Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) “didn’t intend to play a central role in taking down President Trump’s pick to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. Yet that’s exactly what the Montana Democrat ended up doing. And now, Trump is coming after him,” Politico reports.

“The president is enraged over Tester’s work documenting allegations of malfeasance by Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, which quickly unraveled Jackson’s nomination to be VA secretary and marks a turning point in the relationship between the moderate Democrat and Trump.”

“As Tester’s reelection campaign kicks into high gear, Trump is more motivated than ever to campaign against him in the ruby-red state — accusing the senator of irresponsibly leaking the damaging information to undermine the president’s nominee. Trump said Thursday that Tester will have a ‘big price to pay’ for his part in working to sink Jackson’s nomination.”

“I don’t want to get into it because I have to work with him. It’s totally bullshit. He’s already doing it.”

— Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), quoted by Politico, on Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) pledging to refrain from attacks and be “respectful of my important teammate” as Tester faces re-election.

“A man who registered as a Green Party candidate for Montana’s U.S. Senate race was on the state Republican Party’s payroll and heads a newly formed anti-tax group,” the AP reports.

“Timothy Adams filed as a challenger Monday against Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who faces a tough re-election campaign, in a race where a Green Party candidate could siphon votes from the Democrat.”

Another Republican has announced that he’s running to unseat Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) next year – and his wife is challenging Tester as a Democrat, KXTN reports.

James Dean (R) and his wife, Sarah Dean (D), filed their respective paperwork as candidates this week with the Federal Election Commission.