteran Tim Sheehy for Senate, Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale would start with a sizable lead if he entered the race, according to polling prepared by J.L. Partners.”

“The poll found Rosendale at 55% in a potential primary against Sheehy, who came in at 19%, while 26% of voters were undecided.”

NBC News: “Tester has already ramped up his re-election bid by adding staffers across Montana and raising millions of dollars. While Democrats hope Tester’s deep connection to his home state will overcome his party affiliation, Republicans have yet to settle on a candidate to challenge him, and there is the possibility of a messy primary.”

“Top Republicans went all out to avoid a contentious primary in Montana’s Senate race by urging GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale to stay in the House,” Politico reports.

“It’s not working.”

“Rosendale, who lost a Senate bid in 2018, is moving closer toward another statewide run, hiring a well-connected fundraiser and working to lock up support from top conservatives. He’s also trying to silence any doubters after the Club for Growth walked back a previous plan to back his bid.”

“Tim Sheehy is running in one of the country’s most competitive U.S. Senate races while also running an aerial firefighting company that is heavily dependent on federal contracts,” NBC News reports.

“But the company, which issues publicly traded stock, also has explicit rules about political contributions and activities. Employees are not permitted to engage in politics while on company time, according to the company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. There are also rules requiring legal reviews and approval before company funds can be spent on behalf of candidates or campaigns.”

“Tim Sheehy, the Republican establishment’s favored candidate to take on Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), is emphasizing his experience as a rancher to build his credibility in Montana,” the Daily Beast reports.

“But Sheehy and his partners’ reputation may be a little spottier than he’d like to present. In fact, they failed to meet a bare minimum standard for every Montana rancher and farmer—one that is crucial to supporting the state’s agriculture and conservation programs.”

Montana U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy’s (R) old Facebook profile is full of questionable photos, Insider reports.

They include lewd photos of women, a caricature of Middle Eastern people, and homoerotic jokes.

Montana U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy (R) has based his campaign in part on his support for the state’s agricultural sector, Insider reports.

But a photo on his campaign website — a sunny, green pasture filled with grazing cattle — was actually taken by a photographer hundreds of miles away, in Kentucky.

Another photo — originally used to illustrate his support for border security — was taken in Russia.

“Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) raised $5 million in the most recent fundraising quarter as he gears up for another battleground race in 2024,” NBC News reports.

“The Montana Democrat ended the quarter on June 30 with more than $10 million in his campaign account.”

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) officially endorsed “war hero” Tim Sheehy (R) in the critical Montana Senate race, as he ramps up his bid to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) in 2024, Fox News reports.

Playbook: “Zinke at one point considered running himself, which would have set up a rematch of his 2014 House contest with Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT). Instead, he’s looking to stop Rosendale a different way.”

Montana U.S. Senate Tim Sheehy (R) “runs a company that gets most of its money from federal government contracts, presenting potential conflict-of-interest questions that US Senate hopefuls usually don’t face,” Bloomberg Law reports.

Politico: “The race to take on Sen. Jon Tester, one of the most vulnerable Democrats on the ballot next year, kicked off Tuesday with a campaign launch by Tim Sheehy, a Navy SEAL-turned-aerial firefighter.”

“Within a day he had secured the support of the chair of the Senate GOP campaign arm and endorsements from three other senators — a clear show of force aimed at spooking Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), a likely primary rival, out of running.”

“A member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, Rosendale has privately told lawmakers he plans to make another run against Tester after failing to beat the incumbent five years ago. His lackluster fundraising and bruising past loss have left party strategists and donors nervous that Rosendale would struggle to win a general election in a state that is crucial to the GOP’s path to the majority.”

“Senate Republican leadership is taking an early stand in the Montana primary to try to help the party win back the majority in 2024 after a dispiriting result last year,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Steve Daines (R-MT), the head of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, threw his support behind military veteran and businessman Tim Sheehy, who announced Tuesday that he would run for Senate in the state. His entrance could put the party on course for a contentious primary fight.”

“Sheehy’s entrance into the Montana race could pit him against Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), who has privately been testing the waters for a race.”

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) “is plotting a Senate comeback bid — a move that’s bound to revive the GOP’s long-running battle over electability in key battleground races,” Politico reports.

“Rosendale has told lawmakers in both chambers that he plans to run for the nomination to take on Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) next year… Conservatives are encouraging a run by Rosendale, who lost to Tester in 2018 and would almost certainly join the party’s right flank if he can topple the incumbent.”

“His timeline is unclear, but any campaign launch could set him on a collision course with Senate GOP leaders who are working to recruit a fresh face for the must-win contest. If Rosendale jumps in, a brutal primary could complicate the party’s chances of retaking the Senate.”

Montana Republican Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy (R) is being sued for negligence in lengthy litigation over a tragic 2019 plane crash, the Daily Beast reports.

“Sheehy left the scene with minor injuries. He posed for a photo—while spattered in blood—with a man he credited with helping others amid the wreckage. Local news covered the crash in a frenzy. And then the news cycle eventually faded, as news cycles tend to do.”

“But years later, the incident is still playing out.”