Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) released bloopers to a campaign video in which he pushes Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) into a wall that then breaks.

“A proposed change to next year’s Montana U.S. Senate primary that could have hurt Democratic Sen. Jon Tester’s reelection chances is likely dead after a state legislative committee shelved the GOP-backed measure Wednesday,” the AP reports.

Daily Beast: “The GOP-controlled state legislature is considering a radical change in election law—a change that is nakedly targeted at taking down Tester and could, in effect, flip one of the most vulnerable Senate seats well before November 2024.”

“Montana Republicans are trying to take a page out of California’s playbook and switch their primary election to the controversial top-two primary system, otherwise known as a ‘jungle primary.'”

“But it’s only for next year, when Tester, Montana’s last statewide Democrat, is up for re-election. After that, the change would expire, supposedly so lawmakers could assess how things went.”

“Senate Republicans are close to recruiting Tim Sheehy, a decorated military veteran and successful businessman with the resources to self-finance a campaign, to run against Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) in 2024,” Axios reports

“Sheehy, whom Republicans view as straight out of central casting, is being encouraged to run by National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines (R-MT).”

Sen. Jon Tester (D) announced Wednesday that he will seek reelection for a fourth term in what will be a key race to determine which party will control the Senate following the 2024 elections, The Hill reports.

Washington Post: “The GOP primary could pit the state’s two House members, Ryan Zinke and Matthew M. Rosendale, against one another, while the other member of the congressional delegation — Sen. Steve Daines — serves as the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, in charge of trying to flip the seat red.”

A new Political Company (R) poll in Montana tested three potential U.S. Senate matchups:

• Jon Tester 46%, Ryan Zinke 40%
• Jon Tester 45%, Matt Rosendale 40%
• Jon Tester 45%, Greg Gianforte 45%

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) “said he’s still undecided on whether to run for re-election in 2024, keeping Democrats in suspense for what will be a close-watched race,” NBC News reports.

Said Tester: “I’ve got a few things to think about. Ultimately, in the end, I’ve got a farm that’s been in the family for over 100 years.”

New York Times Magazine: “Montana has a tradition of ticket-splitting and has long been one of the most politically independent states in the union… But in recent years, Republicans have managed to secure an ironclad grasp over state government, and the religious right is ascendant.”

“The rise of Montana’s Christian right has been enabled by the weakening of the state Democratic Party. It has become harder for Montana Democrats to separate themselves from the national party and, as a result, ticket-splitting has dropped… Changes to campaign-finance laws have also contributed to tipping the balance of power.”

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) sounded on Meet the press like a candidate for re-election in 2024.

Said Tester: “If I decide to run in this thing — and it’ll be a discussion that I have with my family over the holidays, because it is a big undertaking — I feel good about my chances.”

A new NBC Montana/Strategies 360 poll finds Sen. Steve Daines (R) leads challenger Gov. Steve Bullock (D) by 1 point, 48% to 47%, with 5% undecided.

In the presidential race, Donald Trump leads Joe Biden, 51% to 43%.

A new Montana State University poll finds Steve Bullock (D) leading Sen. Steve Daines (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 49% to 47%.

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Montana finds Steve Bullock (D) and Sen. Steve Daines (R) tied at 48% in the U.S. Senate race.

“Beyond that, they have nearly identical approval ratings for their work in their current offices. Bullock has a net +4 rating as Governor, with 48% approving and 44% disapproving of the job he’s doing. Daines has a net +4 rating as Senator, with 47% approving and 43% disapproving of the job he’s doing.”

In the presidential race, Donald Trump leads Joe Biden by 52% to 46%, a lead far less the 20-point win he notched over Hillary Clinton four years ago.

An aide to Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s (D) Senate “campaign was fired after a history of racist, sexist and homophobic tweets surfaced,” the AP reports.

“In one tweet, he called women ‘manure,’ and he used flippant language about rape in a different one. In another tweet, he said he was scared by the statue of a Black boy in a neighbor’s yard.”

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Montana finds Steve Bullock (D) leading Sen. Steve Daines (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 46% to 44%.

Bullock is the most popular politician in the state with a 50% to 38% approval.

In the presidential race, Donald Trump leads Joe Biden, 51% to 42%.

Cook Political Report: “Montana is the toughest state on paper for Democrats when we look solely at the presidential numbers. Still, it’s been clear for a while that this race is shaping up to be a unique battle between two well-liked Montanans (who both just happen to be named Steve), making it the most glaringly competitive race we’ve had in the Lean Republican column for the past few months. Several indicators now merit a more competitive rating, and therefore we are moving this race to Toss Up.”

A new Montana State University poll shows Steve Bullock (D) leading Sen. Steve Daines (R) by seven percentage points in Montana’s high-profile 2020 U.S. Senate contest, 46% to 39%.

In the presidential race, President Trump leads Joe Biden by just five points, 45% to 40%.

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Montana finds Gov. Steve Bullock (D) and Sen. Steve Daines (R) tied in the U.S. Senate race, 47% to 47% with 6% undecided.

Susan Good Geise, a Republican county commissioner in Montana, told KTVH she’ll be the Libertarian Party’s new candidate in Montana’s U.S. Senate race – replacing a last-minute withdrawal.

Geise’s entry could change the dynamics of the race between Sen. Steve Daines (R) and Gov. Steve Bullock (D).