Montana Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale announced that he is dropping his Senate bid a week after the official launch as former United States President Donald Trump endorsed his rival, Tim Sheehy.
Rosendale had publicly explored a campaign for the Senate for months, teasing his potential entrance into the race in conversations with like-minded GOP lawmakers. However, a few hours after he got into the race, the former president had already given his endorsement to another candidate.
The Montana representative said that he concluded his path was irrevocably severed by the Republican businessman. The state is a top target for Republicans as they seek to take control of the Senate.
Rosendale finally announced his long-anticipated Senate bid last Friday as the GOP is looking to unseat Sen. Jon Tester, who is one of only two Democratic senators running for re-election in states that Trump won in 2020.
The sudden reversal is a boon to national Republicans, who have given their support to Sheehy and are eager to avoid a damaging primary. Rosendale conceded in his statement that in his state, Trump's endorsement of Sheehy would be too much to overcome, as per Politico.
Furthermore, the Montana representative also faced a serious fundraising challenge given the head start that his rival Sheehy and his allies had. Sheehy, who runs an aerial firefighting company, has massive personal wealth and is willing to self-fund his campaign.
Rosendale said that by his calculations, Trump's endorsement of Sheehy and his own lack of resources means that the battle will just be too uphill. The Montana representative has not yet decided whether or not he will run for re-election to the House. He only said that he would "prayerfully consider what is next" as he returns to his state to be with his family.
Donald Trump's Endorsement of Tim Sheehy
On the other hand, Trump said that he would back Rosendale's bid for the House if he chooses to run for re-election. The filing deadline for that particular race for the state of Montana is on Mar. 11, 2024.
Sheehy, on top of gaining Trump's endorsement, was also able to gain support from Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Ryan Zinke, and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte. He turned to social media after learning the news of Rosendale dropping his Senate bid, according to Fox News.
When Rosendale announced his bid for the Senate, he sought to cast himself as a candidate who was opposed to the Washington establishment. He also pitched himself as the one in the race who had the closest ties with the former president.
In a campaign video, the Montana representative said that he "voted in support of President Trump's agenda every single time." He added that he continued to stand by the Republican businessman and voted against the electors on Jan. 6, 2021.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he respects Rosendale, adding that he was happy to endorse the Montana representative in the past. The former president argued that now, Sheehy is the candidate who is currently the one best-positioned to defeat Tester, said the Washington Post.
Related Article:
