Matt Rosendale eyeing launch for Montana Senate run just before March deadline

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) is eyeing a Montana Senate launch right before the March filing deadline, a move national Republicans fret could jeopardize a winnable seat.

According to a source with direct knowledge and four sources familiar with the matter, Rosendale has told colleagues he plans to launch his campaign shortly before the March 11 candidate filing deadline. One of the sources said that they believe Rosendale could launch as soon as the last two weeks of February. This would change the outlook on the race as Senate Republicans already have their preferred candidate, Tim Sheehy, and view Rosendale as a liability, as he has already lost to Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) once before.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has already backed Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and Bridger Aerospace CEO, and believes he is their best chance at beating Tester and flipping the seat. Montana is a deep red state that has voted for former President Donald Trump in the past two elections. However, Rosendale lost to Tester in 2018.

During the campaign, Tester branded Rosendale as “Maryland Matt” because of his Maryland accent, having grown up there and not being from Montana. In addition, Rosendale is not a prolific fundraiser, bringing in only $334,724 in the third quarter of last year. Over that same time frame, Sheehy raised $2.8 million, and Tester raised $5 million.

Even if Rosendale lost the primary, Sheehy would have to spend more money and take more attacks, potentially weakening him for a general election bid against Tester.

Rosendale has also run afoul of Trumpworld. In a post on X, Trump-aligned Republican strategist Alex Bruesewitz called Rosendale a “phony” and hit him for refusing to endorse Trump “until polls showed him 50 points ahead of DeSantis.” That post was then reposted by Chris LaCivta, Trump’s senior advisor on his campaign.

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“Matt Rosendale is a political liability for Republicans wanting to take back the Senate. He disrespectfully refused to take President Trump’s phone call on the House floor and dragged his feet to endorse President Trump. He is the one candidate we know cannot beat Jon Tester,” one Trump ally told the Washington Examiner.

Rosendale’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.