Montana's Senate race will be crucial in determining who controls the Senate come 2025, and candidates are stockpiling cash in what will be one of the most expensive Senate races in the country next year.
The incumbent, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, announced raising more than $5.5 million in the last quarter of 2023, spanning October through December.
"As a third-generation dirt farmer from Big Sandy, Jon understands the Montana way of life better than anyone and will always protect our Montana values," said Tester campaign manager Shelbi Dantic. "We’re excited to kick off 2024 with momentum at our backs and incredible, statewide energy to re-elect Jon.”
Tester, arguably the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent up for reelection in 2024, has raised at least $5 million every quarter of 2023. The campaign said that 97% of donations were under $100. They received 15,000 donations from Montanans and the average donation was $50.
Republicans have recruited retired Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, who told Fox News that he raised nearly $2.5 million, including a personal contribution of $450,000.
Campaigns and outside groups are already spending big in Montana. According to AdImpact, a firm that tracks ad spending, $10 million has already been spent on TV. Tester's campaign alone accounts for $5.3 million of that spending.
While Sheehy continues to consolidate support from his would-be colleagues in the upper chamber, Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale is moving closer to launching another Senate campaign. He lost to Tester in 2018 by around three percentage points.